The terror of First Grade.

Let me tell you a terrifying story that occurred in my first grade of school..  I can't remember what the teacher's objective was, but she had chosen me along with two others to draw paintings on large pads of paper that were positioned on easels at the front of the classroom.  We didn't finish the paintings that day and were instructed to finish them the following morning.   I thought my painting was exceptionally good.

The following morning when I arrived at the class, lo and behold, the other boy (Alvin K. Pitt) had stolen my painting because, of course, my painting was much better than his.  I promptly complained to the teacher that A.K.had stolen my picture and she made Alvin go to his own painting.  Alvin was furious.  When the three pictures were finished we all returned to our desks and continued reading our exciting book "All about Dick."  You know, See Dick, see Dick play, see Dick run, etc.  While I was studiously reading, A.K. sneaked by me and whispered, "I'm going to beat you up during recess."  I was terrified.  My closest sibling was ten years old when I was born.  I was almost like an only child.  I never had a brother to fight with.  I didn't know how to fight.  I was doomed.

As the recess bell rang, I hurried out of the classroom trying think of some place I could hide.  But, here came A. K. with big fists on the end of each arm.  I did what any reasonable coward would do, I ran.
A. K. ran too, but I could run faster.  So I spent the whole fifteen minute of recess running about the school building with A. K. following.  (He was one persistent little bully). When the ending recess bell rang, I quickly ran to my desk with a good feeling that I had survived.  However, A. K. quickly walked by me and whispered once again, "I'm  going to beat  you up during lunch time.  Wo is me.  I spent the balance of the time before lunch hour wondering what I could do to prevent complete annihilation.

I dawdled at my lunch hoping A. K. would get impatient and  leave the room. But he just dawdled at his food too.  Finally the Lunch Women came and insisted that we both finish so they could clean up.  Out the door I burst on a dead run with A.K. close behind.  As I was making the first round of the school building I finally faced reality.  I can't continue this for each recess and lunch period for the balance of the school year.  I just as well fight him.  If he kills me, so be it.  I suddenly stopped, spun around, and attacked Alvin.  Before he could do anything I hit him in his face and bloodied his nose and made him cry.  Off to the teacher he went to tell on me.  Can you imagine my feelings.  I had actually survived a fight and not only that but I had won! That was pretty heady stuff.  Mrs. Stringham (my first grade teacher) never said a thing to me.  I think she must have been aware of my fear and what was going on.  Alvin never bothered me again..