Devoted Bus Driver Buys First Grader New Pajamas so He Doesn't Feel Left Out on Pajama Day
As human beings, we all have a desire to be included, to feel like we belong. And when we’re children, still navigating our place in this world, those feelings are even more intense. It’s important to feel like we’re a part of our communities.
When Levi Carrier, a first grader, thought he would have to miss a spirit day at his school, he was devastated. Thankfully, there was an adult in his life who stepped up to play angel.
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'He looked up at me, bawling, face full of tears,' Levi's bus driver said of the little boy.
Larry Farrish Jr., a school bus driver in Louisville, Kentucky, told Good Morning America that student Levi is generally happy to see him. “Any normal day when I pull up to the bus stop, Levi like waves me in,” Farris said.
But one morning, he didn’t get the boy's usual warm reception. “This day, he didn’t wave me in. I noticed him sitting down on the ground by himself,” he shared.
When Levi stepped on the bus, Farrish asked him what was wrong. "He looked up at me, bawling, face full of tears and he said 'I don't have any pajamas,'" Farrish said, per the morning news program. "Obviously it meant a lot to him."
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Farrish went to Family Dollar and purchased two set of pajamas for Levi.
According to Levi’s mother, Jasmine Carrier, the family lives in a home without a washer and dryer hookup and her son didn’t have any clean pajamas for that day. Thankfully, Farrish was there. After he dropped off his students at school, he told bus monitors about his plans.
Farrish went to Family Dollar to buy Levi two sets of pajamas so the boy would have options. When he returned to the school, he had the receptionist call Levi down to the office to receive the pajamas.
“He came around the corner, his face lit up,” Farrish said, according to Good Morning America. “It was the biggest smile that I recognized every morning. I was like, that’s Levi.”
'Something so little as pajamas made his world,' Farrish said.
Farrish told Levi, “I want you to participate in pajama day. Will you try these on when you get back to your classroom and have a good day?”
Levi was thankful for the gesture. “He hugged them and he said, ‘I have pajamas.’"
Farrish said he was moved to tears witnessing Levi’s joy. “Something so little as pajamas made his world,” he shared.
Levi's mother said her boy talks about the pajamas all the time now.
Levi’s mother also was thankful. “It’s amazing,” she told Good Morning America. “You don’t find too many nice people out here.”
Jasmine Carrier said this is not the first time Levi has mentioned his bus driver. She added that Levi speaks fondly of him and has started mentioning the pajamas every day.
Levi also brought home a picture of himself and Farrish to show his mom. Farrish, who has been driving the bus for seven years, makes a point to bond with his students, and it’s why he decided to help Levi that day.
“I never wanted to see my student hurt because of something so small," Farrish said. "It's the importance of being able to participate."
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