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Friday Fiction - Phoebe's First Day at School

PHOEBE'S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

(excerpt from A Home For Phoebe)

Phoebe looked out the window near her desk. She watched Maseppa climb onto the buckboard and flick the reins at Ginger. Maseppa didn’t look back. She didn’t wave. Phoebe watched as they disappeared around the corner. (Always Maseppa was nearby. Always Maseppa was there when she needed her. Now, Maseppa was gone!) Panic filled her throat and chest. A sudden urge to run after the wagon flooded over her! (Maseppa, come back! )Tears filled her eyes and it was hard to breathe.

The children filled the room, laughing . . . staring . . . whispering. Phoebe put her head down on her arm. Greta took her other hand and gently squeezed her fingers. Phoebe wiped her tears and tried to be brave.

Miss Pratt introduced Phoebe and asked the class to make her feel welcome. She heard snickers from the boys’ side of the room. Next, they stood during the pledge to the flag and the roll call. Miss Pratt read a Psalm, and the class recited it back to her verse by verse. Phoebe knew some of the words because Granny had taught it to her.

Once the classes began, Phoebe was more curious than shy. Some students were set to studying their spelling words, while the older ones did calculations on the blackboard. Miss Pratt gave Phoebe a piece of paper and a quill. She taught her to dip the feather in the inkwell at the top of the desk and write with the sharpened tip. She asked Phoebe to write the alphabet.

A quill was much harder to use than a stick in clay or even a charcoal splint on a rock. The ink smeared, and the quill slipped in ways that Phoebe didn’t want it to go. By the time she got to “Z”, her paper and hands were a mess. She even had ink on her nose, where she scratched an itch.

When Miss Pratt looked at her paper and smiled. “Good work, Phoebe. I can see that you have learned your letters well. You’ll need more practice on neatness, but that will come in time. Greta, please help Phoebe wash at the pump.”

Phoebe heard Hector chuckle as she walked by his desk.

Outside, Greta pulled the big handle of the pump as Phoebe let the cold water splash over her hands. The ink smeared but didn’t just wash away. Greta fetched a rag hanging on a nail. With a bit of scrubbing, they got most of it off, even the bit on her nose. Phoebe was determined to be neater next time. They both drank from the tin dipper. Phoebe thought the water didn’t taste as cold or sweet as the water in Granny’s well.

“That’s the outhouse over there,” said Greta. “The door on the left is for the girls. The other one is for the boys.” Phoebe never saw an outhouse with two doors.

“Does your leg hurt?”

“Sometimes it does, when I try to run.”

“What happened to your leg?”

“When I was little, Elmer and I were sledding. My leg caught on a tree, and it broke. The bone stuck right out of my skin. The doctor tried to straighten it, but I guess it will always be crooked.”

“Is Elmer your brother?”

Greta nodded. “He’s in the sixth class. Papa says he has to apprentice at the tannery next year. He has twelve years. I’ve only eight. How many years do you have?”

Phoebe had never been asked that question. “I don’t know. Maybe Maseppa knows. I’ll ask her.”

“Is Maseppa your servant or a nanny?”

Phoebe didn't know what to say. “We better get back inside.”

The rest of the morning went quickly. Each class came to the front and faced Miss Pratt. Phoebe listened to the second class recite their addition tables, and the fourth class read a story about George Washington.

Greta’s class spelled a list of words, then Miss Pratt asked Phoebe to read from her primer. She stumbled over a few words, but Miss Pratt seemed pleased and said she could start studying the next book. Miss Pratt also wanted her to study the first arithmetic lesson. Phoebe found it hard to concentrate with so much going on around her.

Soon it was noon. Everyone spilled into the schoolyard and settled under trees or on the steps to open their lunch pails. William and Hector came over to the oak tree where Phoebe sat with Greta, Thelma, and Annie. Jostling each other with their elbows, the boys stood side by side and chanted,

There once was a girl with a curl

Right in the middle of her forehead.

When she was good, she was very, very good,

But when she was bad, she was

Then they ran off, laughing and shoving each other about. Annie stood up. “That was mean! I’m going to tell Miss Pratt!” She marched into the schoolhouse.

Greta leaned close. “Annie is such a tattle-tale. Boys can be pests, but just ignore them, Phoebe. That’s just the way boys are. My brother teases me all the time.”

