MY SEAT

MY SEAT

by  Joy Krauthammer

Accompanying
55 inner-city HS senior students
with their English teacher, my sister,
on a day outing to see
live Shakespeare,
truly a treat for students,
who never see professional theatre,

my Gevurah--setting boundaries, and
my Netzach--going forth with endurance
were activated and balanced together
on this 23rd day of Omer Counting.

Students 
filled the old yellow school bus.
I re-entered the bus and
noticed my large canvas bag
hand-painted artistically
with my name JOY and
bulging with intermission noshes,
gifts for the kids
I purchased

had been moved
from the second row seat
I had reserved for myself and teacher,
to the front row seat
with boxes and big bus floor hump;

In the aisle
I stood my ground
and stared
at the two burly students
occupying my seats.

I asked if they moved my bag.
Not getting the desired
honest response,
with all my might I rallied
Gevurah and Netzach,
the Sephirotic energy pair of the day.
I told the guy and gal,
"This is MY seat and you have to move."

I had to repeat my statement
twice.

All seats taken,
the heavily tattooed bus driver insisted
skinny people become
a third to double seat companions.

On the return ride
the compassionate bus driver
allowed the teacher
as she stood in victory,
to give out more snacks
from my JOY bag
even though the written rules
state NO EATING ON THE BUS.

Too bad I hadn't reserved
my seat for the rocky return trip.

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