This year the end of school slipped up on me. I almost waited too long to meet with the coaches to discuss their plans for attending football camp this Summer. I made an appointment with Coach Bynum at Quitman High School to meet this past Monday. Of course I was running late and sent him a text letting him know I would be 5 or 10 minutes late. There was no response. Honestly I thought Coach Bynum had probably forgot. It never entered my mind he might have a little thing like a bomb threat to deal with. So I made my way to the office and was told Coach Bynum was at the field house. I then attempted to find the field house which of course I could not. I then received a phone call from my overly helpful brother Chris who stated “You need to come to the office.” And even though I informed my brother I had just come from the office he INSISTED by saying “No, come to the office. I’m waiting for you.” When I pulled up by the entrance I saw Chris standing on the top step of the entrance (looking quiet dapper in his suit) as well as multiple EMS workers and Sheriff deputies. The thought crossed my mind that it was strange there were so many EMS guys milling around but I obviously ignored that thought. BIG MISTAKE!! Chris then stated “We need to go to the football field.” At this point the office staff began wheeling the Crisis Boxes down the hall walking rather briskly. Then words drift back to me from the passing women who have probably not moved this fast in 20 years…. “is it really a bomb or is this just a drill?” response…. “No, it is real.” I stopped and looked at Chris and said “We need to leave. I doubt Coach Bynum will have time for us today.” Chris’ response…..
“They won’t let us leave. If I was going to be stuck here then you were going to be here with me.” Once again my brother got the better of me….
70 minutes later after standing on the football field with the entire high school student body, coaches, teachers and the assistant superintendent it was determined we could leave. I met some very nice people, saw several of my past clients, and was able to take pictures with the football team. All in all not a bad 70 minutes spent with my brother. And as I drove home I remembered a “Christian moment” and I had to smile. I remembered receiving a phone call from Coach Key when Christian was in 6th grade. He started the conversation with “Now Rae, I don’t want you to be upset because we REALLY do not think Christian meant to build a bomb…” Coach Key went on to tell me Christian had a “How to Build a Bomb” book at school showing it to his classmates during PE!! Thank goodness for Coach Key who was always so calm when it came to Christian’s shenanigans. And NO!! Christian did not plan to make a bomb. LOL
As we were leaving, Caoch Bynum told us he was sorry we got caught in the bomb threat scare. His parting words were “We have never had a bomb threat here before. This was our first experience with this. Just your luck it would be when ya’ll were here.”
Those boys may have had a little help with that bomb threat…. Christian had to be smiling from ear to ear. 🙂
Magnolia Son wishes the best of luck to the Quitman Panthers football team in the upcoming season!!
Sometimes, only one person is missing,
and the whole world seems depopulated.
Alphonse de Lamartine
Christian was “proud” of that bomb book story. We heard it at our house more than once!!!! I think if he had tried he would have built the best bomb ever!!
Miss Christian so much. His absence helps to remind me to not take life for granted. He especially, taught me that.