GAUTAM: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE CALLING ON THE GOVERNOR TO SEND THE NATIONAL GUARD TO BROCKTON HIGH SCHOOL AS TEACHERS SAY THAT VIOLENCE HAS SOME FEARING FOR THEIR SAFETY.

WE WILL DEBATE, AHEAD.

THEN, WHAT IS A SHOWDOWN OF FORMER JEOPARDY CONTESTANTS.

EDGAR B. HERWICK III AND I SEE IF WE BOTH STILL HAVE WHAT IT TEXT.

FINALLY, WE WILL HEAR BETSY KOMJATHY’S STORY FROM THE STAGE.

THE MASSACHUSETTS NATIONAL GUARD HAS BEEN CALLED TO WANT TO NATIONAL DISASTERS, PUBLIC SAFETY EMERGENCIES AND WAR.

NOW MEMBERS OF THE BROCKTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE ARE CALLING ON THE GOVERNOR TO SEND TROOPS TO THE CITY’S HIGH SCHOOL WHERE TEACHERS AND TOWN OFFICIALS SAY STUDENT VIOLENCE IS GETTING OUT OF HAND.

I’M JOINED BY ONE OF THOSE THAT OPPOSES THE DECISION TO BRING IN TROOPS, AND ONE OF THE SIGNEES ON THE REQUEST.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I WENT TO A TOUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND I DON’T REMEMBER THE NATIONAL GUARD COMING IN, WHY IS THAT NECESSARY?

MR. RODRIGUES: I THINK IT’S NECESSARY BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN THE CITY OF BROCKTON.

A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DEAL WITH FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS, WITH THE DEFICIT, UNABLE TO BRING IN PROPER STAFFING TO MAKE SURE THE BUILDING IS SAFE FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF CURRENTLY IN THE BUILDING.

GAUTAM: I THING WE HAVE SOME VIDEO OF ONE OF THE INCIDENTS GOING AROUND OF A FIGHT THAT HAPPENED IN THE SCHOOL.

IT IS PRETTY BAD, I SAW SOME UGLY FIGHTS IN HIGH SCHOOL BUT I DIDN’T SEE TOO MANY LIKE THAT.

WE ALSO HAVE REPORTS OF A TEACHER WHOSE ARM WAS BROKEN BREAKING UP A FIGHT.

THIS IS PRETTY EXTREME.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED AT THE HIGH SCHOOL -- LOTS OF HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE PROBLEMS BUT THIS IS OUT OF THE ORDINARY.

WHAT HAS TAKEN IT TO THIS LEVEL?

MR. RODRIGUES: A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH LIKE OF DISCIPLINE WITH STUDENTS, AND THIS STARTS AT HOME AND SOME PARENTS NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE STUDENTS’S ACTIONS.

THERE’S A LOT OF -- WE HAD RESTRUCTURING IN THE DISTRICT BECAUSE OF FINANCES AND WE BASICALLY GOT RID OF BUILDING, BUT SAFETY COMPLEX, WHERE WE HAVE THREE PROGRAMS AND THERE WASN’T A CLEAR DIRECTION OF HOW TO ADDRESS THAT AND WHERE WE WOULD PLACE THESE STUDENTS.

ONE OF THE PROGRAMS WAS THE CHAMPION HIGH SCHOOL, A SCHOOL FOR KIDS THAT HAVE HIGH NEEDS, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL ISSUES AND ANXIETY, AND IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A CHOICE HIGH SCHOOL TO REMOVE KIDS THAT CANNOT BE IN A LARGE SETTING SO THEY CAN GET A PROPER EDUCATION.

THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE VOTED TO SEND THAT PROGRAM BACK TO THE HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE WE REMOVED SOME OF THE STUDENTS.

THAT WAS A POOR DECISION AND I DID NOT AGREE WITH IT.

ALSO MY COLLEAGUE GOOD BUT WE ARE JUST -- MY COLLEAGUE.

BUT WE ARE JUST ONE VOTE.

THE FINANCES OF THE CITY, NOT JUST THE SCHOOL, PUT US IN THIS POSITION.

GAUTAM: COUNSELOR, YOU ARE OPPOSED TO THIS REQUEST.

