Mrs. Wenger and Her Big Adventure

 

Being a fourth-grade teacher in a public school can be a challenge. Especially so when a mother of a 4^th grader decides to help an overworked teacher during a class visit to a neighborhood auditorium. The occasion was a free concert by a local musician who had promised Mrs. Wenger’s 4^th grade class a free pass to attend a show that would consist of kid-friendly music. The outing promised to be a treat for the students and Mrs. Wenger, known to everyone as Vivian. Vivian was confident of success since she included a music-related topic as a regular part of her 4^th grade classroom studies. Besides expanding the curricula for 4^th graders, the students loved the topic and many volunteered to participate in the programs that Mrs. Wenger organized.

Thus, it was no surprise that Mrs. Ritchie (Little Mikey’s mother) offered to help in managing the students. Not that Vivian needed help; she managed her 24 students every day without help even during the rare occasions when an emergency occurred. Vivian considered the offer as she whispered aloud to herself. “Maybe she can be of help since the students are particularly excited about this concert.”

The students were excited. Even the planned 3-block walk to the auditorium seemed to have some students in a tizzy since, for many, this would be their first excursion to anywhere without their parents in close control.

Mrs. Wenger got the class to come to attention. She reminded the students that they needed to be on their best behavior if they hoped for another free concert sometime in the future. She talked to them about the walk and how they should form a line that was two abreast and staying together until they were in the auditorium where they would need to keep completely quiet.

Mrs. Ritchie met the class just outside the school’s main entry door. As soon as the marchers were assembled she signaled to Mrs. Wenger. “We need to talk for a minute before we leave,” she said, in a voice that seemed breathless. “While I was waiting here, I noticed a man on the sidewalk. He was an unsavory man, the kind you wouldn’t want to meet if you were alone. I think we should cross over the street now to avoid him completely.”

Vivian answered before Mrs. Ritchie proposed some other measure. “Can you point him out to me?”

“He is too far away for you to see from here. He is in the next block. You’ll see him just after we turn.” Mrs. Ritchie seemed adamant that an emergency was at hand. Vivian proceeded to direct the children forward.

Vivian had carefully plotted out the intended trip from the school to the auditorium. Just to be on the safe side, she had traveled the route on foot the day before and she hadn’t seen a single pedestrian and the walk had taken a mere 8 minutes to complete. She responded to Mikey’s mother that she would walk in the lead and if she encountered a questionable pedestrian, she would shepherd the children to the opposite side of the street.

The walk began. Sure enough, on the second block she saw the man that was the object of concern. He was a middle-aged man dressed in clothes that some would call ragged while others would say were modern. His hair was long and he had a beard. Vivian suddenly recognized him. She lengthened her stride and hurried forward as Mrs. Ritchey stood in place with her mouth open as events unfolded.

“Ziggy!” Vivian exclaimed, as she opened her arms and gave the man a hug. It was Ziggy from the Ziggernaughts, the man who helped arrange the free pass for the 4^th graders. He was waiting on the sidewalk to escort the children into the auditorium where he was the main attraction and lead guitar player for the Ziggernaughts.

Ziggy gave high fives to the children as they passed by. Mrs. Ritchey stepped to the outside of the line to avoid an encounter with the long-haired man. Mrs. Wenger led the children to their reserved seats in the auditorium.

A good time was had by all according to Mrs. Wenger.

 

 

Note -The foregoing is a true story. It was told to me by a regular patron of the dances held by The Northwoods Square Dancers, an organization that has been my dancing home for the last 20 years.