In the late seventies Cave City school system had two classification levels. Kindergarten through sixth grade was elementary school and seventh through twelfth was high school. Study hall was a class that was offered in each of the grades. Consequently, a seventh grade student might find themselves sharing study hall with seniors or juniors.
During 8th or 9th grade, I was lucky to be able to share a study hall with my cousin Mike. Mike was a couple of grades ahead of me and I’m sure he found me quite annoying. One of my favorite things to do was to call out his middle name when he was with his friends–it would make him so mad! Study hall had one rule–bring a book. It didn’t matter what book as long as it was a book and you were required to have it laying on the desktop when the teacher came into the class. Normally, I would take the book from my previous class and finish off any homework I had to do in that subject. If a student did not bring a book there were consequences.
Most of the juniors and seniors would mill about before class and talk, running to their seats when the bell rang. One afternoon I was already at my desk waiting on the bell when Mike runs by and grabs my book, saying he didn’t have one and I better not tell. He chose the perfect day. On any other given day I would also have had a library book with me. I tried to grab my book and made sure I called him by his middle name. In my mind I was getting back at him for taking my book.
During the roll call the teacher checked to see who had books and who did not. There were two or three “did nots” including myself. We were all three told to go to the Principal’s office. Now, I could have spoken up and said that Mike had my book. The teacher would have made him give it to me and he would have gone to the office, but no. I had to Hobbs up and take the punishment myself. Of course, I was also fairly confident that I would be able to talk myself out of any punishment. While sitting in the Principal’s office waiting my turn to go in, I was a bit antsy. Generally, if I got in trouble at school I also got in trouble at home and since this wasn’t my first trip to the Principal’s office I was pretty sure what was going to happen when I got home.
Finally, it was my turn. I went into the Principal’s office and stood in front of the desk. The principal asked me some questions and I answered them, but didn’t give up Mike’s part in my being in the office. I was not able to talk myself out of punishment. If you didn’t have a book in study hall you got a paddling. Two licks with the paddle later, I was able to leave, run by the library, get a book and head back to study hall. Michael Ransom never caught me with only one book again!
This is a nice story. One that reminds me of a true friendship. Sometimes we pick our battles and this an awesome example. Well written with humor and seriousness with a bit of mystery, It flows well bringing you up to an unexpected but noble ending. Good life lesson story as she solves her own dilemma with her best choice.
This story illustrates what happens many times between older and younger siblings and cousins. Any other kids who are strangers it would be called bullying but when they are related it becomes just playing around. It is kind of funny how it changes like that when they are family instead of just friends or strangers. I think he just let his older cousin take his book because he wanted to fit in or actually be his friend in school. Or he may have just simply figured he would get out of punishment like the story said. Whichever it was he definitely learned a lesson that day. Either always bring an extra book, or stand up for yourself!