On a chilly December morning, the school bus was making its usual rounds through a quiet neighborhood, stopping at familiar corners to pick up excited children. As the bus moved along, Ms. Collins, the driver, noticed something unusual. Eni, a normally cheerful and talkative little boy, sat quietly with tears in his eyes.

Glancing in the rearview mirror, Ms. Collins noticed his bare hands were red and raw from the cold. While the other children laughed and chatted, oblivious to his discomfort, Ms. Collins felt a pang of concern. Winter could be unforgiving, and she couldn’t stand to see a child suffer in silence.

Without hesitation, she pulled the bus to the side of the road. “Everyone, please stay seated for a moment,” she announced calmly but firmly. She unbuckled her seatbelt, stepped out of her seat, and walked over to Eni.

“Hey there, buddy,” she said gently, sitting beside him. “What’s wrong?”

In a trembling voice, Eni admitted, “I forgot my mittens at home, and my hands are freezing!” He held up his icy pink hands, and Ms. Collins’ heart sank.

“Let’s see what we can do about that,” she said, thinking quickly. Fortunately, she always kept a spare pair of gloves in her bag for situations like this. She reached in, pulled them out, and handed them to Eni. “Here, try these. They should help warm you up.”

Eni’s eyes lit up with relief and gratitude. “Really? Thank you so much!” he said, slipping the gloves on. His face broke into a wide smile as the warmth returned to his hands, and his spirits lifted.

Ms. Collins smiled back. “It’s important to remember your mittens when it’s this cold,” she said kindly, offering a gentle reminder about staying prepared for winter.

With Eni now warm and happy, the bus resumed its journey. The atmosphere shifted, filling with cheerful chatter. Eni, feeling better, joined his friends and even shared how Ms. Collins had come to his rescue.

Word of the driver’s kind gesture quickly spread among the children, inspiring them with her example. From that day forward, Eni never forgot his mittens, and he carried with him a lesson about the power of kindness.

Every morning when the bus reached Eni’s stop, the children would greet Ms. Collins with a cheerful “Good morning!” and Eni would wave enthusiastically, his hands warm and covered.

In her simple act of compassion, Ms. Collins not only warmed Eni’s hands but also reminded everyone of the importance of caring for one another, especially during winter’s coldest days.