The ’90s were a special time. However, for some of us, it can be hard to remember the good time after everything that went down on “The Day.” You’ve probably read about it, and if you’re a true ‘90s kid, you might even remember hearing about it in real time. But in the end, only 90 kids will truly remember the horrific thing that happened on that tragic day in 1998. I was one of those 90 kids, and I’m finally ready to talk about it.
We were on the bus, heading out for a field trip to study algae at the lake. It was the ’90s so we were discussing our favorite Are You Afraid Of The Dark episodes, trading pogs, and listening to British rock band Chumbawamba on repeat. Now I can’t hear day.”Tubthumping” without being reminded of the horrors of that wretched day.
Our bus driver was so busy yelling at us to, “stop shout-singing I GET KNOCKED DOWN, BUT I GET UP AGAIN, YOU’RE NEVER GONNA KEEP ME DOWN,” that he failed to notice the other bus (also full of kids) as it whipped around the corner. Everything went dark. When I woke up, there was blood and glass everywhere. Needless to say, so many kids got knocked down that day, and did not, in fact, get up again.
The surviving kids from both buses stumbled out into the wilderness, now chaperone-less (all the adults were dead). It’s funny what you think about in those moments. I remember wondering where my brand new Lisa Frank backpack was, and thinking that all my gel pens had probably been destroyed. I never did find that backpack.
Soon, night fell, and the temperature dropped. We were scared, alone, and yes … hungry. Most of us hadn’t eaten in hours, save perhaps for a meager pack of Dunkaroos. Plus, this was pre-cell phones, so we had no idea how long we’d be there or where we were wandering. I’m not proud of what happened next … none of us are. We were desperate, and our fallen classmates back on the buses were beyond help or saving. So, yeah, we ate them, alright? There, I said it.
It’s a memory us 90 kids who were there that day will never, ever forget, no matter how hard we try. Trust me, no amount of totally tubular therapy or Vodka Ecto-Coolers can ever erase it.
Images: Unsplash