[Coda]

Talking about near-traffic incidents reminds me of when I was... 15 or 16, I think.

I got hit by a daycare bus!

I was following all of the rules. I was standing at the intersection, ready to walk my bike across the street instead of riding it, once the crossing light said it was safe to go. The traffic lights changed, the cars came to a stop, the crossing light turned on, I looked both ways just to be sure, and I started out across the street.

The daycare bus behind me decided that would be a good time to turn right.

Knocked me over. Knocked my bike over on top of me. Dug the grip texture of the pedal into my leg, leaving me with a big gash. The driver didn't even get out to see if I was okay. They just saw that I picked myself up, picked my bike up, and got out of the street, and then they took off.

I was almost to my high school by that point, so I just walked my bike the rest of the way there. (Certainly couldn't ride it.) I pulled my sock up to try to keep the bleeding under control until I could get to the office. I didn't realize how bad the damage actually was until I got there and took a moment to look myself over.

I'll be honest, I don't actually remember what happened next. Pretty sure the nurse helped clean me up and bandage my wounds and I went to class. I heard later that the driver got fired.