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School in a small town: First Grade Memories |
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September 5, 2016 |
By Mike Ashby
 Starting
school is, for any kid, usually kind of
worrisome. All of a sudden you have classmates,
some of whom you will spend 12 years with. In a
small town that is the rule, rather than the
exception.
I’ve always felt that most all of my friendships
here in Boundary County started in the early
years of grade school.
One of those dear friends is a beautiful lady
named Pauline Rainey. Her maiden name was
Pauline Hopkins. The Hopkins tribe lived at the
top of what we used to call Stones Hill.
Their home was a large rambling thing, with lots
of rooms. Everything from sleigh riding on
Stones Hill to having parties inside the Hopkins
home was part of growing up with her and her
family.
Going to school at the South Side grade school
was part and parcel of knowing her and so many
others.
Our first grade school teacher was a tall, thin
lady named Mrs. Stewart. She was not necessarily
severe, but we miscreants quickly learned to
follow the rules, yup.
Mrs. Stewart felt that we students all needed a
"nap" after lunch. Today I suppose you would
call that event "quiet time."
I can tell you from experience, that lady wanted
that time to be quiet, period. So, we all had to
lie on the floor, on some sort of paper mats,
and take a nap. As they say in Norway, "ya
shore!"
Pretending to be asleep and then making the
person next to you laugh or giggle was just so
entertaining.
Years later, Pauline was walking down Main
Street with a lady friend in tow. As she
approached me she said that she would like to
introduce this lady to me. She explained to this
lady that I had been her friend “just forever”
and that we had lived in the same ‘hood when
growing up, and had went to all 12 grades of
school together.
It quickly grew very apparent to me that
Pauline’s friend was what one might call high
falootin', as we used to say.
After the usual comments of so nice to meet you
madam, I explained to this friend that Pauline
was one of the first girls I had ever slept
with. With a big smile, I took my leave.
It’s only fair to say that Pauline told me later
she spent a good deal of time explaining that
one to her friend. Some comment about shooting
me was mentioned, but we won’t dwell on that!
Of such stories and memories are good friends
made. |
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