Teddy MovedMy four year old cherubs and next door neighbors lined up for their high fives before Mrs. Darnell led them from the far basement Children and Worship room through the meeting hall, up the stairs passed Clara the secretary’s office, then my office and finally into their classroom, a trek of almost a minute and half. Sometimes a bathroom break or general wandering prolonged the process, but there was always time to perform my magic trick—at least the kids always thought it was magic.
As soon as they cleared the folding doors, I pulled them shut, then ran to the fire escape which, unalarmed, allowed me silent egress into the outdoor cement stairwell. This I climbed with practiced agility, then ran to the black iron rail that led up more steps to the outside of their classroom, th
