(A Little Historical Interlude)
Karyn exited the bathroom. The hall was fairly deserted in the middle of a class period. She headed back to her class, peeking into classrooms as she passed by.
She recognized the teacher...Miss Robertson. She was dressed conservatively, but the skirt suit that she usually wore had changed. For one, she wore pants and loafers instead of sandals.
She continued, noticing many teachers she didn't recognize...before her wish, teaching was 75 percent female...it appeared that statistic had reversed as well.
She entered her classroom. Mr. Steingard had been replaced by a serious looking woman in a shirt and tie. Fortunately, no one seem troubled by Karyn's presence, so this was still her class.
The picture she saw in her history book was up on the board. "We've all seen this painting before. However, what most people don't know is that it is thought by many to not be historically accurate. It was painted by Ramon de Elorriaga in 1899, over a century later, and it depicts President Washington being presented by her husband to those assembled, however, accounts indicate he was still at the family farm in Mt. Vernon at this time, preparing for the move to New York."
Karyn seemed the only one in the changed classroom interested in that. Maybe it was the new teacher. She seemed to be doing more than the usual boring stuff.
"So, why would George Washington not come to New York...and why would that cause such a change in the world? Why don't we read what the man himself wrote?"
For myself, the delay may be compared to a reprieve; for in confidence I assure you, with the world it would obtain little credit, that my movements to the chair of Government will be accompanied by feelings not unlike those of a culprit who is going to the place of his execution: so unwilling am I, in the evening of a life nearly consumed in public cares, to quit a peaceful abode for an Ocean of difficulties, without that competency of political skill, abilities and inclination which is necessary to manage the helm.
"George Washington wrote that on April 1, 1789 in a letter to Henry Knox," her new teacher said. "By the end of April, Martha Washington was the President of the United States, and the world had changed. There are many theories about what happened. Some said that while it was a turning point, it was not the shock event it seemed to be."
Karyn paused. If only she knew...
"In March of 1776, Abigail Adams, who later became our 2nd president, wrote the Continental Congress and her husband, John. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands, she said. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies we are determined to foment a Rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation. But we'd had a revolution to become a nation...we'd had a failed government in the Articles of Confederation...it was a time of great change."