Thelma agreed. "My brother pulls our braids and puts frogs in our desks."

Phoebe wasn’t sure she could ignore the boys. (Hector is surely hard to understand. Sometimes, he wants to be my friend, but when he's with the other boys, he can be cruel. I reckon the other children don’t know that he’s afraid of snakes. )She smiled to herself.

After lunch, Miss Pratt gave them all a lecture on making someone feel welcome. She made William and Hector apologize to Phoebe in front of the whole class. The rest of the day they studied the settling of Jamestown. Before long, it was time to go home. Gabe waited as Phoebe gathered her books and said farewell to her friends. Miss Pratt reminded her to take her lunch pail and bonnet.

That bonnet was going to be hard to get used to. Phoebe never wore one the whole time she and Maseppa gathered herbs. Granny made her wear one when they went to church, but Phoebe didn’t like them. They were hot and tight around her neck.

Greta and Elmer lived a few miles on the other side of Hoags Corner. Phoebe thought it must hurt Greta to walk so far. Joey Courtier lived a ways beyond the Falls. Hector and Alice walked with Phoebe and Gabe, too.

Alice was twelve years and in the eighth class. Next fall, she planned to go to secondary school to learn to be a teacher. She asked Phoebe how her day went and then read a book as she walked along. The boys ignored Phoebe and talked of their ball game until they got to Alice and Hector’s house.

Phoebe, Gabe, and Joey continued on past Mister Shillinger’s house. Phoebe waved at him in the window. As they neared Gabe’s farm, Joey said that he’d walk with Phoebe the rest of the way. Gabe decided that he better go with them, at least today, so that Granny would know that he had kept his promise to watch her. Phoebe thought that Thelma and Annie were wrong. (Not all boys are pests. )

Phoebe told Maseppa and Granny about everything. She told them about Penny and Thelma and Annie. She told them about William and Hector teasing her at lunch. “Granny, that Hector is so mean! He and William called me names and threw pine cones at us during lunch. He can’t even cipher up to twen-”

Granny interrupted her. “We shouldn’t talk ill about people, Phoebe. You must learn to watch your tongue.

‘There is so much good in the worst of us

And so much bad in the best of us,

That is hardly becomes any of us

To talk about the rest of us.’

Edward Hock wrote that. It would be good for you to learn its meaning.”

“I’m sorry, Granny.”

Maseppa said, “What be on your hands, Phoebe? You eat berries?”

Phoebe rubbed her purple palms. “No, it’s that horrible ink. It just won’t wash away!

Maseppa scrubbed Phoebe's hands with lye soap to no avail. It would wear off. After filling the wood box and filling the kitchen water bucket, Phoebe was so tired she could hardly eat supper. She read one page of her new reader to Granny. She wanted to read more, but her eyes were heavy and her mind was too fuzzy to think straight. She kissed Granny, and Maseppa tucked her into bed.

"Maseppa, I was afraid when you left, but the day went fast, and I made new friends and learned so much."

"That is good. It be a long day for me without you, but I am glad you are happy."

Phoebe was asleep before the cuckoo called out seven o’clock.

School Days, School Days

School gives me mixed emotions

when I think back to my various experiences.

Bahamas
New York- Elementary School
New York - Middle School
Canaan Christian School
Skowhegan High School

Mostly, I liked school. I liked learning. I liked reading. I liked even liked math. (until I hit algebra)I liked music and band. Sometimes I liked science. (It depended on the teacher.)

I liked tests and report cards - and even homework. (I know, I was a strange kid.)I liked French and geography, but not history.



I didn't like going to a new school, where I didn't know the kids or the teachers or their own ways of doing things. I didn't like school buses. I didn't like having to share lockers because everything got dirty and crumpled. I didn't like teachers who wanted to a buddy, instead keeping discipline in the classroom.



When I taught school, I liked times when we could follow our schedule for a while without disruptions of field trips, practicing for programs, or special assemblies.
I liked reading books together or celebrating because everyone got 100% on their spelling test.



I liked spring flowers brought in from recess and hugs at the end of the day. I liked home-made cards and crayon pictures taped to my desk. I liked when a student mastered something that was difficult for them.



I'm enjoying my days at home now - writing and visiting folks and cuddling my grandkids - but there's a part of me that misses school, too.

