I started going to C-S in kindergarten. I don’t know if it was at the beginning of the year or not as we had just moved to 292 Kent Road from East Lansdowne. I don’t remember much about where we lived there except we had to squeeze somewhat between houses to get to the next street, or maybe this was the preferred way for a little boy.
I remember my first day walking to school (I lived at one end of a long street and it was at the top of the other end). I had my mother’s left hand and I was swinging my other one. When I neared the street to cross to the school, my left hand brushed against the thorn of some lovely rose bushes growing at the edge of one of the yards. It was my first experience with a rose bush and maybe it was so memorable. I never did look into who lived at that house but I never held a grudge against them or the bushes and even grew some years later when I purchased a home in Indiana.
I don’t remember much about the first few grades. I do remember having a lot of fun at recess, finger painting and eating lots of that white paste you’re not supposed to eat (but doesn’t really hurt you, right). I just remember what happened in the third (but my brother swears it was the second).
I don’t remember the boy’s name (or even his face) but for some reason we were fighting outside during recess. When recess was over we decided to continue this fight in the classroom. I don’t remember either of us landing any blows either. The next thing I do remember is someone put out their foot in front of me and someone else pushed me from behind. What happened next is my mouth came into contact with the floor. I don’t remember the initial impact but I wasn’t in immediate pain even though I know I had lost a few teeth. I went to the principal’s office and the rest was sort of a blur. I did eventually go to the dentists when one of my parents showed up but don’t remember what happened to the other kid or if either of us were in trouble.
My next memory was in 4th grade and my teacher was Mrs. Needley (I think we called her Needle Nose). She was a smart and from what I could tell a good teacher. How she earned her nickname was never shared.
The next year was the 5th and I had the good fortune to get the only male teacher (Ok. Except for the crush I had on Miss Lowery (3rd grade) they were all good in their own way except for Mrs. Mast who seemed more concerned with stealing a chip from your lunch or a nip from a bottle (Bourbon or Sherry?) she “hid” in a desk drawer) who was Mr. Kushner. All I really remember about him was he was very smart, knew how to reach his students and one of his hands (left?) was deformed (I heard it had never matured from an infant’s hand) so he kept his hand in his pant or jacket pocket. And the other thing I remember that happened to all of us that year was JFK was assassinated. I just remember being in his class when we got the word.
I don’t remember the name of my 6th grade teacher but I do remember her being the most “mature” of all my teachers (age and wisdom) and she made a good impression on me.
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