Zoo Field Trip

I went with David and his first grade class to the zoo for his field trip.  It was the day before Joey’s kindergarten trip to the fire station.  Each parent was assigned a few kids to chaperone.  I had David and a boy named Antonio.  I volunteer on the classrooms each week, so I know these kids pretty well.  I have to believe that is why I was lucky enough to be chosen to have Antonio.  All the kids were asked to wear their UCLA Bruins shirts so they could be easy recognized.  Antonio did not.  Not only did he not wear something easily identifiable, his Mom must have painstakingly researched what colors would camouflage best with plants, animals and 100,000 other kids and tourists.  As a matter of fact, I can’t even tell you what he had on that day.  I spent my “fun” time at the zoo looking for this kid who would be RIGHT NEXT TO ME one moment, the GONE in literally a few seconds if I stopped to look at something.  I have no problem losing my own kid….in fact,  have done it on several occasions, but it’s unnerving when you lose someone else’s.  At one point in the day, I started to panic a little when the boys decided to play hide and seek.  Antonio said he would hide first.  David counted to 50, in his slow, deliberate, articulate way.  I watched Antonio as I knew this wasn’t a good idea.  I WATCHED him hide, and damn if that kid didn’t pull a Houdini trick when Dave went to find him and he had completely vanished.  GONE.  The short story is we found him, and that ended that game.  We did have a good time….. at least I know Antonio did!  Here is the 1 and only picture I got of the day….at the point when I was no longer responsible for Antonio.  Enjoy!