COUNCILOR FARWELL: I AM, FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, DISREGARDING THAT THE NATIONAL GUARD IS A PROFESSIONAL MILITARY ORGANIZATION, WHICH I DON’T LEAVE IS TRAINED, EQUIPPED OR APPROPRIATE FOR A SCHOOL SETTING.

WE HAVE A BRAND-NEW PRINCIPAL WHO HAS BEEN ON THE JOB PERHAPS SIX WEEKS AND I THINK WE OUGHT TO GIVE HIM A CHANCE TO GET ASSIMILATED INTO THE ISSUES AND CULTURE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL.

THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS FULLY DISCUSSED BY THE BROCKTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

THEY HAVE A SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE IN THEY COULD HAVE REFERRED THIS TO THAT COMMITTEE AND HAVE THE SUPERINTENDENT AND PRINCIPAL COME IN AND ASK FOR A REPORT WITHIN 30 DAYS AS TO WHAT THEY THINK SHOULD BE IMMEDIATE STEPS TAKEN.

LASTLY AND MOST IMPORTANT, WE HAVE AN EXCEPTIONAL STAFF.

I DON’T WANT THE ISSUES TRANSPIRING TO OVERSHADOW THE FACT THAT FROM TEACHERS TO GUIDANCE COUNSELORS TO CAFETERIA WORKERS TO CUSTODIANS, WE HAVE AN EXCEPTIONAL STAFF AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

I THINK IF WE CONVENE A GROUP OF PEOPLE AND LISTEN TO THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS -- BECAUSE THE TEACHERS KNOW THE KIDS, THEY HAVE THEM IN CLASS AND KNOW THEM WELL.

IF WE LISTEN TO THEM I THINK WE CAN CRAFT A PLAN THAT WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.

GAUTAM: COMMITTEE MEMBER RODRIGUES?

MR. RODRIGUES: WE’VE DONE THAT, WE REQUESTED THAT MEETING AND WE BROUGHT STAFF, AND IT WASN’T THE WHOLE BODY.

IT WAS A FOUR INDIVIDUALS ON THE BOARD WHO REQUESTED THROUGH THE VICE CHAIR FOR US TO HAVE A SAFETY MEETING AND WE INVITED THE EDUCATORS AND STAFF IN THE BUILDING TO SHINE LIGHT ON WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON.

NOT SUGARCOATING WHAT IS GOING ON, AND I AGREE THAT WE HAVE EXCEPTIONAL STAFF IN THE BUILDING.

BUT IT IS MY JOB AND THE COMMITTEE’S JOB TO MAKE SURE THE SCHOOL IS SAFE, AND RIGHT NOW IT’S NOT A MATTER OF WAITING AND TRYING TO PLAN IT OUT.

MARCH IS NEXT WEEK AND IT IS MEETING AFTER MEETING AFTER MEETING.

WE HAVE THREE MONTHS LEFT OF SCHOOL AND TO KEEP HAVING THESE MEETINGS AND PUSHING IT OFF, THAT’S WHY WE MADE THAT REQUEST TO THE GOVERNOR THROUGH OUR CHAIRMAN TO GET THE NATIONAL GUARD IN HERE.

YOU ALSO NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT THE NATIONAL GUARD HAS BEEN DEPLOYED BY FORMER GOVERNOR BAKER TO ADDRESS TRANSPORTATION ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH, WHERE A LOT OF DISTRICTS NEEDED TRANSPORTATION TO DRIVE BUSES.

ACROSS THE COUNTRY YOU SEE THE NATIONAL GUARD BEING USED AS SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS BECAUSE ACROSS THE COUNTRY THE POPULATION OF EDUCATORS IS DECLINING.

WITH THE CITY OF A BROCKTON, WE CANNOT JUST WAIT UNTIL A TRAGEDY HAPPENS AND THEN TRY TO BE ACTIVE ON IT.

WE NEED TO BE PROACTIVE AND RIGHT NOW WHERE WE ARE AS TO MAKING SURE STUDENTS ARE SAFE.

WHAT IS HAPPENING EVERYDAY, THE COUNSELOR KNOWS, BUT I DON’T LIKE RECEIVING VIDEOS, TAGGED ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND EMAILS OF DAILY FIGHTS, STUDENTS WHEN THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE IN CLASSROOMS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT 25 TEACHERS IN THE BUILDING, THAT LEAVES ROUGHLY 600 TO 700 STUDENTS WITHOUT SUPERVISION.

