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My First Day Adventure
February 1956
by Art Harris ('63; HS '67)
I was actually excited and looking forward to starting school. I remember sitting in the auditorium with my mother as the names of the students were called out. One by one, they got on line along the smooth brick wall. When my name was called, I was so excited I forgot to take my coat.
Finally, Sr. Marie Brebeuff led us down to our little classroom in the basement and started assigning seats. Girls on the left, boys on the right in strict alphabetical order. I ended up in the last seat in the first row, right behind Dennis Haig. I couldn’t see a thing! (It wasn’t until a year later I found out I needed glasses badly!)
Through the haze I could vaguely make out the huge “Reader” in the front of the room. Remember Judy and Spot? “Look.” “Look, look!” “Oh, look.” “Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh.” “Look.” Hey, I can read!
Then disaster struck. My mother was to meet me at noon and take me home for lunch. But she didn’t realize we would be dismissed way up at the corner. I didn’t see her, and decided I could get home by myself. Being directionally challenged, I promptly headed off the wrong way. Somehow I eventually found my way home, but no one was there. (My mom was still out looking for me.) Fortunately, my grandparents lived nearby, so I went to their house. I know I made it back to school, but the rest is a dim memory.
Things I remember of 1956: Church bells tolling the hour. The aroma of cafeteria soup (I never actually tried it). Crayons and Brylcream. Pledging allegiance. Sweet smelling flowers and buzzing bees during a May fire drill. Having to hold hands with “sweaty-hands” Mary in the class play. Getting a gold star pasted on my collar most days. Watching dust particles in the sunlight while daydreaming. Getting caught daydreaming. The heavy atmosphere of Latin, incense, and stained glass in church. Real candles flickering red and blue. Air raid drills. We were exactly halfway in time between Hiroshima and Sargent Pepper. It’s getting better all the time…
May 24, 2001 |
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