New York Years - Stretching and Changing

  

Before my family moves to Maine, I'll have to tell you about a few more things that happened in New York. I couldn't ever tell them all, but I need to mention a few more.

I called our family the "Rubber Band."

Our family was always taking in people who needed a family. I never knew how many plates to set at the table. While we lived in Hoags Corner, a whole family lived with us for a few months. The mother had just given her heart to the Lord and need help taking care of her children. There must have been at least 5 or 6 of them. I know I shared my room with 2 of the girls. One night, the older girl asked me how to be saved. It was the first time I was used by the Lord to point someone the way to salvation.

Later, we took in a girl named Candy. My parents rescued her from a horrible situation and became her foster guardians. Accustomed to being the only girl, it wasn't always easy to share my room and attention, but I'm sure it kept me from being spoiled. I'll have to admit that I wasn't the easiest person to room with. I took joy in finding ways to tease my foster sister.

Even though I was looking forward to moving to Maine, I would miss some dear friends - Sarah, Joey, Penny, and many others. I would also be leaving memories of pets - Sandy, the lovable mutt; Spooky and Snowball, the cats; Sparky, the guinea pig; a rabbit and a cageful of chickens. (although not really pets)

About that time, Fang came to stay with us. He was a huge German shepherd that adopted my father. He just showed up one day and began following my father everywhere. We found the owner, but he said Fang wouldn't stay home. Since Fang seemed to like Daddy, he said we could keep him. So, Fang went to Maine on vacation with us. He adopted Daddy.

That was also the summer I gave my mother a "special" birthday present. We went to a town fair, and someone was selling a guinea pig. We already had one guinea pig, Ginger, but she had short hair. This one had long fluffy hair and only cost $1, plus she was pregnant. Who could pass up that deal? I bought Julie the guinea pig for my mother. She was "thrilled." So, when it was time to move, tucked beside the potted plants and blankets in the back seat was a cage of baby guinea pigs.

As I said in my last post, my parents were so sure that God wanted us in Canaan, Maine, that we had the U-Haul truck packed with a player piano, washer and dryer, couch and rugs - on the very night they were voting at the church business meeting. When we got the call from Ed Harriman the next morning, we were ready to go.

My life was changing... again!

New York Years - Church Troubles

I've dreaded writing about this part of my memories, but everything that happens influences who we are today. The rough times make us stronger and make the good times brighter.

Church has always been the center of my family's life. We've rarely missed a Sunday service since I've been born and attended most of the mid-week services, too. My father was a deacon at W. Stephentown Baptist Church. My mother taught a ladies' Bible study. I attended Sunday School, VBS, and Pioneer Girls.

In 1971, our pastor resigned. My father was shocked and hurt and confused, but stepped up to the job of looking for a new pastor. A few candidates preached. One was different. He was energetic and full of new ideas. Some people really liked him; some didn't. Those that didn't started leaving. His ways were too radical.

This new pastor took out the table and chairs in our teen Sunday School classroom, posted psychedelic posters on the wall, and encouraged the kids to come in jeans and T-shirts. The traditional morning worship service disappeared. We rarely sang the old hymns anymore. The new pastor even held a dance at the church, to attract more young people. I'm sure it was more than outward changes to cause such a disagreement, but I was a child and didn't understand it all.

All this was hard on our family. My parents began counseling other couples. My parents encouraged them to stay in the church and speak out for what they believed. Sometimes, they talked far into the night. My parents decided to have my brothers and I stay a few days at our friends' house, but that was not good. I could hardly concentrate on my schoolwork. It was another disruption in my life.

At one business meeting, my father (not one to be silent) stood up. "He isn't our pastor, yet. We haven't voted." So, they voted by raising hands. Of all the people at the meeting, my father was the only one that voted "no" and they asked him to resign as deacon.

I remember a lot of tears from my parents throughout that time, but yet, a growing spiritual strength and confidence. (This begins a whole new set of memories, which I'll share soon.)

New York Years - Big Snow Storm

  

New York State is famous for getting lots of snow. The wind blows over the Great Lakes, picking up moisture, and dumping it over the state. But, some storms are bigger than others.

In the winter of '69, (NY Times) we got a record-breaking storm. The snow was up to the windowsills. Nothing could come up our road - not the school bus, not the snow plow, not even snowmobiles.

