My Real Memoir
The Year I Turned Shy: Me? Shy? Hard to believe, I know, but up until Kindergarten I’d never had any friends my age. And when I finally did meet some, they seemed weirdly “normal.” I didn’t know how to be with them. Weird Eddie had been twice my age and utterly unique. And Crazy Old Alice had been, well, crazy and old.
One exception, Cheryl, the two-year-old from next door, was too young. She’d follow me around and do whatever I did. Which was flattering, but dangerous (I still have the scar to prove it). Although, when Cheryl friended me on Facebook half-a-century later, she seemed to have matured considerably. She’s now my official longest-standing friendship, and that’s unlikely to change unless the world’s oldest living obstetrician decides to look me up.
First Grade
Chucko the Birthday Clown, a local TV celeb, was the star of our school’s fall kick-off event. I’d watched him on TV and desperately wanted to meet him. But when he invited all of the kids to come and sit down front, I was the only one who didn’t go. True, I wanted to be near Chucko, but in the midst of all of those normal kids? Never!
So I decided the best way to interact with other kids that year was…not to. Except the untouchables. A few weeks into the school year, my new teacher Miss Peggy told my parents that during recess I’d stand between the outcasts (the Weird Eddies) and the bullies. And as a result, I’d get punched and shoved in their place. Miss Peggy radiated kindness like a thousand watt bulb. Plus, she had a dachshund named Frieda, and my babysitter Frieda had a dachshund named Peggy, which was, as far as I was concerned, a bonafide miracle.
Things Came to a Head…
…when another first-grader had a birthday party and invited everyone in our class. Thinking this could be a turning point, Mommandad pushed me into going. I still remember being deposited in that strange house’s entryway, surrounded by normal kids in party hats. I wouldn’t go any further, even when the kid’s mom offered me cake and ice cream. Instead, I pulled the front door across the corner and hid there until my parents agreed to come and take me home.
A short time later, Miss Peggy called, concerned that I wasn’t learning how to read. I’d stumble over even the simplest words in our Dick and Jane books. Mom laughed. “Are you kidding? He’s been reading since he was a toddler!” She called me to the phone and had me read the current headline story from our newspaper. Suddenly, that thousand-watt-bulb over Miss Peggy’s head grew even brighter. The following week, she launched…
The After-School Reading Circle
And that little circle became my second taste of heaven on earth (after Frieda’s Magical Garden). With just a handful of other kids around me, I not only read fearlessly, but was soon helping Miss Peggy, the love of my life, coach the others!
Later that month, I met my first BFF, or the training wheels version, anyway. His name was Stevie. Stevie was not only normal, he was nice and popular, and had freckles and rusty red hair, just like Dick…
In the Dick and Jane books!
To read My Real Memoir from the start, click here. To read the next episode, click here.
Normal isn’t a word we hear much any more. Surely was a different world when we tried to normalize ourselves lol and I think we all measured the normality of others according to ourselves lol but I miss normal…
Love, love, love it!!
Thank you, my Anonymous friend.
see Spot. see Spot run! 🙂
Even now, that pulls me right into the story. Great writing stands the test of time! ;>)
Great piece showing how one small thing can do so much. 👍🏽😊
I have to say not grown up Mitch sounds pretty normal to me but then I am inclined to think strange thoughts 😊
Thank you, it was an excellent read
;>) My pleasure, Cilla.
I missed Dick and Jane in grade school. In Ohio, it was Ted and Sally!
I’m in Ohio and my school used Dick and Jane, which I loved! 🙂
As long as it wasn’t Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice.
Your early memories are the bomb. 🙂
Why, thank you, Nancy.
I enjoyed reading this while on break so much, thank you
Delighted to hear that, Quantez.
An enjoyable read, Mitch. I was extremely shy until I was in my early 20s though no one now woud believe it. I had one special friend in Kindergarten and we are still friends nearly 76 years later, though we don’t see each other often as I’m not driving too far from home these days–no desire to do so. It’s good to have a friend for most of your lifetime who you trust and know that all is the same between you no matter how many years pass.
It is indeed, Diane.
Another shy one here.
Dick an Jane……. ln the UK it was Janet and John, i wonder if the four of them ever meg up?
Surely, there must be an annual reunion.
I think the Freida and Peggy are a miracle too 😁
;>)
Good Lord, Mitch, didn’t we all have those close-knit groups of youngsters we knew? I did. And they were e not the stellar bunch to be associate with. I dealt with years with the group of boys we called the Hard Guys from across the railroad tracks. I never made friends with any of them, so much the better on my part. I did meet up with one in my twenties, and he was just as he was in his childhood years: a hoodlum. Even as children, we don’t have the option of choosing our friendships, but we try. As adults, its the same, only more complicated and and sadder.
The magic of youth and memories… brought together so beautifully in this piece, Mitch.
Thank you so much, Dalo.
Hay cosas que uno entiende tarde…
y cuando las entiende, ya no puede volver atrás.
Muy cierto, Ramy.
Muchas gracias! Que placer que me leas! Te mando un abrazo gigante
Gracias!
Such a wonderful, nostalgic read, as usual my shy friend hehe. Btw Mitch I’m glad that now you are better regarding GAD and really thank you for all your support ❤️❤️🥰😘
Aw, bless you, Afrodite. 🧡
What a lovely statement about Miss Peggy!!💛
One she well-deserved❣
I like reading about your childhood but the clown part looks a bit terrifying…
People don’t seem to view clowns the way they use to, as something innocent and kid-friendly. The “evil clown” tome has sort of replaced that.
I don’t know, they have always felt a bit creepy to me, not evil or scary, just a little disturbing.
Love this!
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