The steps leading onto the towering yellow bus seemed huge compared to my twelve-year-old body. I stretched to take one stair at a time and was nervous to find a seat with a friend. I could feel the butterflies dancing in my stomach and wasn’t sure if it was from excitement or the anxiety of the unknown.
The voices of my peers spilled out of the windows as we made our way down the highway, trading lunches, seat hopping, and eagerly anticipating our arrival at the Science Centre.
My stomach turned somersaults.
Outside the rain created puddles, perfect for jumping in, and the line up to get off of the bus lagged while my classmates took their time splashing around, ignoring the huge buildings looming overhead and the big city we had just arrived in.
I needed to get off of the bus.
The butterflies flew up from the bottom of my stomach and reached for my throat, and as they lunged forward so did I. Pushing my peers to the side I sprang for the stairs to fresh air but it was too late, the excitement, anxiety, and butterflies inside wanted out!
With my body now out of my control I threw up in front of all of my classmates.
I felt one of my friends mothers take my shoulders, brush my hair back, and lead me to a bathroom. She played the role of my mother all day, while her child participated in the activities and I couldn’t leave the bathroom.
The ride home was a blur.
Exhausted, pale, and embarrassed I closed my eyes and prayed that we arrived back at the school quickly. I missed my mother madly and wanted to go to bed.
I wanted to escape the sounds of my squealing friends, the stories of fun, and everything I missed.
I felt cheated.
And I haven’t been back to the Science Centre ever since.
Oh crap, so sorry for your experience. Were you ill? Or just nervous as hell?
I think I was sick. I loved school trips.
What? You haven’t been back? Well, I think that it’s time that you did and see what you were missing!
Science? I dunno. Art is more my thang!!
Oh you poor thing! I felt your anxiety, your butterflies and, thank goodness, the grateful relief for the mother that helped you!
On a writerly note, the way you broke up your paragraphs is perfection. The lines that you picked to stand alone really stood out and pushed your story forward.
I’m really not cold hearted, I mostly felt empathy for your sicks. But also admiration for your spacing.
This comment isn’t sounding any warmer now, is it? *Sigh*
XO
To be perfectly honest I didn’t realize how sad it was until Brian was upset by it. I appreciate you thinking so much of my writing that means more than you could ever know!!
Oh no!!! If it makes you feel any better, the science center wasn’t all that. We went there on our end of the year trip.
Thanks. I do feel better. Crappy science fun
Oh NO! I’m so sorry that this happened to you. It’s embarrassing and heartwrenching all at the same time.
Poor you.
It’s not THAT big of a deal, anyways… Kimberley’s right.
Not anymore But back then it so was. I’m over it. I think. Lol
It’s happened to everyone at least once in their life so don’t feel too badly!
Thank goodness it’s a normal function. Poor science centre.
How embarrassing! I can relate to this as I have been in those shoes.
I hope someday you can go to the Science Centre and enjoy it.
I hope to take my daughter there. With no barfing!!
What a terrible field trip. I probably would have never got back on the bus again.
It was crappy. I’ve never been a barfer since
Oh crap! I’m sorry. I can’t imagine how you must have felt. I hope you got to go back someday and/or had lots of good field trip memories to take it’s place.
OH NO!
I threw up once in front of all my classmates, but I was in kindergarten. Thankfully it was not on a school trip. It sucks that you had to get sick on such a fun day, but very touching that your friend’s mom stepped in to take care of you.
😉
She was wonderful!’ I’ll never forget what she did.
I totally remember this trip!! And I’m pretty sure I have a picture of you somewhere just after you threw up 🙂
Yeah I know…I’m such a good friend!!! 😉
That’s all I remember of that class trip so you obviously did not miss much !!
I imprinted on you that much. My barfing is all you remember. Lawd.
Ack! Poor you!! I am so sad this happened to you. But how sweet was your friend’s mother? I run as far away as possible from barfing kids – and yes, I’m talking about my own!
I’m not a barfer now. I just can’t do it. Even when I was pregnant.
You poor thing! I probably wouldn’t have even had the courage to get back on the bus again!
I loved bus trips. Apparently not the science centre