Last evening, the PTA meeting went according to the time plan. It started promptly at 5: 30 pm and culminated at 6: 30 pm.  I left almost immediately, but gave a parent a ride so that I could pick up some recyclables from her house.  I had made an appeal to the parents towards the end of the meeting: I asked then to send their recyclables to AGS since there is a recycling competition in which we were involved. That parent came up to me to express how glad she was that I brought the matter up, as she had been hoarding some recyclables and had no means of transporting them to the recycling plant. I offered her a ride home so that I could collect what she had and learn the route for future reference.
 
On my way back from her house, I missed a turn – forgot about it actually – and simply drove straight ahead. I wound up at a cul de sac so I realized then that I had done something wrong.
 
I made a three-point in the road and headed back; I quickly got my bearings by being more alert. I got back on track and drove home.
 
In my drive way I checked my phone for a message that had come in while I was driving. It was my daughter Kevinia, requesting to be picked up from the YMCA. I was a bit surprised that the girls were still there at that hour.
 
When I called her cell phone, Kevinia explained that when net ball practice finished after 5 pm there was some kind of meeting that followed…
 
Anyway, I told her that I would come get them right away. My hubby knew about the PTA meeting, so I thought for sure that the children would have long been picked up and taken to the mansion.
 
I drove to the Y and sounded my horn. I was on the road just outside the gate. Since the light was red the girls were expected to get in on the car – being careful about the traffic coming from the other direction to where I was headed. I f the light was green, then I would circle around and parked on the avenue east of the Y; they would meet me there.
 
The funny thing is that – while I expected the girls to get into the vehicle at the stop-light – I was unmindful of the fact that I had not only stuffed a huge bag of recyclables into the back of the SUV; I had also pulled the front passenger seat all the way forward and stuffed another smaller bag behind it.
 
Drama, drama! Both girls tried to enter the vehicle in their usual way: Kev in the front passenger seat and Keamone behind her. The passenger seat behind me is reserved for my books and files that go back and forth between AGS and home. My computer bag occupies the accompanying foot space.
 
Kim squeezed herself in the back with no place to put her legs; she was pressed up against the garbage bag with the recyclables in it. Kev on the other hand was trying to get in the front and exclaimed ‘Mommy, a wa a go on ya?’ All this time the traffic-light is about to go green on us.
 
I quickly pulled the front passenger seat back enough to allow Kev to get into the vehicle; that of course exerted more pressure on Kim’s legs. The one good thing was that the empty plastic bottles in the garbage bag – being flexible – allowed them to be crushed in to accommodate Kim’ legs.
 
I was able to move out in good nick and I changed lane to go on Cross Street. Knowing that it was awkward and uncomfortable for the girls, I told them that I was pulling over so we could adjust the situation. After I stopped the car I turned to see what was going on in the back of the car. I almost startled as instead of one child I saw two. ‘Someone else is in here?’ I exclaimed.
 
‘You didn’t know that mommy?’ Kev asked. They all started to laugh.
I said, ‘No, I thought it was just the two of you as usual. Oh that’s why after getting into the car you said something about ‘ ________ lives at Antec Housing’.
 
At that point I observed that my computer bag had been pushed to the middle and I declared that the child must have been sitting on my things. She said, ‘No, I pushed them over’.
 
I asked them to get out of the car so I could take the recyclables to AGS and come back for them. Keamone asked, ‘We have to stay here mommy?’  As they were alighting from the car, a man passed by making a strange noise.  Kim was about to rush back into the vehicle.  However, the man went unobtrusively down Cross Street, so there was no cause for concern.
I said in response to Kim’s question ‘No, walk back to the Y, ok’.
 
I took to bags to AGS Science block, for which I have a key, and deposited them there. This allowed me to turn on a set of lights on the outside of the building. Being close to the entry-way, the lights being left on are a great help to the security officers.
 
I organized the back seat, placing my books and folders in the middle. The front passenger seat was pushed back as far as it could go. Then I returned for the girls and drove them home; first their friend to Antec development and then they to the mansion. Antec is just east of Paynter’s Paradise – the location of the Mansion.
 
I did not get out of my vehicle at the mansion, but continued on the journey home after the girls got out. By this time it was about 7: 36 pm. I had missed the window of time; it was too late to sing a lullaby or tuck my friend in.