A phone call returns me to grammar school. Part 1

Among the people in the 'friends' category, I have a special one from grammar school who keeps in touch with me by phone. When I moved to NY, getting together was intermittent at best. Sometimes years will pass and our paths don't happen to cross. Yet, whenever we do talk, it is like no time has passed, and that's rare in a friendship.

Kathy and I were in the same classroom from 1st grade through 8th grade by nature of the fact that we went to Catholic school and there was only one classroom of each grade! We were both chubby, and we were sometimes called by each other's name. We were also friends outside of school. The grammar school only went to 8th grade, and so it was that we parted 'classmate status' when we went to different high schools. Kathy went on to go to nursing school, and currently is a hospice nurse with an infectious, cackily laugh! Last night, we got to reminiscing about some of the 'nunsence' that left a lasting impression. There was Sister 5th Grade who went with us to 6th grade, and then Sister 7th Grade who moved up to 8th grade with us. Both of these nuns were a force to be dealt with! Kathy has more baggage from Sister 7th and 8th Grade who evidently hit her in a fit of rage. I don't doubt it, but I do recall my near-encounter with her. I sat directly behind Kathy[2nd row...seat#5], and we were preparing to take the high school entrance exam by doing some workbook pages that were review lessons. Sister[very thin with small, thick glasses which hid very beady eyes] told us,

" Now, do not turn the page back to see if you did it correctly."

Well, I must confess that I did look back a page...and the next thing I knew...down the aisle she flew with her rosary beads swinging from side to side and her habit[ankle-length clothing] airborne behind her. I thought I was going to die. My knees were weak, and I felt scared to death. As she approached the subject of her wrath, she...stopped...at the desk in front of mine[that would be Kathy's desk!!], and got right in her face screaming,

"I told you NOT to turn back and look!!"

I cannot tell you any more than that because when I realized that Kathy was the object of the fury...I just couldn't believe it...and all of my energy went back to things like...breathing and slowing the adrenalin rush cursing through my body!! Sorry Kathy...evidently we both turned the page back, but you got the heat. Whew!

Kathy reminded me that the time that she lost a book, Sister7+8 had everyone in the classroom look for it. When Kathy managed to find it...[and it was in her desk], the nun made Cathy stand up and say out loud, "I am a very stupid girl!"

And then there was the time that Kathy was publicly chastised for not knowing the difference between an adjective and an adverb. Little did we know that she was actually ahead of her time, 'cause I dare say that nowadays there are many people who don't know the difference!

We laughed a lot for about 50 minutes as we caught up on each other's lives and kids' lives.

I must share a story about me and Sister 5th and 6th grade that had quite the unexpected twist. I'll write about it in the next post. Stay tuned!