35 TEACHERS CALLED OUT, THAT’S CLOSE TO 1100 STUDENTS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN WHEN YOU HAVE TEENAGERS ROAMING FREELY?

THE STAFF DON’T HAVE THE SUPPORT, SO THE SUPPORT IS THE NATIONAL GUARD BE ACTIVATED TO MAKE SURE THE SCHOOL IS SAFE.

IF THE NATIONAL GUARD CAN BE ACTIVATED TO TRANSPORT STUDENTS, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE IN THE SCHOOLS, WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE USED THEM FOR COVID.

THAT’S OUR REQUEST, WE CAN’T HAVE MEETINGS OVER MEETINGS AND HAVING CERTAIN PEOPLE SIT IN ROOMS AND CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE IS NOT INVOLVED.

YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE IS THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BUT WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.

THIS IS A DIVIDE THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE STARTED OFF, WE SHOULD HIT THE GROUND RUNNING WITH THE DEFICIT WE ARE DEALING WITH AND IT IS BEING HAMPERED.

GAUTAM: COUNSELOR, I WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO JUMP IN BECAUSE EVEN IF YOU DON’T THINK THE GUARD IS THE RIGHT SOLUTION, AND THAT THEY ARE SOLDIERS AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS A LEVEL OF VIOLENCE BEING DESCRIBED THAT LEARNING DOESN’T SEEM POSSIBLE IN THAT ENVIRONMENT.

I THINK A LOT OF PARENTS MIGHT SAY THAT REFERRING IT TO COMMITTEE IS NOT THE RIGHT RESPONSE.

COUNCILOR FARWELL: I’M NOT SUGGESTING WE RUN THE SCHOOL BY COMMITTEE, I’M JUST SUGGESTING THAT IF YOU WILL SUGGEST AN UNPRECEDENTED ACTION OF BRINGING UNIFORMED NATIONAL GUARD’S PEOPLE INTO BROCKTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, YOU SHOULD CONVENE ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING PARENTS, STAFF, THE NEW PRINCIPAL.

WE NEED TO START ENFORCING DISCIPLINE BEFORE WE GO TO THAT MEASURE.

WE DON’T DO THAT.

WE DON’T SUSPEND CHILDREN.

WE DON’T CRACKDOWN ON STUDENTS WHO DON’T ATTEND CLASSES WHO ROAM THE HALLWAYS.

WE’VE GOT TO GET OUR HOUSE IN ORDER BEFORE WE EXPECT AN OUTSIDE FORCE TO COME IN AND DO IT FOR US.

THAT IS THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITY, MR. RODRIGUES IS RIGHT.

SOME COMMITTEES HAVE BEEN THERE MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS, HE HAS BEEN THERE GOING ON FIVE YEARS.

I THINK IT’S TIME FOR THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE TO SEND A DIRECTIVE TO THE PRINCIPAL BECAUSE THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO DO, AND SAY START ADDRESSING THE FREQUENT FLYERS, IF YOU WILL.

THOSE WHO ABSOLUTELY REFUSED TO COOPERATE WITH THE SCHOOL CODE OF CONDUCT.

HOLD MANDATORY PARENTAL CONFERENCES.

IF WE START BRINGING IN THOSE WHO ABSOLUTELY REFUSED TO COOPERATE WITH PARENTS, I THINK WE WILL SEE A TURNAROUND, I’LL BE AT NOT OVERNIGHT, BUT I THINK WE WILL SEE A TURNAROUND IN ATTITUDES.

GAUTAM: WE COULD KEEP THIS CONVERSATION GOING FOR A LONG TIME AND I THINK THE STUDENTS AND PARENTS DESERVE THAT CONVERSATION.

I HOPE WE CAN HAVE IT HERE IN ANOTHER FORM AS WELL.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

NEXT, YOU MAY KNOW EDGAR AS THE MAN BEHIND THE CURIOSITY DESK, BUT HIS FIRST CLAIM TO FAME WAS ANOTHER TV SHOW YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF.

