A Lesson Out of School

"A LESSON OUT OF SCHOOL"

By: Jeanne

That hot August day, Dorthea and I were riding our bicycles up and down our neighborhood roads. Down one street, over another, up a hill, through a park and on and on. Oh, those breezes felt so good. There were only two more weeks of sweet freedom left before we would find ourselves trapped behind school desks wishfully gazing out those high airless windows.

Dorthea and I had helped each other in learning to balance our new 24 inch bikes. In didn't take long until we considered ourselves pre-professional master bike riders. Mine was a beautiful red three speed with white stripes. Dorthea's, a sparkling green five speed. She never did use speeds four and five though.

Remembering that there was a playground a few blocks away on River Street, we headed over that way. What we didn't remember was that it was next to a neighborhood police station, which was there to handle local hanky-panky, such as our friend Jimmy putting fire crackers under cars. After parking our bikes next to a chain link fence, taking care that there was no chance of them falling over, we went on to have fun on the swings, sliding boards, see-saws, jungle jims, etc. As we were hanging upside-down by our legs on the monkey bars, we noticed a big man coming out of the door to the police station. He stood there for a minute smiling and then started walking. Was he heading our way? Yes, he sure was! He was in his police uniform with a big black gun hanging from his belt. "Would you girls like to see the inside of a police station?", he asked. "Um, yes I guess so," Dorthea answered. Me? I was too in awe of the big man to utter a word.

After telling us that his name was Officer Foley, he walked us into a big room which was old and stuffy. A desk was off to the right of the door. To the left were two wooden slat-back benches. Straight ahead were three empty cells. (The night before must have been a quiet one!) Each cell had a cot, a small table and - - -horrors!! A toilet right there in the wide open. He allowed us to walk into one cell with the warning that it certainly was not a place we would want to be - ever. By this time, Dorthea and I were being freaked out and just wanted to leave. Still smiling, Officer Foley walked us to the door and as we were climbing on our bikes, he called, "Be sure to travel carefully and in a straight line - now and for the rest of your lives."

I did remember his warning the rest of my life - but mostly remembered that very public toilet.

The End