Thursday, January 28, 2016

Thanks for the Memories, Wauchula - Part 2

As we moved into our new home in town, I began to anticipate starting school.  Since Uncle Jack Holland and Uncle Sam and Aunt Genie Murphy all drove school buses, I was disappointed to live too close to school to ride the bus.  However, it was a thrill when Mama walked with me the 10 blocks to Wauchula Elementary School to register.  

The “little side,” as we called the first four grades, had swings, the “giant swing,” see-saws, and a big slide to play on, not to mention dozens of other children to play with.  The building smelled of oiled floors, chalk dust, and exciting new things to learn.  One of the first things I learned was not to cross Miss Jessie Cathcart.  She caught me chewing wax at the rehearsal for the first grade play at the City Hall and swatted my behind with a bolo paddle.  I was humiliated that day, but I came to love Miss Jessie through the years as we all did.  Although she was a disciplinarian, her many kindnesses showed us that we were loved and appreciated.

One of my favorite memories of first grade is the field trips we made.  Our teachers escorted us to the canning plant one day to see how citrus was canned and then across the street to the warehouse where the skin of the orange was chopped up and baked for cow feed.  I can almost smell the warm, sweet smell of the newly processed food.  On another day we went to see the ice plant, and yet another day we were escorted to the movie to see The Wizard of Oz.  It was pure magic.

I also discovered romance that year.  I thought Aneta Stanton was the most beautiful creature I'd ever seen, and I felt my heart flutter in a way I'd never experienced.  One day I grabbed her on the playground and kissed her on the cheek.  She ran off crying and told her bigger friends in the second grade.  I won't call any names, but four or five of them pushed me down on the ground and kicked me.  When I started crying, Aneta sent her older brother Kenneth over to apologize.  I don't think she expected such swift or violent justice.

***********Part 3 Coming Soon***********

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