Beverly Pridgen

The Bus Driver's Mother Beverly Pridgen

The footpath of a special child becoming a special man, and the challenges met and surmounted by his mother, form the core of this captivating narrative. As we shift between the perspectives of Ella, the mother, and Andrew, the son, we touch down in different time frames, capturing unfettered glimpses into his simple outlook and guileless character, in contrast to Ella's complicated and multifaceted emotions. Ella juggles poverty, divorce, health crises, remarriage, and tragedy while raising six young children and struggling to navigate Andrew's special needs. Through her journey, she discovers that life is as much about opposition and extremity as it is about smooth sailing.




The story underscores common challenges of raising special-needs children, such as confusing medical diagnoses, problematic glitches in the educational system, and unsolicited opinions and judgments offered liberally by well-meaning outsiders. Far from clinical, the story is poignant and emotional, with some surprising twists and turns. Throughout, we become acquainted with the sincere and unassuming man that is Andrew as he embarks upon a surprisingly fortuitous career as a tour bus driver, one who genuinely cares about each passenger.




The Bus Driver's Mother portrays the pain, challenges, and disappointments integral to life. It also depicts the wonder, surprises, and blessings which come, when least expected, along the way. It proposes that every level of intellect should be esteemed, and that indeed, every child ought to be cherished.