New York City

Metropolitan Diary: Playing hooky

Dear Diary:

As a teenager, I lived along the Hudson River near the Croton-Harmon train station. During my senior year in the high school, I would cut class, take the train to New York City and use my babysitting money to go to museums.

I knew when all the free and discount days for students were, and I would bring a book of my father’s that listed cheap and interesting restaurants where I could go for lunch. I would get back to school in time to take the bus home (or at least to make it look like I had).

One time, I was headed home on the train and I spotted my father. (I found out later that he had left work early because he was sick.)

I moved up a couple of cars and hid in the bathroom the rest of the way.

I never told my parents.

— Cheryl Mayrsohn