Eugene Field Elementary, Grade Five
Muncie, Indiana, September: Memoir
Mrs. Mausy, Mrs. Schroyer, Mrs Author,
Mrs. Duncan, Mrs. French, Mrs. Heaton.
These were the names of my first 6 teachers.
Before that, Mom, who taught me to read.
Dr. McCoy, established a library at our
laboratory school for research with his
Doctoral grant.
The highest scorers on last year’s aptitude tests,
Worked for him for candy bars -
12 to 24 a week, lots of cavities those years.
On Friday, the candy was carefully distributed.
Curious, seekers of sugar – with a countenance of longing,
(Some faces were the same ones I taught) -
I was always besieged on the hour-long bus ride home.
Reese cups were the favorite and 24 was a lot -
It required some juggling to keep a few of them.
Always reading juvenile renditions of classics,
The Flamingo Feather, The Gold Bug,
Daniel Boone, Captain’s Courageous –
In the old chorus room on the second floor,
We taught the slow kids in grades one and two,
How to read,
Creaky, wooden floors and seating,
It was frustrating teaching reading at ten years of age,
Not having any idea what I was doing,
(Slight suspicion of being observed through the dark glass) -
Always told we did a good job.
As high up as you could go, by the joined roof -
A small window opened like a book to the sky.
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