SCHOOL BUS DRIVER GOES EXTRA MILE TO ENSURE A STUDENT ENJOYS PAJAMA DAY AT SCHOOL
Most students find that "Pajama Day" at school is an enjoyable diversion from their usual schedule. However, it served as a clear reminder of what Levi, a first-grader at Louisville, Kentucky's Engelhard Elementary School, was missing. Larry Farrish Jr., a bus driver for Jefferson County Public Schools, saw right away that Levi wasn't his typically upbeat self that Friday morning. He decided to lend a hand because he felt something was amiss.
“I pulled up to the bus stop, and I saw Levi sitting down by himself with his head down, and it dawned on me, something is wrong,” Farrish recalled. “He’s always happy, but this particular day, he was not happy.” Seeing Levi upset, Farrish gently asked what was wrong. Through a “face full of tears,” Levi explained that he didn’t have pajamas for Pajama Day. "It really hurt me," Farrish remarked. I wanted Levi to have a happy day, and that wasn't him at all. Something as simple as Pajama Day shouldn't be missed by any child. Farrish decided to make Levi's day better after dropping him off at Engelhard and finishing his morning bus route. He picked up several pairs of pajamas in various sizes when he visited a local Family Dollar. He then made his way back to the school and requested that Levi be called by the front desk staff. Farrish remembered, "I saw Levi coming down the hall, and his face was as joyful as it could be." "It truly made the entire Friday better for both him and me."
Farrish informed Levi that in order to keep him from feeling depressed, he had gotten him some pajamas. Farrish claims that Levi's face brightened and he embraced the pajamas closely, demonstrating how much the considerate act meant to him. Levi remarked, "I can tell Mr. Larry is pleasant and his heart is full of joy." In general, I'm quite joyful, but not on Pajama Day. I let out a joyful cry when he brought me the pajamas.
About seven years ago, Farrish, a former truck driver and correctional officer, began operating school buses. He initially accepted the position to take weekends and school holidays off, but it soon evolved into something much more than a job. The 35-year-old bus driver has now developed close relationships with his students and is well-known for his lighthearted demeanor, inside jokes, and unique handshakes. "After they leave their parents, they become my kids," Farrish explains. "I strive to make their life happier, but I also make sure kids get to and from school safely."
Farrish's deed of generosity garnered a lot of attention on the internet. Parents of children on his route are among the many people who have contacted him to express the impact he has had, not only for Levi but also for the numerous students he has driven over the years. "It made me cry to see that people could actually locate me and reach out for such a modest gesture," Farrish added. "Knowing that I had an influence on a child's life makes me happy."