>> THIS IS JEOPARDY!

GAUTAM: A FEW LEADERS -- YEARS LATER I JOINED THE CLUB AND I WON, SO I INVITED EDGAR ONTO TEST MY SKILLS AND SEE IF WE BOTH STILL HAVE WHAT IT TAKES.

EDGAR: I THINK THAT IMPLIES WE BOTH HAD WHAT IT TAKES TO BEGIN WITH.

I DID NOT WIN, I WAS IN LAST AND LIMPING TO THE FINISH, AND FAIRNESS.

GAUTAM: THERE IS NO COMPETITION THAT IS MORE LIKE DEPENDENT THAN JEOPARDY.

EDGAR: WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE LIKE?

GAUTAM: A BLAST.

ON OF THE LAST YEARS ALEX DID IT AND I AM STILL FRIENDS WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE ON THE SHOW WITH ME AT THE TIME.

EDGAR: THAT’S ONE OF THE THINGS YOU DON’T REALIZE IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE BEST PARTS ABOUT GOING ON JEOPARDY.

THEY TAPE THE WEEK AND ONE DAY SO YOU ARE WITH THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE ALL DAY, EVERYBODY IS INTO THE GAME AND EXCITED.

THAT’S WHAT I REMEMBER MOST AS THE BEST PART.

GAUTAM: MY FAVORITE PART WAS THAT YEAR I GOT TO LIST MY OCCUPATION ON MY TAX RETURNS AS GAME SHOW CONTESTANT.

I REALLY DID THAT.

EDGAR: THAT’S AMAZING, TAKING THAT OPPORTUNITY.

WE DO QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ALL THE TIME WITH THE CURIOSITY DESK AND I FIGURED WE WOULD DO SOME QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS IN THE STYLE OF JEOPARDY IF YOU ARE INTO IT.

GAUTAM: ABSOLUTELY.

EDGAR: WE ARE GOING TO PLAY OUR OWN VERSION OF JEOPARDY AND I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS RIGHT HERE.

LET’S BRING UP THE BOARD.

SELECT A CATEGORY.

GAUTAM: LONG ODDS FOR $100.

EDGAR: THE ANSWER IS, THIS IS THE DATE YOU ARE LEAST LIKELY TO BE BORN WITH THE CHANCES STANDING AT ABOUT 1461 TO ONE.

GAUTAM: WHAT IS FEBRUARY 29?

EDGAR: CORRECT, LEAP DAY.

AN INTERESTING SIDE FACT ABOUT LEAP DAY, THE NAME FOR LEAP DAY IS INTERCALATION.

WHEN YOU INSERT A PERIOD OF TIME IN A CALENDAR.

GAUTAM: THAT IS A FACT I WILL NEVER USE AGAIN BUT GOOD TO KNOW YOUR -- GOOD TO KNOW.

LET’S DO THE 29TH.

EDGAR: SLIGHTLY MORE POPULATED THAN ARLINGTON AND LESS SO THAN EVERETT, THIS BRISTOL COUNTY CITY WAS ONCE KNOWN AS THE JEWELRY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.

GAUTAM: I AM PROUD TO SAY I HAVE NOT MEMORIZED CITIES IN ORDER OF POPULATION BUT JEWELRY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD MEANS ATTLEBORO.

EDGAR: THAT’S CORRECT, THE 29TH LARGEST CITY IN MASSACHUSETTS BY POPULATION, NAMED AFTER A TOWN IN ENGLAND.

BUT THAT TOWN HAS A -OUGH AT THE END.

YOU HAVE TWO MORE CATEGORIES.

GAUTAM: I WILL TAKE LESSER-KNOWN’S PRESIDENT’S DAY.

EDGAR: THIS FEBRUARY BORN U.S. PRESIDENT SURVIVED THE BATTLE OF THE FALLEN TIMBERS, THE WAR OF 1812 INTO BRUISING 1840 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN ONLY TO SUCCUMB TO A COLD AND PARISH SHORTLY AFTER TAKING OFFICE.

GAUTAM: THIS ISN’T FAIR, I HAVE WRITTEN TWO BOOKS ON THE PRESIDENCY.

[LAUGHTER] WHO IS WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON?

EDGAR: CORRECT.

