LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Friday, Feb. 9 started like any other day: Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) bus driver Larry Farrish Jr. was driving his route like normal when he noticed one of his bus riders acting a little off.
“I pulled up to the bus stop, and I saw Levi sitting down by himself with his head down, and it dawned on me, something is wrong,” Farrish said. “He’s always happy, but this particular day, he was not happy.”
According to JCPS, when Farrish asked the first grader what was wrong, Levi told him he didn't have pajamas for "pajama day."
So after dropping Levi off at Engelhard Elementary School and finishing his route, Farrish took it upon himself to go and find some pjs at a nearby Family Dollar.
“It hurt me so bad,” he said. “That just wasn’t my Levi, and I wanted him to have a good day. No child should have to miss out on something as small as pajama day.”
He returned to the school, and asked the front office to call for Levi.
“I saw Levi coming down the hall, and he had a face just as happy as could be,” Farrish said. “It really turned the whole Friday around, for him and for me.”
Farrish started driving about seven years ago, and it quickly became a passion of his as he started connecting with the students.
“I can tell Mr. Larry is nice and his heart is filled with joy,” Levi said. “I’m usually really happy, but not on pajama day…When he got me the pajamas, I did a happy cry.”
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