1990
De Paul University
Writing from the Inside
Teacher: Zoe Keithley
The Great Escape
I have no idea what woke me up (I don’t usually wake up at 3AM) but its a good thing I did on that day. God must have been looking out for her. I walked into the dining room, somehow already sensing something funny was going on. I looked out the window that faces north and I didn’t see anything of interest; I looked out the window facing west, and I couldn’t believe what I saw – my 2-year-old daughter was running down the street chasing a large dog. She was in her p.j.’s, barefoot and running with carefree abandon; without the slightest thought that was is not the thing to do. I rushed out the door without a thought either! I called out to her thinking – Jesus Christ what would people think if they saw this. Would they think this poor 2-year-old was trying to escape an abusive parent? I catch her quickly and can only say, “Jennifer, Jennifer!
I do not say more because what do you say to a two-year-old to communicate utter disbelief in her lack of fear, lack of common sense, and lack of even thinking? They don’t yet understand these concepts. I simply carried her into the house, up the stairs to her room, and placed her in her bed. I ran down to the basement for tools.
It had been in the back of my mind, having a precocious child like Jen, that I may have to resort to this. I had one of those little silver hook locks; the kind you can just use one finger to push up and open it. This is a drastic measure for a mom to have to resort to, but for safety, I obviously had to do something. So picture me there at 3 o’clock in the morning, with a screwdriver, lock, and lamp in hand outside my daughter’s door. (I had to bring a lamp because I already had to remove all lamps from upstairs for fear she would do “something” with the lightbulbs or sockets). So now with the lamp set up, I start screwing in the lock.
My husband wakes to find that his wife has lost her mind.
“Pat, what the hell are you doing”? He says with absolute wonder.
“I’m locking the kid in”. I say with surety.
“I just got up, looked out the dining room window, and saw her chasing a dog down the street”.
“I think I must have known that I would need this lock because why else would I have bought it 2 months ago”? I say waiting for him to say that I HAVE lost my mind, that she is only 2 years old, that people don’t lock their 2-year-olds in, and that I worry too much.
“Pat, are you serious? He says with utter amazement.
“Yes, I’m serious!” I tell him knowing it’s hard to believe.
“Jesus, maybe you’re right, maybe she is a little more mischievous than usual”. He says to my surprise.
“Well, let me do that, I can do it easier and faster than you can, you’ll be here cursing half the night when you can’t get the screws to go in”. He says thank, God!
Who would think that when in the process of getting married, having babies and trying to get on with your happily ever after one would be doing this at 3 AM? This is life with Jennifer!