A Room Mother

Fear comes in many forms:

the unknown —loss -something about to happen —something startling.

When David won a Masland scholarship I experienced all of the above.The scholarship offered a year’s study at Union Seminary in New York City with room and board.

We were just completing 4 years in Charlottesville so NYC seemed to be an exciting new adventure and next step for us. The children were 7 and 9 years old and would be in 2nd and 4th grade PS125 in Harlem. Having helped with some elementary classes I decided to volunteer as a “Room Mother.”

My first assignment was to accompany my son’s 4th grade class on a field trip to the Metropolaton Museum. It would be simple: the subway would take us right to the door. I boarded the train (the only adult) with over a dozen children.

We were all seated in the front car of the subway,I breathed a sigh of relief but this did not last long. the children were up from their seats and moving and milling around. Then to my horror I saw a few boys had actually hopped off the subway!

“NO! NO”!I shouted.

Should I pull the Emergency cord and stop the onrushing car? Should I go after them and leave the other children alone on the subway?

I looked around for a policeman—a conductor- ANYONE but no one official looking was in sight and the subway was moving on at increasing speed.

I began to sweat as I imagined all that could happen to little children alone in the confusion of downtown New York City. Possible scenarios entered my mind —— kidnapping, rape, or murder. I was scared and paralyzed with indecision. I didn’t know what should I do.

Soon I heard a voice announcing “Metropolitan Museum next stop”. Mechinically I ushered the remaining children off, and standing there to greet us were the missing boys. These New York City street-wise boys had simply hopped off the subway and back on a later car and had been there with us all along.