Keep on Smiling

        The school bus slowly pulled to a stop in front of the main office. I sighed, staring out of the window as my mind roamed languidly, unable to focus on anything and still slightly sleep-addled. The sixth grade end of the bus was unnaturally empty, comprised of three occupants instead of the usual quantity. Of course, this stop meant two more students for our end, but that was hardly the point.
        As the bus slowly filled in to its usual amount, I noticed a sight that made something in my chest (most probably my almost-nonexistent heart) twist. A man was ushering a very young child to the bus, smiling. Now, this isn't uncommon: plenty of parents see their children off to school in the morning, especially since this is such a big stop. 
        But what caught my attention was the man himself. He walked rather strangely, to put it bluntly. He would always start with his right foot, then swing his left out in front of him; a hobble which made it seem as if he would fall down with one slight misjudgment. I felt some unnamed emotion stirring in aforementioned heart, as I realized just how painfully imbalanced and small the world really was. I do not know whether it was pity or sympathy or spite, but what matters is that it was there. 
        Then, as the bus started to pull away after taking in it's due charges, I noticed the man's expression.
        He was smiling.