Despite his passengers’ complaints, a bus driver diverted his route to transport an old man who had a stroke on the bus to the hospital. In the end, he received an unexpected prize for his bravery.
It was a regular day in Florida when Edward Thomas drove to 9th Avenue West. The weather was pleasant and chilly, and a gentle breeze periodically brushed against his face through the window.
Edward had a lot on his mind while he drove like he did every day, but the situation inside the bus made it difficult for him to focus on anything. The children were conversing, and the elders were engrossed in their morning newspapers, loudly discussing what was going on in town.
Edward was a bus driver and lived in Florida | Photo: Shutterstock
As Edward reached the day’s first stop, some of the chatterboxes disembarked, and several others boarded. Among the new passengers, Edward spotted an older guy entering the bus with the assistance of a young man, who then exited as the older man boarded.
Looking at his condition, Edward hoped he wasn’t traveling alone. He was in his late nineties, walked with a cane, and appeared frail. Edward motioned for the front-seat passenger to take a different seat and give the old gentleman his.
“Good morning, sir! Are you comfortable in this seat?” Edward greeted him. The man, however, did not respond; instead, he stared at Edward for a few moments and then shifted his gaze outside the window.
Thinking the man preferred to stay quiet, Edward didn’t ask him anything further. He returned to his seat, took a quick peek at the bus itinerary, then continued on his way. Because of the old man, he kept a slower speed than usual that day, which the other passengers were quick to observe and express their displeasure of.
“Hello! Could you please drive faster! I’ll be late for my meeting!” a woman in the rear seat screamed.
The old man looked very weak | Photo: Unsplash
“Sorry, ma’am,” Edward replied. “We have an elderly man with us. I need to be a little careful. Don’t worry, you’ll make it on time.”
“And what about the rest of us?” another man yelled. “We paid for our rides too, and we deserve to get to our destinations on time! Who cares about that old man?”
“Sir, could you kindly keep your voice down?” Edward replied, hiding his anger towards his rude passengers. “If...
