When They Were Young: A Perfect World of the Past

"The world was perfect when they were young, not crazy like it is today." said eight-year old Brant, with a grin.

"I doubt it," replied Scottie, his best friend, laughing at the thought of a perfect world of the past.

"According to my Dad, it was a better place to live then, as well as a safer place for kids to play," said Brant.

"I wish I knew my dad," replied Scottie, wistfully. He had never known his father and lived with his mother. His parents had separated shortly after he was born.

Just then, the school bus pulled up.

"Kids could walk to school then, but was it really any safer?" asked Scottie, as they got off the bus a bit later, in front of their school.

"Schools did not lock their doors unless there was no one there," suggested Brant. "Now the door is always locked, only opened for us by our teachers and then locked again once we are inside."

Scottie agreed. "It is like we are the bad guys in jail."

The school bell rang and the two young students filed into their classroom, expecting another normal day. This was not going to be normal in any way, at least not normal for them, or what it would have been like when their parents were younger.

Several hours later, the class could hear a middle-age man swearing and screaming at someone, creating a loud ruckus in the hallway.

"Stay in your seats," their young teacher ordered, as she immediately locked their classroom door. "We are going to have a security drill, so pay attention," she added, quietly.

Someone began pounding on the door. She did not open it.

"Children, stay away from the door," she said. "No talking either. You know our security routine, so do exactly what I have taught you. Do not panic and don't go near the windows".

"The school is in complete lock down now," whispered Scottie to Brant, who was terrified when he heard the school alarm ringing. "But we are safe in here."

They huddled together against the wall with their teacher and other frightened students. Soon, they heard police sirens outside and moments later, the police arguing with the man in the hallway.

"Stay quiet, class!" whispered their teacher. "Everything is under control."

Shortly thereafter, there was a gentle tap on the classroom door signaling that all was well again.

"Back to your seats, class!" said their teacher, as she opened the door to speak to the principal.

"A disgruntled father, custody problem," Brant heard him say to her quietly, looking at Scottie. "It will have to be settled in court."

Parents soon began arriving to pick up their children, as there would not be any further classes that day.

"Scottie, you are to go home with Brant's mom and dad," she told him.

"Great," he replied, knowing his mom would be at work. "We can play cowboys and Indians."

"This is not like cowboys and Indians when our parents were young," said Brant, as they got into his parent's car, moments later.

"No, it is certainly not anything like when we were young," they heard Brant's father say. "This kind of thing would never have happened then."

"Maybe you are right and the world was a safer place then," whispered Scottie to Brant.