I’M SURE YOU HEARD THE OLD WIVES TALE THAT HE CAUGHT THE COLD DURING HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

FIRST OF ALL, THAT DID NOT HAPPEN, BUT HIS ACTUAL ADDRESS WAS EDITED BY NONE OTHER THAN -- GAUTAM: DANIEL WEBER.

PROBABLY THE MOST BORING OF INAUGURAL ADDRESSES.

EDGAR: WHAT MAKES IT SO DREADFUL?

GAUTAM: WEBSTER SAID I HAVE KILLED THE WORD FACTOTUM 20 TIMES.

EDGAR: ONE MORE LEFT, ARE YOU UP FOR IT?

GAUTAM: ALL SPORTS IS LOCAL.

EDGAR: DUBBED PETE ROSE ON SKATES, THIS BOSTON UNIVERSITY GRAD HELPED ENGINEER A LAKE PLACID MIRACLE ON THIS WEEK IN 1980.

GAUTAM: OH GOOD LORD, I AM OUT ON HOCKEY.

[LAUGHTER] EDGAR: THIS WOULD BE MY CREW THE ONLY, CAPTAIN OF THE U.S.

TEAM IN THE MIRACLE ON ICE COULD THE MIRACLE ON ICE DID NOT AIR LIVE ON U.S. TELEVISION, IT WAS TAPED.

THEY WENT TO GREAT LENGTHS NOT TO TELL THEM WHAT HAPPENED BUT IT HAD BEEN OVER THREE HOURS BEFORE IT AIRED ON U.S. TV, THAT COULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED TODAY.

GAUTAM: ONLY OF TWITTER HAVE BEEN AROUND.

EDGAR: I THINK IT WAS THE 23RD OF FEBRUARY WHEN IT HAPPENED.

GAUTAM: AND A GREAT MOVIE.

EDGAR: YES, AND GOOD JOB BY YOU, I CAN SEE HOW YOU WON JEOPARDY.

MAYBE THERE IS MORE JEOPARDY TO BE PLAYED HERE?

IS THAT WHAT I AM HEARING?

GAUTAM: THE PRODUCERS HAVE PREPARED SOMETHING FOR US, AND SINCE WE BOTH HAD TIMES ON JEOPARDY, THEY ARE GIVING US A CHANCE TO TAKE ANOTHER CUT AT THAT EXPERIENCE.

EDGAR: THIS WAS FOISTED ON US AT THE LAST MINUTE, BUT THE DEAL IS APPARENTLY THESE ARE QUESTIONS YOU AND I GOT WRONG ON JEOPARDY.

GAUTAM: I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME WORDS ABOUT THE QUESTIONS WE GOT WRONG AND NOT RIGHT.

EDGAR: I GUESS YOU CAN START OFF AND SELECT A CATEGORY.

GAUTAM: I WILL PICK MY REDEMPTION FOR $100.

EDGAR: TO KNOW YOUR HORSE SCOPE AND ASTROLOGER NEEDS YOUR PLACE AND TIME AS WELL AS DATE OF BIRTH SO HE CAN CAST THIS.

GAUTAM: OH.

ISN’T THAT YOUR SIGN?

EDGAR: THAT WOULD BE YOUR ASTROLOGICAL CHART.

GAUTAM: YOUR CHART.

EDGAR: LOOKING FOR CHART.

I WILL GO EDGAR’S REDEMPTION FOR $100.

GAUTAM: TAKE SOME PIZZA DO, STUFF IT WITH MEAT, CHEESE AND HERBS, FOLDED INTO A TURNOVER AND YOU’VE GOT THIS FAVORITE.

EDGAR: OLD WOUNDS, THIS WAS VERY CONTROVERSIAL EVEN IN THE MOMENT IT HAPPENED ON JEOPARDY, THEY HAD TO STOP THE GAME AND DO RESEARCH.

AT THE TIME I ENTERED STRAW BULLY AND I BELIEVE THE CORRECT ANSWER IS CALZONE.

WHERE I CAME FROM IN PENNSYLVANIA, A CALZONE WAS NOT A CALZONE UNLESS IT HAD RICOTTA CHEESE.

BUT THEY SAID THAT CALZONE IS ROLLED AND NOT FOLDED.

