Derek, the school bus driver, was known for his big heart and infectious smile. Every morning, he would greet the kids with a wave and a joke, making their bus rides fun despite the chilly mornings. It was a cold, windy day when Derek was feeling particularly miserable.

“Get in quick, kids! The weather’s killing me!” he said, shivering as the little ones hopped onto the bus, bundled in their warm clothes.

“Ask your mommy to get you a new scarf!” one little girl giggled.

“Oh, sweetie, I wish my momma was alive. She would have gotten me the prettiest scarf!” Derek replied with a smile, making the girl laugh even harder.

“Mommy gets me the best scarves!” the girl said, her eyes sparkling. “I’ll tell her to get you one!”

Derek chuckled. “Oh no, no darling, I was just joking. Get in, get in. I gotta drive safely today!”

The kids’ laughter warmed his heart as he started the bus, but there was something else weighing on his mind—his financial troubles. The bills seemed to pile up faster than his salary, and his wife often reminded him that he wasn’t bringing in enough to support their family.

“It pays you peanuts!” she would yell. “We can’t afford to pay off the mortgage if you keep working this job.”

“Darling, you know how much I love this job,” Derek would reply calmly. “I’ll keep working hard, and everything will work out.”

But Derek knew that sometimes love couldn’t pay the bills. He would sit alone on the bus, after dropping the kids off, thinking about his worries. How long could he keep going like this?

That day, the weather was worse than ever, with thick ice making the roads slippery. Derek drove extra slowly, trying to avoid any accidents. When he reached the school, he reminded the kids to be careful as they exited the bus.

“Watch out for the ice! Be careful, Milly!” he called out to one of the little girls as she stepped off the bus.

After all the kids were safely inside the school, Derek decided to treat himself to a warm cup of coffee from the café across the street. It was freezing out there, and a hot drink would be the perfect thing to warm him up.

But just as he was about to get out of the bus, he heard a quiet sob. Turning toward the sound, Derek noticed a small figure sitting in the very last seat, head bowed, his shoulders shaking with soft sobs.

“Hey, kid,” Derek called out gently. “You’re not heading to class today?”

The boy didn’t answer but continued to cry quietly. Derek approached him, concern flooding his heart. “What’s wrong, buddy? Are you okay?”

The boy looked up, his face red from crying, and Derek saw that he was hiding his hands behind his back. “What are you hiding there?” Derek asked, kneeling beside him.

The boy hesitated but then revealed his frozen, blue hands. “It’s just so cold out there,” he whispered. “I’m just cold…”

Derek’s heart sank as he saw the boy’s hands. Without thinking, he pulled off his own gloves and put them on the boy. “I know they’re too big, but they’ll keep you warm. Did you lose your gloves?”

The boy shook his head. “Mommy and Daddy don’t have any money to buy me new ones. My old ones got ripped. They promised to get me new ones next month…”

Derek’s stomach twisted with empathy. “Oh, that’s not a problem, kid,” he said with a reassuring smile. “I know a guy who works at a store, and he makes the best gloves! I’ll get you some after school, okay?”

The boy wiped his eyes, smiling a little. “Thanks, Mr. Derek.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Derek said, patting him on the back. “Now, hurry up! You’re going to be late for class!”

The boy left the bus, but Derek’s heart remained heavy with the knowledge that the boy would still be cold when he went outside. So, Derek made a quick decision.

He didn’t stop at the café. Instead, he walked to a nearby store and spent his last dollar on a pair of gloves and a scarf for the boy. It didn’t matter; he’d be getting paid soon, and the boy needed them more than Derek needed his coffee.

The next day, Derek handed the boy the gloves and scarf before he left the bus.

“These will keep you warm,” Derek said with a grin, trying to hide the emotion in his voice. “Don’t trouble your parents about it, okay?”

The boy’s face lit up with surprise, and he hugged Derek tightly. “Thank you, Mr. Derek! You’re the best!” he said before running off to class.

Derek watched him go, feeling a wave of warmth fill him, despite the cold. Little did he know, this small act of kindness would soon come back to him in ways he never expected.

A few days later, Derek was called into the principal’s office. He walked in, unsure of what to expect, and Mr. Butler greeted him with a warm smile.

“Please, take a seat, Derek,” the principal said. “We need to talk.”

Derek’s heart skipped a beat. Had he done something wrong? Was he in trouble?

But what Mr. Butler said next made his eyes well up with tears of joy.

“We heard about what you did for Aiden and his family,” Mr. Butler began. “His father is a firefighter who was badly injured, and they’ve been struggling. Your kindness meant a lot to him and his family.”

Derek wiped his eyes, feeling overwhelmed. “I didn’t expect anything in return,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.

“Derek, you didn’t have to do what you did, but it has made a huge difference. That’s why we wanted to show our appreciation.”

It turned out that Derek’s simple gesture had inspired others. Two days before, he had placed a box by the front gate of the school, filled with scarves and gloves. A note beside it read: “If you’re cold, take something. I’d appreciate it. — Derek, the school bus driver.”

The principal and several parents were so moved by Derek’s generosity that they decided to honor him in front of the whole school. They also started a fund to help families who were struggling to afford basic necessities.

But that wasn’t the only good thing that happened. Derek’s boss had heard about what he did, and his pay was increased. Derek couldn’t believe his luck. His small act of kindness had not only helped a little boy but had also brought love and appreciation back into his own life.

Kindness truly does have a way of coming back to you when you least expect it.

What did we learn from this? Kindness begets kindness. Derek’s love and care for the children on his bus led him to help a little boy in need, and that kindness was returned to him in ways he never imagined.

Sometimes, doing something good for others can change your life in ways you can’t predict. If you can help someone, do it—you’ll never regret it.

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