I got a text saying the power at school was out. But I assumed they would figure it all out by the time I taught costuming sixth period. I arrived to find students playing on campus, teachers on the edges chatting. My I.D. did not give me access to the building, and I knew it would be dark even if it did. Students arrived and we hung near the stairs while I called security, who have actual keys.
Once inside the reality of a basement room with one window made it clear that this wouldn't be easy. Plus there is the issue of plugs. Two girls hunkered down with thread and needle and continued to work on their projects. Several boys decided the obstacle was too great and I let them leave early. But one young man was determined to finish the hem of his cape for Harry Potter Day, which was hours away. His mother owns a treadle, and he has used it. He asked if he could take the panel off
the side of the machine and run it as a treadle.
This I had to see.
We looked around for a screwdriver in the dark, and he succeeded in removing the cover. Just as he expected, there was a wheel that controlled the needle. He looked around for a cord the width of a belt, and one yank at a time woke up the machine. I was astonished. He asked if I could steer the fabric, which I was thrilled to do. The girls with projects in their laps suggested that he just submit to hand sewing, but he was determined. As we made progress I said I thought he would
finish the hem in five minutes. Optimistically speaking.
But his hands started to get tired. He explored the options in the room, which are many, looking for a loop that would free him from starting over and over. He never found one so we stuck to the cord and made steady progress.
I asked if he understands motors, which he does. He elaborated about magnets and electromagnets, and I kept my eyes on his cape. How did he know all this?
"You underestimated by a factor of three."
Huh?
"You said it would take five minutes but it took fifteen."
He even reminded me to backstitch at the end.
If nothing had gone awry I would never have discovered how resourceful he is. Which would have been a loss. Maybe the same could be said of many of us.