LET’S BRING UP THE ANSWER, PUERILE OR IMMATURE.

GAUTAM: WHAT IS YOUNG?

EDGAR: WORDS THAT START WITH I.

LIKE A BABY.

GAUTAM: INFANTILE?

EDGAR: THERE IS!

INFANTILE.

I GUESS I WILL GO $200.

GAUTAM: ONCE THE CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY REACHED THIS ALBERTA CITY IN 1883, SETTLERS BEGAN A STAMPEDE TO LIVE THERE.

EDGAR: I PROBABLY GOT THIS WRONG THE FIRST TIME BY SAYING WHAT IS EDMONTON?

GAUTAM: YOU DID SAY THAT AND I’M AFRAID IT IS CALGARY.

EDGAR: I REALLY WANTED TO BE EDMONTON.

CALGARY STAMPEDE, I GET THE REFERENCE.

FULL ME ONCE.

$300, WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS CALLED HIM SOLE, INCOMPARABLE, THE LINCOLN OF OUR LITERATURE.

GAUTAM: I DON’T KNOW HOW I GOT IT WRONG, IT HAS TO BE MARK TWAIN.

EDGAR: IT IS MARK TWAIN, YOU GOT IT RIGHT TODAY AND THAT IS THE IMPORTANT THING.

I WILL FINISH UP WITH $300.

GAUTAM: THIS ALLIED INVASION OF NORMANDY ON JUNE 6, 1944 WAS CODENAMED OPERATION THIS.

EDGAR: I SHOULD KNOW THIS AND I PROBABLY STILL DON’T KNOW THIS.

I DON’T KNOW.

GAUTAM: THE MAN IN CHARGE AT THE TOP.

EDGAR: EISENHOWER?

GAUTAM: OPERATION OVERLORD.

EDGAR: OVERLORD.

GAUTAM: FROM ONE JEOPARDY PLAYER TO ANOTHER.

EDGAR: I’M GOING TO GO READ SOME BOOKS.

GAUTAM: FINALLY, BETSY KOMJATHY ’S SON ASKED FOR A GIFT LAST CHRISTMAS, TO RECONNECT WITH HIS BIRTH MOTHER.

WE BRING YOU HER STORY.

>> IT’S CHRISTMAS MORNING AND I WAKE UP IN A PANIC.

I’VE FORGOTTEN TO DO SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ONE OF OUR KIDS.

MINUTES LATER WHILE OUR SONS ARE STILL ASLEEP -- THEY ARE TEENAGERS AND THANK GOODNESS THEY STILL SLEEP LATE -- I AM IN MY OFFICE ON MY LAPTOP DESPERATELY GOOGLING THE NAME OF OUR SON TEDDY’S BIRTH MOTHER.

WHY HAD I LEFT THIS UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE?

TEDDY IS 16 AND RECENTLY HAS BEEN ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS BIRTH HISTORY.

HE KNOWS HIS BIRTH MOTHER, WHO HERSELF HAD BEEN 16 AT THE TIME, HAD BEEN TOO YOUNG TO RAISE HIM, BUT HE IS STARTING TO FEEL A GAP IN HIS IDENTITY.

OVER DINNER A MONTH OR SO AGO I OFFERED TO DO RESEARCH SO THAT WHEN HE WAS READY HE MIGHT HAVE A WAY TO REACH OUT.

I SAID I WOULD TRY TO HAVE INFORMATION FOR HIM BY CHRISTMAS.

AMIDST ALL OF THE BUSY-NESS, IT SLIPPED MY MIND AND I’M REALIZING IT WILL BE HARDER THAN I THOUGHT.

THE ADOPTION AGENCY WE USED WHEN OUT OF BUSINESS.

THEY HAD BEEN OUR ONLY CONDUIT FOR MUNICATION AND CONNECTION.

WE HAD MET HIS BIRTH MOTHER AHEAD OF TIME AND HAD BEEN AT THE HOSPITAL AND TEDDY WAS BORN BUT OURS HAD BEEN WHAT IS CALLED A PARTIALLY OPEN ADOPTION, MEANING WE KNEW HER FULL NAME SHE ONLY KNEW US AS BETSY AND ANDREW FROM BOSTON.

