With the opening of another school year, it might be a time to reflect on a legend about a crossing guard for decades in Highlands, Harry Duncan, a First Aid volunteer so active he was known as Mr. First Aid, and a crossing guard on Route 36 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School where he was every student’s best friend. The legend is one from my book “Christmas Legends of the Bayshore” available on this site.
“Come on Johnny, eat your dinner!” The ten year old’s mom said to her son at the dinner table. “Not hungry, mom, could I go up to my room?” “Not until you’ve finished,” his mom said a bit sharply, “What’s the matter with you? You love meat loaf!”
“Yeah, but I just don’t feel like eating,” Johnny said, taking little bites with his fork and mashing the rest around so it looked like he ate more. “I just want to go up to bed.”
His mom sighed, agreed to let him be excused, and began clearing the plates. Clearly, something was wrong with Johnny, she thought.
But when the next morning, Johnny was eager to get up and go to school, his mom thought whatever it was that bothered him was all better. So she went about her day with no worries.
That afternoon, it was the same thing. Johnny came home, ran up to his room, and didn’t even ask if he could go out and play before doing his homework. At dinner, he again passed up the meal, and even turned down chocolate pudding with whipped cream.
“ Johnny,” his mom said, “you have to tell me what’s the matter. This isn’t like you to not want to go out and play , or not to eat. What’s wrong.”
Johnny squirmed and didn’t want to say what was the matter. He was afraid he would cry if he told her. And Johnny knew ten year old boys did not cry. But he was also worried for his mom. He knew she’d be calling school and asking what happened, or taking him to the doctor. So Johnny swallowed hard, forced himself not to cry, and said, “It’s Mr. Duncan.”
“Mr. Duncan? “ she asked. “Do you mean Harry, the crossing guard? What did he do? What happened?”
Johnny could feel the tears welling up and was afraid to talk. But his mom was getting agitated, so he blurted out, “Mr. Duncan wasn’t there yesterday or this morning or this afternoon!” he cried, then rushed away from his mom and up to his room, slamming the door behind him.
Johnny’s mother relaxed. She knew now what the matter was. Mr. Duncan, the crossing guard, was Harry, the First Aid volunteer to all the adults. But to every kid who crossed the highway in front of the catholic church, to every kid going to either the catholic or public school in Highlands, Harry was the Mr.
Duncan that started every kid’s day with a smile. He was the Mr. Duncan who praised the math paper a little boy showed him with a star on it, or the Mr. Duncan who held the little girl’s hand when she was crossing the street behind everyone else. Mr. Duncan was the man who praised every Pop Warner football player, who admired every cheerleader’s newest pompoms, who lamented over every poor grade or bruised elbow. To the kids, Mr. Duncan was more than the crossing guard. He was the best friend in the world, better even than their pet dog!
Johnny’s mom knew she had to make a phone call before going up to see Johnny. When she finished, she smiled, and walked up to Johnny’s room, knocking on the door.
“Hi,” she said, “ I just want to tell you. I was just talking to Mrs. Duncan on the phone. Mr. Duncan had a cold over the weekend, he went to the doctor yesterday. Dr. Senz checked him out and told him to stay home another day, but that tomorrow, he could go back to work. Just thought you’d like to know.”
“Wow! Thanks Mom, Is he going to be okay?” Johnny asked, and she smiled at how quickly he had transformed himself into a happy kid again.
“He’s gong to be fine,” she said, “and I told him you were asking for him and he said for sure he’d see you tomorrow.”
“That’s great, Mom. I still have my Student of the Month certificate in my pocket, so I’ll be sure to show him tomorrow. I know he’ll be happy to see it and he’ll slap me on the back and say, ‘nice work.’ That’s great!”
And Johnny smiled a giant smile. “Is it ok if I got out for a while? Jimmy and Bobby will want to know Mr. Duncan will be there in the morning. They have something to tell him, too.”
