~ Thursday, February 24, 2005 ~

Epilogue

I went to talk to Mme. D.S. today, and as it turned out, she wasn't so much of one as I'd been led to believe. Not this time, anyway. She had someone else in her office when I arrived, and so I was waiting outside for a few minutes until she called out and asked me if I was waiting to see her. I smoothed out my face and in I went.

I carefully told her that I'd heard she was upset yesterday, and that I wanted to talk with her about it. "Ah, so were you the...the..." "Culprit?" I offered. "...the adventurous student?" she finished. I nodded. "Well, I was quite upset, although I'm not now, and you don't have to worry about being in trouble--we're not going to punish you, we're not going to throw you out of the school (I guess I must have looked pretty scared)--but I do want to bring some issues to your attention." She went on to explain the concerns that had come up among her and five or six other RRC employees, which turned out to be exactly the three that I mentioned yesterday: 1. I was there after hours (and could have let somebody else in?); 2. I might have fallen (I told her I spent most of the time lying down flat on the balcony, rather than teetering on a stolen ladder, but that didn't seem to eliminate her belief that I might have been putting myself in danger...I suppose faith as strong as hers should be commended); 3. someone else might drive by and Think Something about Those Crazy Reconstructionists (and crazy we are, but I submit that more evidence of insanity can be found in this overreaction to a few pieces of cloth than in the appearance of the cloth itself)...and 4. it might have been a scary extremist political statement (that's right, I'm actually a member of the Orange Order. Damn Catholics.) Anyway, Mme. D.S. turns out to be in charge of the safety of the people who work here, or something, so as she put it, it's her job to consider all the scary illogical possibilities and protect against them. I have to give her credit; she was completely fair and reasonable while she explained all this silliness to me. In the end she told me to consider all these concerns they have, and to check it out with someone in authority before considering doing something like this again. She almost choked when she got to the word "again", but she got it out. I was struck with newfound respect. Finally she seemed to be finished, and I hesitantly asked if she still had the fabric, and if so, if I could have it back. "Sure, it's right behind you," she said, and so it was. With the help of Glitter and her ever-hospitable SUV, it is now residing in my room. If I don't find any better use for it, maybe I'll hang it outside my bedroom window after the snowstorm stops.


Oh, and one more thing, and then I'll shut up about the gates: I am going to submit the following article to RRC's student publication/journal/thing.

MEPHISTO'S GATE

Wyncote, PA--Early in the morning on Wednesday, February 23rd, everyone entering RRC was greeted with a chilling sight. There was a large yellow-orange arch framing the main entrance of the school, and hanging from the top of the arch was an apron of fabric of the same yellow-orange hue. It appeared to be mysteriously suspended from the balcony above, as if by some devilry.

Coincidentally, similar arches sprung up all over Manhattan's Central Park less than two weeks ago. Experts have reassured the public that these should be viewed as isolated incidents, and that there is no need yet to be concerned about the possibility of epidemic.

Meanwhile, members of the RRC community are struggling to make sense of this harrowing experience. As one student said, "Should I find this offensive?"

An administrator pinpointed other possible ramifications. "In times like these, we need to be careful. If someone were to drive by the school and notice the orange fabric, they might start thinking that there are people here who like the color orange. That would seriously compromise the security of this institution, not to mention the safety of the American Jewish population as a whole," she reasoned.

Efforts are currently underway to discover the perpetrator of this act and bring him or her to justice. Unfortunately, the energy and resources required for this investigation have forced the administration to again postpone its current project, to rediscover its sense of humor.

Current Music: You know, whenever I'm trying to focus on what I'm writing and on really making it work, I tend to be just fine without music.

~ prattled by Miriam at 3:34 p.m. [+]

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Comments:

Despite the potentialities that Mme DS theorized, your version of The Gates did promote controversy and discussion just like art should. Brava.

# posted by  Anonymous : 10:17 p.m.  

"Again", eh? Sounds like she understands reality of having Miriam on campus. :)

I'm glad that the repercussions were not severe except in the anticipation.

# posted by  Borden : 4:58 a.m.  

Regarding Orange, it does seem more likely that people in the US would identify with events in Ireland, however distant, rather than events in the Ukraine, however recent.

# posted by  Borden : 5:00 a.m.  

ohh miriam i looooove you
no joke
sometimes i want to be a jewish seminary student in philadelphia, just so i can hang out with you all day long. I would have helped with the gate =)

# posted by  Anonymous : 2:43 p.m.  

Miriam,
People who see orange and go green lack a most basic human quality: a sense of humor! Fortunately, it is not obligatory on your part to be their teacher!

# posted by  Anonymous : 3:51 a.m.  

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