The world looks so different when a layer of snow covers everything. It looks soft and sweet and sugary. When we walked outside, it was above our waists. My little brother was following me, and my mother couldn't even see the top of his head.

Snow days are fun!

We made snowmen and had snowball fights and went sledding. When the snowplow finally plowed the road, we made forts in the combings in our front yard.

Of course, the best part was coming inside to get warm by the fireplace, with a cup of hot chocolate and some popcorn.

New York Years: Algonquin Middle School

  

I was growing up--although not physically. I was barely taller than 4 feet, with skinny legs and curly pigtails. Besides that, with my birthday in August, I was usually the youngest in the class. One boy, who was cross-eyed and always had a locker near me, would often pat me on the head and call me "Shrimp." Looking back, I'm sure he had a crush on me, but I couldn't stand him. *smile*

My friends and I were ready to enter middle school. Other elementary students from various towns joined us. To me, it was another "move" and I rebelled with the changes. (There were other changes going on at church, and I'll talk about them later.)



There were some fun things about the new school. It sprawled out into three long wings. There was a big theater-type auditorium, a big lunch room (with a hand-washing station in the hallway). We had a huge gym and real locker rooms, although I didn't like showering and changing my clothes in front of the others. I especially like the traveling rings and square dancing. (I even convinced my teacher that my broken knee was healed, so I could participate...but injured it more.)


I loved my new band director, Mr. VanBuren. Band was the highlight of my day. My friend, Penny, and I would get get giggling when we played "The Syncopated Clock" because Mr. VanBuren would bounce, and his baggy pants reminded us of Dancing Bear on Captain Kangaroo.



We had French class once a week, and I fell in love with the language! I couldn't get enough of it. I remember having my project (a string picture of the Eiffel Tower) displayed on the bulletin board.

I usually liked English class, but not that year. In fact, I've blocked out most of what we learned that year. I do remember being falsely punished for plagiarism and having to write something completely over in front of the teacher.

Typing was offered and I took the class--only it was on the opposite end of the building. I was on crutches that spring, and I got permission to leave one class early so to be able to get to my typing class in time. I remember picking up my crutches and walking on my "broken" knee in the empty hallway, so that I could get there faster and be the first one to class.
*silly me!*

I'm also ashamed to say that it was during my 6th grade year that I forged my father's signature on a note that was sent home about missing homework. I think my father's tears was the worse punishment I could get.

I was probably a typical jr. high kid, confused by who I was becoming and testing my independence. I'm not proud of that year, but I made some good friends in that school and lots of good memories.

Stepping Back 200 Years

Day Four

Old Sturbridge Village

When my family was living in New York, we got a season pass to Old Sturbridge Village. I fell in love with the early American way of life. It hasn't changed much in the last 40 years since I was last there.

Each building is full of items used during the 1830's, and you can watch people doing activities the same it was done years ago. The guides are full of information and can answer most questions you might have. (Although I did stump them on one question. "What is the word for the wooden latch that twists around on a nail?" No one knew...not even the cooper.)

I was pleased to see so many young children. There were many hands-on activities for the youngsters. They could make candles or help the blacksmith or walk on stilts.

At one farm, we saw a couple sheep in a pen bleating near a gate. Another sheep, on the other side, pushed the gate open and let them out into the pasture. One of the released sheep promptly ran around to a weak place in the fence and squeezed out into the dirt road. A farmer shooed him back into the pen, but a few minutes later, there was the sheep in the road again!
Who said sheep were dumb?

I gathered a headful of more information to add to my Phoebe book. I can't wait to get home and apply it to my story.

Round and Round and Round

Day Three

I was all excited about visiting the town of Old Chatham. In my book, I "designed" Chatham with a central square, with a church at one end and the shops all around. But, it was nothing like I thought. I knew there was still an old general store and hoped to see where the old covered bridge once stood.

The general store looked nice, but it was a cafe. The food tasted great, but it wasn't the general store I was expecting.

We drove around looking for the illusive bridge. We kept coming back to the Old Chatham general store. We never found where the old bridge used to be...and by the time we came back to the general store for the third time, we were in hysterics.

We did see lots of beautiful pastures, enclosed by miles of white fences. We stopped to say "hi" to some sheep and donkeys.

