lockdown

They had practiced the “lockdown” procedure numerous times, always in earnest, or at least as earnest as a drill just before lunch could be. The students didn’t understand its seriousness. And how could they – why would they? They were kids. But as the drill commenced, this day, she wondered how she would react to a real situation. The thought made her anxious, worried, so she rushed it from her head and did what she was supposed to do – usher the students away from the window, toward the back of the room; place the green card, signaling “all’s ok” in the bottom right-hand corner of the window nearest the door. Back herself, too, away from the window. And as she waited for the “all clear,” she did think about those teachers who’d been in those situations and what went through their minds. “Can I go to the restroom?” a voice behind her said, bringing her back to the present. Two years later, at a different school, in a different state, she would, in fact, be at the wrong place at the wrong time and she would become a heralded martyr for the way protected her students from two teenage gunmen. Now, she simply waited for the word to break down, then presented Mariejose with the requisite hall pass. Five minutes later, the bell rang for lunch. She'd brought an egg salad sandwich.