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Last June, when Moni Bates, a retired high school science teacher, took a memoir-writing workshop I taught at Sternberger Artists Center, she brought a notebook with her.

A colorful picture of a bus embellished the cover. Before the workshop ended, Moni, reading her words, introduced the class to the VW Generation II model her family uses for camping. As she read the sketch, written from the quirky viewpoint of Fredrick the bus, laughter filled the room.

Now, in the Memoir Writing Group sponsored by the Writers’ Group of the Triad, Moni, on behalf of quirky Fredrick, continues to write new chapters.

From the get-go, I loved Fredrick and wanted to write about his antics. Though he was the most interesting vehicle I ever encountered, would he meet the qualifications for my column?
My self-imposed rule has been to feature people at least 55 years old. Moni barely qualifies agewise, and Fredrick, still in his 30s, certainly falls short.

Still he’s wise as an octogenarian, and in the first chapter of his memoir, he laments about slowing down and even provides proof of his senior status: “The North Carolina legislature agrees that I am a senior citizen. N.C. General Statute 20-63d states that a vehicle older than 35 years earns the right to don an antique license plate that exhibits the year the license plate was manufactured.” Fredrick now has one; that’s proof enough for me.

Moni named the bus for her grandfather (called Fred), her great-grandfather, and her great-great-grandfather, all bearing the same noble German name. Considered a member of the family, Fredrick delights in traveling and camping out with Moni and her husband, John. Grateful to the Bateses’ son, Chris, for giving him a face lift with new paint, Fredrick has also benefited from the engine transplant and upkeep provided by John. But most of all, he appreciates Moni, who types up his stories. According to Fredrick, “Knobs fall off me, things break down, and I just don’t think my pistons could hit a keyboard properly.”

More accepting of people than pets, Fredrick detests Pele, the family’s Portuguese Water Dog. He hates how Pele messes up his interior and resents that the dog gets “far too much attention.”

Maintaining that he is more handsome than Pele, Fredrick thinks Moni should have given the pest to the Obama family when they first went looking for a Portuguese Water Dog.

Fredrick always looks forward to being on the road again. Traveling to Boone for the Music on the Mountain Festival, he enjoys the flora and fauna despite having difficulty getting up steep hills. While there, John and Moni prove they can handle his breakdowns with good humor. “The best thing was the fun and laughter I heard all weekend, even when popping my clutch on numerous jump starts,” Fredrick says.

When asked how he plans to spend the holidays, Fredrick responds (through Moni), he will be hanging out with Chris, who will be home from N.C. State. The two will visit James Garrison, a friend who helped with Fredrick’s restoration.

In 2010, the nifty bus intends to go to some Full Moon Bus Camp get-togethers with Moni and John. One EveryBus event will be held in North Carolina — at Hagan-Stone Park in Guilford County. How he loves socializing with camping vehicles and their proud owners.

Possessed with a strong social consciousness, Fredrick’s New Year’s wishes for the world include the development of alternative energy sources, but he hopes some fossil fuels will remain for his own future operation. He also supports Gov. Bev Perdue’s “efforts to expand state parks, natural areas, and to complete trail systems like the Uwharrie.”

When will Fredrick’s memoir be completed?

Moni considers the bus and his humorous stories to be family treasures. Instead of “fine china and silver,” her dream is to pass along Fredrick to their son and any future descendants. If future family members continue to enter Fredrick’s opinions and antics into computers, he surely will go down in history.

This pleases Fredrick immensely. Though he may never be a presidential bus, he fully expects to become historically significant. As he ponders his importance, he’s almost willing to forgive the indignity of Pele’s dirty paws.

Contact Sandra Redding at Sanredd@earthlink.net