My daughter and I took a different bus than usual today – one where the bus driver isn’t familiar with her (yes, she has her own TriMet fan club.) See, we had to stop to pick up birthday cupcakes, so ended up on a very crowded standing-room-only bus that drops hordes of kids off at Benson High School.

If you had been riding the bus with us this morning – young daughter with a mile-wide grin ’cause she’s excited about the day, me toting birthday cupcakes and birthday treats and other paraphenalia – here’s what you would have heard from the bus driver as we got on:

“I want someone to give the small girl a seat, please!”

None of the kids (most with earphones jammed on their heads) moves a muscle. We wait…one…two…three beats. Mind you, she’s quite proud of her subway stance & would have been fine standing – but the bus driver would have none of it.

“This bus isn’t moving until someone gives that little girl a seat. I can wait all day if I have to…”

Incredulous glances were exchanged among the kids, and one of them jumped up to give up her seat. But the driver wasn’t done yet:

Thank you to whoever got up – I appreciate it!

And thus ended the etiquette lesson on the Number 70 bus this morning…