EACH YEAR WE WOULD SEND A LETTER AND PHOTOS TO THE AGENCY AND THEY WOULD FORWARD THEM TO HIS BIRTH MOTHER AND SHE WOULD OFTEN SEND LETTERS TO THEM THAT THEY WOULD SEND TO US.

THE LETTERS!

THEY STOPPED WHEN THE AGENCY CLOSE BUT WE STILL HAD A BUNCH OF THEM UP UNTIL TEDDY WAS ABOUT AGE 10.

A COUNSELOR HAS SUGGESTED WE PUT THEM AWAY UNTIL HE WAS OLDER.

I RUSHED TO THE BASEMENT AND HIGH ON A SHELF IS A BOX MARKED "SAVE."

I FLIPPED THROUGH THE FOLDERS AND THERE THEY ARE.

I RUN UPSTAIRS AND SHOW MY HUSBAND AND TOGETHER WE WRITE OUT A COVER NOTE EXPLAINING WHAT THESE ARE.

WE WRAP THE COVER NOTE AND THE FOLDER OF LEVEL -- LETTERS IN CHRISTMAS PAPER AND TUCK IT UNDER THE TREE.

IT’S NOT CONTACT INFORMATION BUT IT IS SOMETHING AND I FEEL LIKE IT WILL BUY US TIME TO DO THE SLEUTHING I HAD PROMISED.

AFTER THE OTHER PRESENTS HAVE BEEN OPENED, WE HANDED THIS GIFT TO TEDDY, HE UNWRAPS IT AND SILENTLY READS OUR NO.

HE LOOKS CONFUSED AT FIRST BUT THEN AS IT IS DAWNING ON HIM WHAT THESE ARE HE ASKS IF HE CAN GO UPSTAIRS AND READ THE LETTERS THERE.

A LITTLE WHILE LATER I STAND AT HIS BEDROOM DOOR AND I SEE HE HAS SPREAD THE LETTERS OUT IN A BIG ARC ON HIS FLOOR IN ORDER OF DATES.

THEY ARE ALL NEATLY WRITTEN ON SCHOOL NOTEBOOK PAPER, MANY WITH COLORFUL HEARTS AND RAINBOWS.

IT WAS CLEAR A LOT OF LOVE AND CARE HAD GONE INTO THEM.

I HAVE TAKEN THE SCENE -- I TAKE IN THE SCENE OF TEDDY ABSORBED IN THE LETTERS.

I DECIDE TO GO BACK TO MY LAPTOP AND CONTINUE SEARCHING.

THE PROBLEM IS SHE HAS A FAIRLY COMMON NAME AND THERE ARE SO MANY RESULTS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

EVENTUALLY TEDDY COMES INTO THE OFFICE AND I SHOW HIM THE RESULTS AND HE SAYS WAIT A MINUTE, IN SOME OF THE LETTERS SHE TALKS ABOUT A PERSON SHE IS DATING, MAYBE THEY GOT MARRIED.

I THINK SHE MENTIONS HIS NAME AND HE HURRIES FROM THE ROOM.

HE COMES BACK WITH A LETTER AND STANDS BESIDE ME AS I OPEN UP THE FACEBOOK SEARCH BAR.

I TYPED IN HER FIRST NAME, THE SECOND NAME WE KNOW AND THE POSSIBLE THIRD NAME AND HIT ENTER.

ONE RESULT, JUST ONE.

I CLICK ON THE NAME.

MANY PEOPLE HAVE PRIVATE FACEBOOK PROFILES WHERE YOU CANNOT SEE MUCH AT ALL -- NOT HER.

EVERYTHING WAS VISIBLE, LOTS OF POSTS, BEAUTIFUL PICTURES OF HER CHILDREN AND HUSBAND, INCLUDING A BOY WHO LOOKS A LOT LIKE TEDDY.

DEEP BREATHS, TEARS IN MY EYES -- THAT IS HER, TEDDY, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO?

LET’S SEND HER A MESSAGE, HE SAYS.

I OPEN THE CHAT BOX AND START TYPING.

SORRY FOR THIS OUT OF THE BLUE MESSAGE, TEDDY HAS BEEN ASKING ABOUT HIS BIRTH HISTORY AND THOUGH AND BEHOLD WE FOUND YOU.