After wandering around the Kinderhook area, we headed east toward our next destination- W. Springfield. We opted to take a smaller road and twisted our way between steep hills and along a winding river. Thankful for my new GPS, we made our way through busy streets. (Room service is a wonderful invention!)

Old Friends and Old Schools

Day Two

Yesterday was like gulps of satisfying water. Every turn on the familar roads refreshed me. Even though we have winding roads in Maine, the hills in New York are more rugged and so the roads twist around more. It's a good thing I don't get car sick!

I had the joy of talking to the owner of the house I designated as "Phoebe's House." There was a swing from the tree in the back yard and hay fields beyond a stone wall. The barn looked old. Even the trees looked around 100 years old!

We spent some time in the Poestenkill library and found out there really was a sawmill there in the 1800's. It wasn't just my imagination in my book. I love all the old churches in this area too.

From there we traveled past all my old schools. A mixture of memories flooded my mind. (See "School Memories")

Then Sunny and I followed the familar roads back to Hoags Corner. It wasn't as far as I thought - of course, I wasn't on a school bus that stopped every few miles to let off a student.

I'm glad no one was behind our car because I was crawling along letting the memories tumble in my mind and pointing out each place. My house is being renovated - the original structure is over 150 years old.

We walked to the Falls. Being a dry summer, it was not more than a trickle, but it was my beloved falls. It took lots of pictures of barns and stone walls and signs. Each person I talked to gave me more facts about the area.

We visited my classmate's parents. What a wonderful time!

Then we ended the day with close friends of the family. We had spaghetti and zucchini bread and lots of laughter.

Winding Roads and Covered Bridges

Day One of NY Trip:

My friend Sunny and I traveled from my son Micah's house in Milford, NH, to E. Greenbush, NY, yesterday. We were thankful for clear skies and smooth "sailing" on the roads.

We stopped at Homestead Bookstore near Keene, NH. What a great little shop, with rows and rows of shelves packed with old books.

Then we searched and finally found a covered bridge in Buskirk, NY...after asking for directions. (The GPS didn't know where the covered bridge was.) We met some cows who posed for us...probably thinking, "There are some silly tourists again, taking pictures of hayfields."

After eating at Cracker Barrell and settling in our motel, I went exploring around Poestenkill and found some friendly people, who let me take some pictures of their house (built in 1790).

I found "Phoebe's house" but no one was home. I hope to be able to go back and get some pictures up close. The trees out front have trunks about 6 ft. in diameter!

Stay tuned for more of my adventures.

New York Years: Pioneer Girls Club

  

Our church in West Stephentown had a Pioneer Girls Club. (I assume they also had the parallel Boys Brigade.) It was similar to the Girl Scouts, but it included Christian teachings.

I was in the youngest group, the Pilgrims (grades 3-6), and graduated to the Colonists when I reached 7th grade. Our uniforms were beanies and sashes. (I still have them in a box-somewhere in the attic.)

We each had a log book, which told us how to earn badges. I earned quite a few. We could do craft projects or participate in a sport. (I also have a scrapbook of various sewing stitches.)

One summer, I attended Camp Cherith with my friend, Penny Williams. It was the first time I had been away from my parents that long. The first day, we had a swim test. (to see if we would be allowed to go out to the float) We stood on the dock and took turns swimming to a rope. Not knowing how deep it was, I jumped in the water and had no problem swimming to the rope. Penny dived in and swam across. She had a crooked leg and had trouble kicking, but swam to the rope. The instructor let Penny go to the float, but not me--because I didn't dive! I wasn't too happy about that. Penny stayed in the shallow area with me, just because she was a good friend.

I loved archery and earned one badge while at camp. (I later discovered that my name, Yvonne, means archer.) Our counsellor took us on a hike one day just before lunch. We hiked to this HUGE boulder--the size of a house. She decided to take a shortcut back to camp, but got us lost(and missed lunch). We all earned our 10 mile hike badge, besides the 2 mile one we had planned on earning.

My favorite time was going to the snack bar and buying Sweet Tart straws, then eating them during quiet time in our bunks. One night, our cabin had a chance to sleep in the teepee. I had my first s'more.
(I also got very homesick that night.)

It was an experience I'll never forget, although I enjoyed camping with my family much more.