ChristmasReading2022A - Flipbook - Page 6
DAY TWO: NOVEMBER 29 - TUESDAY
The Rescue
A true story. Years ago there was a young man in our junior high school
who was not very well liked. Unfortunately he brought a lot of this on
himself, at least it seemed that way at the me to our pubescent
brains. One day in par cular stands out as he was chased home by
nearly the en re junior high student body because he had insulted
someone’s girlfriend. If nothing else that was the word and many were
quick to believe it. And some were quick to act on it.
My friend and I were passed by
the mob chasing this young man
In Glenn Packiam’s
who was running for his life. We
joined the chase at the me not
words, this was not
knowing why. The male
pubescent brain does not ask
an evacuation but a
cri cal ques ons like “why.”
rescue. There’s a
Fortunately the young man
reached his house before being
difference.
caught and locked the door
behind him. The mob did not
disperse. A couple of the
“toughs” (which in junior high is not all that “tough”) shouted for him
to come out and ght. There was only silence from the house. A er a
few minutes, the mob heard wheels squealing as a car careened
around the corner. Someone yelled it was his dad and the majority of
the mob came to their senses and ran for safety. The car came to a
screeching halt in front of the house and his dad exploded out of the
car (one can only imagine what was going through his head). He
demanded to know of the “leaders” what was going on and why the
riot in his front yard. What I remember (observing from a safe distance)
was his son eventually coming from the safety of the house,
exchanging words with the group and an eventual shaking of hands.
Apparently there was a misunderstanding.
ti
ft
ti
ff
ti
ti
ti
ti
fi
ti
ti
ti
ft
A er all these years, what stands out to me is the ac on of the dad. He
did not drive up and drive away with his son. In Glenn Packiam’s words,
this was not an evacua on but a rescue. There’s a di erence. The dad
did not remove his son from danger because the danger was migh er.
No. The dad dealt with the danger and transformed it. We might even
say the dad defeated it.