Bench
As part of my normal routine while being on vacation, I took my kids to school. My first stop was at Black Stock Junior High School to drop off my daughter. I had no idea that on that very day I would become my children’s hero. On our way to Black Stock Junior High School my children noticed a bench which in their opinion reminded them very much of the missing bench at their school. At my son Charlie’s school Harrington Elementary, my son’s former teacher Mr. Mora had died in a tragic car accident. The school made a bench in Mr. Mora’s memory, and the bench had engraved in it “In loving memory of Juan Mora.” Mr. Mora was a teacher loved by everyone in school, even by children who did not have him as a teacher because he was a caring man. Mr. Mora was a man who embraced his Mexican heritage and taught children not to be ashamed of who they were. Mr. Mora’s death impacted everyone, students, parents, and all staff at school. For that reason a bench was made in his honor; however, his bench had not been cemented to the ground it was secured in place with some chains. Unfortunately, someone cut those chains during the weekend and stole the bench. My son and the whole school were very upset that they had stolen that bench and were outraged. Everyone that knew about the missing bench was on the lookout for the bench.
My children were definitely on the lookout, and that is why they thought they had seen the bench, but they were skeptical it was the bench. The bench was in someone’s front yard, in plain sight and the two story house that looked very nice. I did not think my children had spotted that bench and neither did they, but something told me to go back to the house and double check. After I had dropped my daughter and my son, I went back to see the bench my children had spotted. I parked my car at the corner of the street. I got out of my car, and pretended as If I were jogging. As I passed a white two story house I saw a bench; the one my children had seen earlier. The bench was exactly like the stolen bench its iron structure was green in color and it was made out of plastic sticks made to look like wood. The bench had stickers, right on the place where the “In loving memory of Juan Mora,” engraving belonged. I decided to “tie my shoe” so that I could marvel at the bench and make sure it was the missing bench. Indeed, I had found the bench and it was at a nice two story house covered in stickers.
I went to my car after conforming my suspicion and drove directly to my son’s elementary school. I went to my son’s front office and asked to speak to the principal. I was asked why I needed to talk to her and I told them I had just seen the missing bench. I was immediately taken to the principal’s office, where I was greeted by a familiar face Mrs. Cortez. I sat down with Mrs. Cortez and told her my children and I knew where the bench was. Mrs. Cortez wanted to know where the bench was and I told her the bench’s location and she responded “Mrs. Manzano I am going to look for a camera, will you please show me where the bench is?” I told Mrs. Cortez that I would show her exactly where the bench was. Immediately Mrs. Cortez found a camera in her office and told me to hold on to the camera. Mrs. Cortez told me we were going to drive over to the house in her car.
We both walked out of the office and went to the parking lot. I got inside Mrs. Cortez’s car and gave her directions to the house where the bench was. Once we arrived to our destination Mrs. Cortez said, “I cannot believe what I am seeing.” Mrs. Cortez could not believe that we had found the bench and she was also surprised that the people who stole the bench had put it in their front yard. The next thing Mrs. Cortez told me was, “Linda, will you please hand me the camera?” We were in Mrs. Cortez’s car and she took pictures of the bench, house, and the house address number. Once we had taken all the pictures Mrs. Cortez needed we went back to the school and we contacted the police.
I went home after we contacted the police because I knew the bench would soon be back at school. Mrs. Cortez thanked me from the bottom of her heart for helping her find the bench; for she and Mr. Mora were close friends and it meant a lot to her that the bench be returned. I was told it would take a while before the bench was once again brought to school and that I would get a phone call once the bench was brought back to school. I went to my house and shortly after returned to Harrington Elementary school to pick up my son, and informed him what had happened.
My son was surprised that we had found the bench. My son told me, “You are my hero.” I felt flattered by my son’s comment and it made me feel special that my son thought so highly of me. I was proud of my family because together as a team we helped return Mr. Mora’s bench. The staff in the front office knew me as the woman who returned Mr. Mora’s bench and my son as the kid who helped find the bench.
