After trying and failing to figure out the bus schedule and route, I eventually found a ride to the Boys and Girls Club Thursday September 30th. I honestly didn't know what to expect.
As I walked in the smell of play-dough hit me as I had to step out of the way of some running kids. Someone helped me figure out how to sign in and I asked Selena at the front desk what I was supposed to do. She didn't give me any clear directions, but just said to go hang out with the kids.
Feeling awkward and out of place, I walked into the game room where all of the kids were. Not wasting any time I sat down with a couple kids and asked what they were playing. Not long after I started talking to them, someone blew a whistle and all the kids got on the ground before they were dismissed for snack.
I spent the rest of my time hanging out with the kids, playing scatterball, basketball and mancala. Before I knew it, it was 7:00 and time to go. I said some goodbyes to some of the kids and headed back home, not realizing how tired all that had made me.
I think the most interesting thing for me, was that being there brought back so many memories. Even though I had never been to a Boys and Girls Club, I used to go to daycare after school, and I remember it all. I remember lining up for snack and never having enough. I remember having so many activities to choose from and always going where my best friend was going. I remember trying to hang out with the workers because they were older and so much cooler. I also remember that my dad was supposed to pick me up at 4:30, and every day, at 4:30 on the dot I would stare at the clock and wait for his car to pull up. Every minute after that time going slower, as I wondered why in the world he would be late. It didn't occur to me that he hit traffic, or that he got caught up at work, all I knew was that he wasn't there when he said he would be.
As I saw the same thing happening with these kids, it brought me back and made me empathize with them, because everyone knows the feeling of anticipation, and it can be heartbreaking if you are let down without understanding. So I hope to take their minds off things a little, and hopefully help them understand, as best they can, that we are all human.
