Category Archives: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Mr. and Mrs. Fox

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I met Mr. Fox a Saturday ago. He was the bus driver who took my students to Philadelphia.

He pulled the long bus in front of the center right on time.

The parents, students and staff got excited when they saw the bus. It made going to Philadelphia a dream come true!

The bus is here!! One person called out and that created an even greater excitement.

The news ignited the crowd. I walked downstairs to check on the volunteers who were making sandwiches. I could hear the children upstairs talking excitedly about the big, big bus out side. Their feet running to look out the door.

I went upstairs to where everyone was waiting and addressed the crow: Mary Mitchell!!

Here we are!! They responded.

Good Morning and thanks for coming! As you already know, the bus is outside! By the time my speech was over, everyone stood up and began to aboard the bus.

When I walked on the bus, Mr. Fox turned to me and said, “So, you are the lady in charge.”

“Yes. I am.” I responded.

“What you got planed for today?”

This began our relationship and set the tone for our trip. His wife, Mrs. Fox was there and assisted me almost like a mother assists a daughter. Never in the way, encouraging and there for support.

Needless to say, we had a safe and very successful trip.

I can’t wait to use Entertainment Express again!

Walter Dean Myers

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At the African-American book fair I had the great opportunity to meet  Walter Dean Myers.

The fact that Walter Dean Myers was on the list to be present at the book fair, is what really gave me extra zeal to go. I woke up on Saturday morning and did not really want to travel to Philly but every time I thought about Walter Dean Myers being there, I felt I needed to go.

When I was younger, I used to read Walter Dean Myers books…I tried to read all of them. In the eight grade my teacher assigned the class to read Fast Sam, Cool Clyde and Stuff. The class I was in, the students were very hard to reach. Somehow through that book and the teaching style of my teacher we begin to look forward to English. I remember that book giving me goosebumps. My teacher did not hold back on educating us. We spoke about each chapter and even figured out why Myers would name the characters the way he did.

I don’t know what I expected Myers to say to me when I met him. I really didn’t have much to say myself. He simply said, keep reading and writing. Just for keeps, I got a book signed. Nevertheless, I am glad I met Walter Dean Myers.