Uh, yeah. What happened to the children? Good question! Interesting scenario and setting, must take place in 50’s or 60’s I guess.

Would he have accepted a ride from the Sheriff? This must be a small town, but to not notice the children missing is odd. I guess everyone figured they got on another bus and were taken home. Not unusual. But broken down bus has a radio and calls for help.. so the offers are even odder. What story would he have given them to make them move on? He must have looked a sight, and they must have been happy to pass him up. Why didn’t they call the police? Was the sheriff too afraid to come see to him? Maybe he was just a creepy guy.

A creepy bus driver! Fiction! Never! Nice characterization of Hal, I have a good sense of who his, even though the last line throws it all for a loop.