Grandpa Boyd’s Toes Froze

Robert Boyd stepped into his Dallas Cowboys slippers and took his granddaughter out on Orchard Street to the school bus stop — unaware they’d be staying there for close to an hour.

When the bus arrived, Boyd was grateful for another day that Dasani can attend Nathan Hale across town.

“My feet are completely frozen this morning,” Boyd reported.

Boyd considers Dasani, who is in fifth grade and has autism, more like his daughter and never leaves her side. He believes that the area is unsafe for her to be walking around.

“There’s a lot of shootings going around,” Boyd said. ​“I can’t really go out and take my granddaughter out to places like the park or other places outside for kids because people are around and start chaos. I want to be able to take her to the park to have fun.”

Lately, Boyd has been entirely focused on his career and taking care of Scott. He was recently promoted to assistant manager for the deli department at the Stop & Shop on Whalley Avenue.

He was aware of a two-hour school-opening delay Monday due to the icy road conditions. He didn’t expect the bus to be almost an hour late beyond that. Luckily for him, he didn’t have to start work until 11.

“We’ve just been working and going to school,” Boyd said during a conversation on the ​“Word on the Street” segment of WNHH FM’s ​“LoveBabz LoveTalk” program as he and Dasani waited for the bus. ​“We have plans to move soon because of the high cost of rent. Landlords want to charge way too much rent. It doesn’t really matter where we end up moving. As long as my family and I are safe and comfortable.”

Their family has lived in the area for nine years, and now plans on moving near Washington Avenue. Boyd said that his family is aware that there will be shootings anywhere they move to. 

“I never let Dasani walk alone,” Boyd said. ​“Even if she just went to the corner store, you never know what’s going to happen.”

Dasani agreed with Boyd.

“I’m scared,” Scott said. 

Boyd said that he’s just happy that his granddaughter is attending Nathan Hale School where she feels safe and accepted, and where staff is attentive to her. 

“It’s an excellent school,” Boyd said. ​“It’s good for her education. They do well with autism.” 

Most importantly, she’s genuinely happy attending.

When Scott isn’t attending school, she enjoys music and attends Springs-Life-Giving Water Church on Lamberton Street with her grandmother (Boyd’s wife). 

“Usually the buses are on time, but whenever there’s a delay, it seems like they take all day,” Boyd said. ​“I just get her on that bus and head back to the house.”

The school bus finally arrived around 9:45 a.m. Boyd returned the house to get ready for work.

“I don’t have to rush over,” Boyd said, ​“but I’ve got to go and warm my feet up!”