First after Fifteen

This is my fifteenth school year driving bus and I would like to think that I have experienced just about everything there is to experience in the job. After all, I have been in 4 collisions, driven into the ditch, gotten lost, been yelled at, cussed at, threatened, stolen from, kicked, punched, scratched, spit on, had my hair pulled, been puked on, bled on, and even had one woman accuse me of choking her daughter (total bullshit!) I really believe that there are not a lot of firsts left for me to experience in my job any longer. I am happy to share, that today, I had a first. 


Each time we get into the bus, we have to do a check of it called a pre-trip inspection. This inspection consists of checking the lights, doors, windows, electronics, wheels, brakes and pretty much everything you can think of on the bus. I should note here that my bus is pretty much brand new. No one besides me has ever driven it regularly and I know it really well. As I was checking the outside of the bus, I noticed some fluid had collected on the bottom of the rim of the front driver's side wheel. My experience is that this is one of two things; water or brake fluid. I stuck my finger in the fluid and ran it along the rim. It's black not red, a good sign. I entered the bus and tested the E brake and the service brake. I held that pedal down 3 or 4 times for the count of ten. No give...a very good sign, but it's still a good idea to take the bus to the technicians to check it out. 


I need to pause here to explain that I have a monitor that rides with me during this route. LaToya and I have a great time working together and she is one of the best listeners I have ever met. Good thing, because I LOVE to talk! I explained to LaToya that we had to stop at the garage to make sure the bus doesn't have a brake fluid leak. I showed her the big black smudge on my index finger. 


We have really great mechanics/technicians at our terminal. They are never condescending to me and usually will take the time to explain why the bus is doing what it is doing. They have even taken time to help a lot of people including me with their personal vehicles. In the garage, Ron, a tech I hardly know came to help me. I told him I needed to make sure that brake fluid wasn't leaking from my wheel. I showed him my black finger and we went out to take a look at the bus. The wet spot was now on the top of the wheel. He took out his flash light and took a quick look at the wheel. He got a big smile on his face and said "You're fine, that's not brake fluid. It's an animal." I said "What?" He said "An animal peed on the wheel, you're fine." 


Thanks a lot Ron! I had who knows what kind of animal urine on my finger. Really, you couldn't have lied to me and said it was water and road grime? I got in the bus and told LaToya that we were safe, but that I needed my Clorox wipes and the anti-bacterial ASAP! I bet she is still laughing her ass off. Well, Happy Friday everybody  :P