Teething troubles

It was all working out well, that is, theoretically. A van was arranged for the commute to school with the hope that parents would head to work without starting the day exchanging choice words in the bedlam on the road in front of school and RRJ would finally realize his dream of parent-independent commute to school. We had a great run with car pooling last 1.5 years but with new schedules when the idea of a van came up, it just made perfect sense to every one at home. Then it was Monday. Early morning start, RRJ in the van looking a bit apprehensive, in tow his amma just to check out how it feels to go to school again and two more kids heading to another school. We made it in good time of course because we were lucky with two signals and the third one was nicely violated. Amma made some appropriate noise which was met with a stern look from RRJ. We were dropped in the outer fringes of the bedlam and then before I knew RRJ was sucked in through the gate and I got a “ no parents inside” yell. The van dropped the other two kids and then gave us a ride back. Amma didn’t have to struggle to find the driver’s complete disregard for the concept of waiting for signals, traffic rules, and the lack of ability to estimate time required for different activities that are part of his job. If the morning sequence raised some suspicions then the afternoon pick up was the clincher. Suffices to say we reached home an hour and a quarter later for a 3 km distance. Amma had accompanied in this journey as well and didn’t need any more convincing. Evening was spent discussing with another parent and a second chance was agreed upon. Next day, we started earlier, traffic looked okay and all was well, then for lack any excitement the fellow takes a narrow by lane! The only purpose it served was instead of going on a traffic-less, straight main road we got stuck in a narrow by-lane with a lorry coming the wrong way. Amma just did deep breathing while the driver blamed everyone for botching his brilliant plan and tilted his van like a dog ready to pee, while the lorry nudged past. Great start. We reached in time of course, RRJ reached the suction zone and I headed to office. RRS was informed that driver’s services must be discontinued and instead he must do the chauffeuring till an alternate arrangement can be made. In the afternoon RRJ coming out of his class spots me with a questioning look, “driver?” and then he spots RRS. You could see his expression change first to disappointment and then to anger. We had sabotaged his plans: wonderful wait of an hour in the hot sun followed by the fun ride back with an imaginative man at the steering-wheel. While the anger abated Amma wrote down numbers from the vehicles standing outside the school and started calling them. “Call after 4:30, busy with school pick up”. Good! Responsible! In the evening after two three attempts a reasonable person answered. After the negotiations amma tried, “can I come along the first few days”? “Sorry madam, space ille”. So this is the what you don't see you don't know game? Hmmmm…. little does the fellow know that it is not so easy to get us off his back, RRS has already decided where he will wait in his car to follow him till the very bedlam epicenter. The rest of the week is holiday, so the drama unfolds only coming Monday.