At Jefferson Elementary School

At Jefferson Elementary School we used to play dodgeball

We also played a game in which we alternately hit a ball against a wall (I forget the name of this competition)

We also played kickball which was just like baseball only instead of batting you kicked

I remember you could request how you wanted the ball delivered when you were up

I preferred fast and bouncy

Slow and bouncy was another option

The others were slow and rolly and fast and rolly

I was good at all these games

Basketball too

And flag football

I was a very competitive child

At Jefferson Elementary School I had teachers named Mrs. Allison,

Mrs. Holmes, Mrs. Hughes, Ms. Canino, Ms. Phillips and Mrs. MacDonald

One of them I had twice but I’m not sure who

I remember that Mrs. Phillips was — or seemed — quite old

I remember that Ms. Canino and Mrs. MacDonald were young

I remember that our principal’s name was Mr. Wilde

At Jefferson Elementary School I was eligible to be in the traffic patrol because of my good grades and fine behavior

But I didn’t want to wear a stupid uniform and march and hold a big sign

So I declined the opportunity -- real rebel without a cause stuff

When the traffic patrol had drills I stayed behind in the classroom with all the boys who were ineligible because of bad grades and poor behavior

They were all my friends so I was happy

I don’t know where there girls were at this time

Probably doing some home ec stuff

At Jefferson Elementary School I had many friends and a few sworn enemies

One of my enemies was a kid we called The Choker because he would choke innocent kids with his big beefy hands

One day I’d had enough so I mustered up my courage and hit The Choker in the shoulder with a karate chop

He never bothered me again

My friends included Mark, Brent, Georges, Phillip, Lindsey, Thornton, Douglas, Stanley, Joel and Royal

There were others too

I know, none of them were girls, girls came later

We also played army which kids did a lot back then

At Jefferson Elementary School I learned to read and to write and add and subtract and multiply and divide

I learned some things about history and science

I did some art and some drama and some music

I liked learning but preferred to do it on my own

I liked reading books but I preferred to pick my own books to read thank you very much

At Jefferson Elementary School I was the class clown

I liked to make people laugh

I was good at it

The attention was nice

Teachers liked me but sometimes had to tell me that enough was enough with the funny stuff

I never thought there was such thing as enough but I didn’t want to get into trouble

At Jefferson Elementary School I discovered The Beatles when I was in the fifth grade

The day after they were on the Ed Sullivan show Ms. Phillips opined that they were just a passing fad

She was wrong

My life changed because of The Beatles

Suddenly music was really important

Long hair became desirable

I learned about being cool

My favorite Beatle was Paul

At Jefferson Elementary School I did a lot of growing up

I started as a kindergartner and left as a 6th grader

I remember it fondly

The school still stands today and when I walk by it memories come back

I visualize my old classmates and teachers and recall incidents

Maybe I’ll walk by there again soon

I like my memories of Jefferson Elementary School