The morning was nearly pitch black as we got outside to head to school. It was normal for it to be dark as we had the early bus arrival. It was fall. In the distance it sounded as if the bus was on the way. We could hear the motor of the bus as it was a distinct sound. We all begin to hustle to our road. The bus would be there any minute.

Suddenly my younger brother turned his head at a shuffling noise in his live trap he had set. Something was in the trap. He realized that there was indeed an animal in the trap, and he decided at once he was going to open the door quickly and let it go before we left.

Right about when the bus was so close we were certain it was our bus, he opened the door to the live trap. We were all curious as to what it was and where it would go. When all of a sudden I saw white streaks along the sides of the animal; it abruptly turned around as we all looked on in horror from a short distance.

All except my brother who was merely trying to let the animal out and free.

In a quick second or two; he was directly hit nearly as he attempted to dodge the shot of spray at the last second as he obviously saw it about to aim for him. He made a great effort to miss being hit. With no time to waste, we all continued towards our stop.

There was no time to change or decide otherwise, so we all jumped on the bus like always. Sort of. Right away there were a few squeals and squeaks. I remember sitting down and trying to play it cool. While at the same time trying to sit further away from the fresh spray. I’d imagine someone may have cracked a window.

This had never happened before. Literally. We were all going with the flow. Back then it actually was a big accomplishment if you had perfect attendance. Therefore, there was no doubt we’d be getting on the bus. Eventually we thought the smell would dissipate. Especially for us who were running as it begin it’s aim.

Being the first ones on the bus, we had a whole long ride of seeing and hearing everyone’s reaction as they also boarded the bus afterwards. It was much of the same. More gasps and moans.

Kids begin to cover their noses and mouths with their jackets. There was a hush inside the bus lulling over the rest of the ride to the old elementary school of ours on Jacker St. It was never so quiet as that morning. We rolled into the front of the building to get dropped of. Everyone quickly and silently departed. As I walked into the school I turned to see my brother following not too far behind. We were all in different grades and classes.

However, soon the buzz was all about the smell in school. Everyone in class was talking about the morning and what had transpired. The principal was on the hunt for the cause and trying to find a solution. I found it difficult to concentrate on anything other than how much skunk residue spray lay on my shoes. Discreetly I wanted to sniff them. Of course, I didn’t.

Finally after what seemed like eons of my mind wandering to the morning event, and worried how my brother and sister’s were faring. Another teacher came in and announced the solution to me the principal had reached. Myself and my other siblings would be staying in school after we put our shoes in our lockers for the rest of the day.

And, my brother was going to be picked up to go home. As the smell was too overpowering for his teacher and classmates to endure the rest of the day. His teacher tried.

Ultimately, the principal found the original smell due to tracing it to my brothers locker I heard. And with so much of a spray at close range he was too soaked in it to stay. The scent was super strong.

Perfect attendance does not always come easy that’s for sure. Days like this were an example of that. Yet, despite the beginning of the morning of that unexpected day like that we all carried on and arrived on time. It was business as usual. Right up until it was just too potent to be perfect anymore.

Our principal made his decision and my brother was on the way home. He would be having his first tomato bath. What a day; we sure learned something new that day. Skunks can sure spray.