Lost and Found

Image by oriolsalvador via Flickr

          This prompt reminded me of my years spent working at a local, prestigious private school. I was initially hired as assistant to the elderly owners of the school and did everything from accompanying Mrs. Cohen on personal shopping trips, running errands, chauffeuring, to picking up dinners for the couple at local restaurants.          

          In no time though, my duties expanded to a full time job doing a variety of assignments at the school each day.  It was fun–with no two days alike. 

            When the weather started to cool down in early or mid December, this entailed the children adding jackets, sweaters, coats, hats and gloves to their wardrobe.  It also meant that all those items would be left behind at school.  The thing about Florida winters is that it can start out quite cool some mornings but usually by afternoon it’s warmed up nicely.  Thus the outerwear gets peeled off and left behind–somewhere.  We started off with a small area designated as “lost and found” but that space readily became overflowing with not only clothing items, but notebooks, backpacks, books, important school notices for parents, etc.  You name it; it got left at school. 

            Soon we required an entire large, walk-in closet-type structure to house the overflowing tide of articles arriving each day.  Hanging racks were installed and long shelves were built to hold the mounting piles of items.  The children were well aware of the lost and found room but many would not come and claim their belongings.  Families were encouraged to write the name of their student on their clothing for this very reason.

            Finally, at one desperate point, it became my duty to return as many items as possible to the students.  I went on an all-out attack!  I asked for a comprehensive list of all attendees from Pre-K 4s up to sixth graders and went down the list matching identifiable items to students.  I would deliver the bagged items to the students’ last period teacher so there would be less chance that they would be left behind yet again!

            After I had cleared out as much as I could, an announcement was sent home to each family stating that they had until an appointed date to claim any items missing and then the remainder would be donated to a charity.  Surprisingly, many very lovely (and some very expensive), gently worn jackets, coats and sweaters were never retrieved. 

            I always wondered about that and thought–was it just easier for the parents to buy another jacket, coat or sweater then stop by and pick up the missing one?  I guess so. 

My entry for Monday Morning Writing Prompt: Back to School   http://liv2write2day.wordpress.com/2011/08/28/monday-morning-writing-prompt-back-to-school/#respond

Posted by Bodhirose on August 31, 2011

https://bodhirose.wordpress.com/2011/08/31/lost-and-found/