WE GAVE HIM THE LETTERS YOU SENT AND SO YOUR MARRIED NAME.

SORRY IF THIS IS CREEPY.

HE IS AN AMAZING YOUNG MAN.

THE ADOPTION AGENCY CLOSED, WHICH YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW, SO WE HAVEN’T HAD A WAY OF WRITING TO YOU.

WE HOPE YOU ARE WELL AND WISH YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.

I SIGNED ALL FOUR OF OUR NAMES, MY HUSBAND, OUR OLDER SON, TEDDY AND MINE COULD I LOOKED TO TEDDY, SHOULD WE SEND IT?

YES GOOD BUT WHAT IF -- YES.

BUT WHAT IF SHE WANTS YOU BACK?

[LAUGHTER] MOM, YOU ARE MY MOM!

I KNOW HE CAN’T BE LEGALLY TAKEN , BUT THERE IS A BIOLOGICAL CONNECTION THAT I DON’T HAVE FROM HIM.

ALL AFTERNOON AND EVENING WE WAIT FOR A RESPONSE.

THAT NIGHT WHEN I SAY GOOD NIGHT TO TEDDY, I HOLD HIM TIGHT AND WONDER IF I MADE A HUGE RISK -- HUGE MISTAKE.

IF SHE DOESN’T RESPOND, MAYBE HE WILL FEEL REJECTED TWICE BY HIS BIRTH MOTHER.

AND THEN I WONDER HOW SHE MIGHT FEEL ADDING THIS OUT OF THE BLUE MESSAGE.

MAYBE SHE HASN’T TOLD HER HUSBAND AND CHILDREN ABOUT THE ADOPTION, MAYBE I WAS OPENING SOMETHING REALLY PAINFUL.

I SHOULD HAVE GIVEN MORE THOUGHT BEFORE SENDING THAT MESSAGE.

I GET MORE AND MORE ANXIOUS THING ABOUT THE MAYBES AND SHOULD HAVES.

THE NEXT MORNING, STILL NO RESPONSE.

LATER IN THE CAR I HEAR THE FACEBOOK ALERT.

TEDDY, A MESSAGE.

IT IS A LONG MESSAGE THAT BEGINS WITH, OH MY, I AM SO OVERJOYED YOU FOUND ME.

SHE WROTE HOW HEARTBREAKING IT HAD BEEN GETTING HER LETTERS RETURNED FROM THE CLOSED AGENCY AND THAT SHE WAS STARTING TO LOSE HOPE OF EVER CONNECTING WITH US AGAIN.

THERE IS SO MUCH LOVE FOR TEDDY IN HER MESSAGE.

SEVERAL TIMES SHE WROTE, HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH THIS MEANS TO ME.

AND I DON’T KNOW IF SHE REALIZES HOW MUCH HER WORDS MEAN TO ME, AND OF COURSE TO TEDDY.

THE NEXT FEW DAYS, WE PORE OVER HER FACEBOOK POST, GETTING TO KNOW HER LIFE, HER FAMILY, HER SPIRIT.

WE LEARNED SHE HAS A CHARM BRACELET WITH EACH OF HER CHILDREN’S NAMES, INCLUDING TEDDIES.

THERE IS A NEW CALMNESS AND CONFIDENCE I SEE IN TEDDY.

SHE WAS THE ONE PERSON WHO COULD HELP HIM UNDERSTAND HIS BIRTH STORY, WHO COULD FILL IN THE GAP HE WAS FEELING COULD IT’S AS THOUGH -- HE WAS FEELING.

IT’S AS THOUGH HE NOW KNOWS A LOVE THAT WAS UNSEEN BUT STILL STRONG.

IT SEEMS TO ME THIS IS ONE MORE PRECIOUS GIFT SHE HAS GIVEN OUR SON.

[APPLAUSE] GAUTAM: YOU CAN CATCH MORE STORIES FROM THE STAGE MONDAYS AT 9:30 P.M. ON WORLD OR FRIDAY’S ON GBH 2.

YOU CAN CATCH SOME IN PERSON AT THE STORIES FROM THE STAGE WOMEN IN ACTION EVENT.

THAT’S IT FOR TONIGHT.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND GOOD NIGHT.

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