by Bruce Jones, Chaffey Teacher Is there such a thing as the "Chaffey Connection"? Read this experience from Bruce Jones in the English department and see what he thinks:

One meltingly hot day this past summer, I was dressed in my school sweat shorts and top, returning from working with my son on his new yard. My car overheated and lost its coolant on the one stretch of freeway that had no emergency phones. A hi9hway patrolman stopped for assistance and offered to take me to a fast food restaurant where I could call the Auto Club. As we entered the freeway he commented on my clothes.

"You teach at Chaffey?" he asked.

"Yes. I teach English there. Are you a Chaffey graduate?" I asked, noting his namebadge: R. Olvera.

"Class of '91," he answered.

We talked about the teachers he'd had and who was still here and what he remembered about his high school days.

As we pulled up to the phone he said he had to get on to an accident, so I thanked him and stepped out to make my call, then went inside to get the largest drink they had while I waited.

"Hi, Mr. Jones."

The voice behind me sounded familiar. Her namebadge said "Jessica," and her smile said she was a student of mine. I told her why I was there, and she laughed when I mentioned the patrolman and what a day it was for the "Chaffey Connection."

I enjoyed my lemonade until the tow truck arrived. As I swung up into his cab, I asked the driver if, by chance, he too was a graduate of Chaffey High School.

"Yeah, class of '95. Why?"

I told him my story so far that day, and he laughed.

"What's your last name?" I asked, noting his uniform nametag read Marcos.

"Vigil," he replied.

"Not Marriana's brother!" I asked.

"Sure, she's my sister. Why? You know her?"

"She was in my fourth period class last year. What's she doing now?"