Random Memory set off by comments elsewhere

[johno]

On a costume mailing list there is current war stories swapping thread and in a friend's LJ she wrote about waking up from a nap, jumping to her baby and dealing with the issue, before she fully realized there was a problem.

These 2 threads brought back this memory....

As many folks know, I work back stage at the Masquerade Costume Competitions that many SF Cons hold.

A few years back, during the technical run through. I was watching a entry block out their presentation. Young girl comes out, looks lost and peers around looking for someone. Out of the wings comes a Alien (as in the movies) who sneaks up on her.

They did a couple of run troughs, working on their blocking and pacing and such. "Great costume" I thought, "but boring presentation." So I turned and began talking with some of the other tech folks about something or other.

Suddenly there was a blood curdling scream of a child in danger.

***bamf***

I was suddenly half way down the aisle, running at full tilt with 3 other guys from the group towards the girl in the clutches of a monster.

It was part of the entry.

Fore brain kicks in, I stop running, the other guys stop running. We look at each other somewhat sheepishly, but also in wonder. Looking back at the confused folks we left behind, someone commented "Guess we know who in this group has kids."

That night, the audience flipped out when the scream hit.

Newt and the Alien was not such a boring entry after all.

Comments

[wldrose.livejournal.com]

Dont have kids (but you knew that) but I would have been with the group heading for the sound, being Cosmic Mommy kinda dose that.

I am in awe and a bit disconcerted by people who can not react to children in trouble. I have allways thought it was hard wired in to the code, and you had to work to get it out.

It takes all kinds I just wish that I had a bettr understanding of the others.

Ash

[cellio]

I think I react equally to people in trouble, regardless of age. I'm not wired for kids in particular; a fit, healthy 30-year-old is also capable of being in trouble that requires outside help, after all, and is actually more likely than a kid to be able to assess the situation accurately. (Kids sound false alarms more than adults do, because they haven't yet learned that judgement.)

I'm not a parent.