Memory Snippets

Being Five

I started kindergarten on my fifth birthday. Excited to get to play in that fabulous kitchen, my plans were dashed as there were so many other girls with the same idea that there was no room for me. I went to plan B. I would have loved to build something with the wonderful set of blocks. As I started toward them I discovered that the boys were having great fun throwing them at each other. Fearing for my life I then retreated to the farthest corner of the huge room, sat on the floor and let the tears flow. Soon a boy by the name of Michael Cross was looking up into my tear drenched eyes, and asked, "What's the matter?" I don't know what I replied, but I fell in love him right then and there. I was heart broken when he moved to Oregon before the year was over.

Not too many years ago that elementary school was closed and an open house was held. I went to the open house, and to my amazement, the kindergarten room still looked huge to me.

I missed over half of my kindergarten year battling two very painful abscesses. This was pre antibiotics. They were located in places that made sleeping impossible. Despite the pain hot packs were applied daily to encourage the formation of heads. After many weeks of this a neighbor lady who was a nurse came over and helped mom get me some pain relief. We had a very small bathroom which had a claw foot tub with barely enough room on one side to climb in and out of it. The neighbor was very fat, but somehow she managed to squeeze into the space at the end of the tub. Mom never ran more than an inch of water in the tub for a bath, so when she filled the tub nearly full and wanted me to lie down in the water, I was scared to death that I would drown. With the neighbor's help holding my head above water I finally laid back. I don't remember anything after that. I assume that my very tired body, relieved of the pain, succumbed to sleep. I imagine that my mom then had to dry and dress me while I was asleep. I would dream nightmarish dreams and then waken in pain again.

I don't know how long it took, but heads finally formed and I made two trips to the doctor's office to have them lanced one at a time. The one on my back I could not see, but the one on my arm I watched as nearly a pint of pus was extracted. No wonder the pain was so great!

One snowy winter day I was nearly home from school when a big German Shepherd dog run at me and grabbed my legging clad leg. His teeth got caught in the cloth so he ended up dragging me for nearly a half block before he broke loose. Needless to say I was terrified of dogs after that, even though I was not hurt.

I don't remember why, but one day I disobeyed the safety patrol boy and ran home. This resulted in my being reported to my teacher. I don't remember any punishment but being harshly spoken to by the teacher. I never did like her after that.

Every day in kindergarten the chairs were lined up in five rows. Each day of the week the students in one row would give a "speech." When it was my turn I could not ever talk in front of the class. The teacher suggested to my mom that I bring something to show that I could tell the class about. My big brother was in the navy and brought home many interesting things from his World War 2 duty. I was able to tell the class about them. I wonder if I was the first person to do "Show and Tell."