School is Calling

I never did get paddled in school, but I do remember my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Roland, taking me into the cloakroom and giving me a good tongue-lashing. One day I must have been humming underneath my breath while studying. The girl behind me told the teacher. Now she was hard of hearing, and accused me of taking advantage of her handicap. I was mortified. I never would have done something like that intentionally. I was so taken aback, I didn't even respond. I always felt bad about causing her that grief.

Then there was the only fight I got into in school. It was in the eighth grade. I have no idea what started it, but during the noon recess, we were on the playground and David and I began fighting. Soon all the students had gathered around in a circle and were egging us on. Well no self-respecting eighth grade boy could stop under those conditions. About that time the principal drove into the school coming back from lunch. That ended the whole thing rather quickly. He never did punish either one of us. I guess he remembered what being a thirteen-year-old boy was like.

My most embarrassing moment in school was in ninth grade. Several of us were matching pennies in the rest room. The janitor came in and saw us, but we thought he was our friend. We never dreamed he would rat on us. Next thing we knew the principal was in there. He said, "Well boys, I know where I will get the money to buy chewing gum for the basketball team this week." He took all our money, which wasn't much, but it sure was embarrassing.

I never told my parents about any of those incidents. I wonder what trouble my kids got into in school. Hmmm! I'm just as glad I never found out. All of you kids have a good year and behave yourselves. All you parents try to remember what it was like to be a kid in school. Good luck to all of you.