My Life Monday - First Grade

Rachelle started My Life Monday and today's subject is my most memorable childhood experience.

My first grade teacher, Mrs. R., was a frightening woman. She scared me so much that I would have stomach pains and nausea and beg to stay home from school. The pains were so intense one time that I spent the night in the hospital waiting for an appendectomy, which was cancelled in the morning after I happily jumped on the bed during the pre-op exam (at the doc's request, of course). But that's not the most memorable experience.

I hate being cold, and I remember the 1978 winter being especially cold. The school rule was that a student could stay inside during recess only if they were sick (like with a cold) and had a note from a parent. I wanted to stay inside, but I wasn't really sick, and my mom refused to lie to my teacher. I had to take matters into my own hands. I forged a letter to Mrs. R. from my mom. I don't remember what I said, but it probably looked something like this (just picture it written in first-grade handwriting):

dear mrs r__

Plees let Brooke stay in side for reesess. she is sik.

love
mrs _____

I gave that note to Mrs. R. and she came to my desk before morning recess, stood threateningly over me and asked, "Did you write this note!" To which I replied, "No?" as my face became red hot.

She took the note and stepped out into the hallway, probably to laugh with the other teachers. I thought I was in trouble, but she didn't say anything more to me when she came back into the classroom.

When recess came, I stayed inside, all toasty and warm, and read a book for about three minutes, when the teacher on recess duty came in and said I had to go outside--she didn't care that I had a note!

I don't know how many years passed before I understood how she knew the document was forged.