“My First Year of School” | Grandma’s Stories

Sep 2nd “My First Year of School”

“Start School… SEPTEMBER…”

This is what I looked like, on my way HOME, just left having just left my school – “Perpetual Help Grade School” on Linton Avenue, Saint Louis.

We also lived on Linton Avenue, so it was not hard for me to find my way to School. BUT – and a big BUT – since we did a lot of walking around the neighborhood – I found out where the “HOLY NAME School was on GRAND AVENUE and also the BRYAN HILL SCHOOL on Florissant Avenue.

There were several times while at School, that something was not going right for me. So, I just walked to one of the other Schools and registered myself, and would attend for awhile. But then when I was asked for some information that I could not supply, I went to the other SCHOOL – and so with in the one year of my FIST GRADE – I went to the SCHOOL of choice!

At the P.H. School – it seems that every week the “NUN” our teacher, was asking each of us students for our “nickel” and I did not have a nickel to give. It was something that, I could not find a good reason to ask my Parents for money – as these were those days of WWII – when most people were doing everything, that they could for the WAR effort.

It seems to me, that when I am asked for something and I do not have it to give – I have to think of doing something differently. As I remember – if I did not come up with that “nickel” soon – that there would be some problems – in my grades or a note sent home to my parents, and I can not remember all of the things that I could get into trouble for – and just because I could not come up with a “nickel!”

Now that I am thinking back, to those good old days – on a Sunday afternoon, “My DAD” would give me “thirty cents” to take my brothers and myself, to the “O’Fallon Theatre” and once we found our seats – well, we sat there for hours watching whatever was on the screen, most of the time till my Mother would show up looking for us. We never thought about getting something to eat, and the three of just sat there, as there was quite a variety of movies, cartoons and news-reels showing – and all exciting for us.

The more I think about any of us children having a need for money – just does not come to mind. The one most important thing that I do remember hearing is, “You are to be seen, and not heard from!” Oh, another thing, “Do not ask for anything – if you are to have something – SOMEONE, will see to it, that you have ti!” It was amazing, that we never had to ask for anything – when we needed something – it was there, and always at the right time

Not quite that way TODAY! Seems that when you are among young children, TODAY – they know exactly what they want- and express that clearly, to you nice and loud – with emphasis – that, they must have it immediately – if not sooner! As a small child, I could not do that – we were all interested in doing our part – for the WAR effort!