March! Spring would soon be here. So why was it still snowing? It seemed we had more snow this year than any other. Maybe because I couldn�t go to school or out to play? Who knows what lurkes in the mind of children?
I was better, and Doc said that maybe in a few weeks I could go back to school. SCHOOL! Now that would be different. Grammy went to the Convent to tell Mother Superior the good news. When she came back she was hopping mad. The nun that taught me suggested I repeat 3rd grade! Well I was mad also.. What I didn�t know is that Grammy told sister to give me a test and Mother Superior agreed with her! I was doing my homework all the time. Why should I have to repeat 3rd grade? Pop and Grammy were talking in the kitchen. I was getting good marks on my homework. I couldn't understand any of this. Usually I wanted to hear everything but I went to my room I was so angry.
The next day there was a knock on the door while we were eating. We were having our dinner at lunch time since Pop had to work 3 to 11 shift. Well it was sister! Grammy asked her to wait in the living room since we were eating. She never even offered Sister dinner. This was not the way my family was. Guess she was mad.
We finished eating and then all sat around the dining room table.(What�s this? The dining room table. Must be serious.) Sister spoke first and said that she had the test with her and if I would take it I could come back to school and finish with my class mates. Need I tell you the look on my grandparents faces? Pop said.. �Let her take the test. She will pass it and then I want an apology from YOU!� My Pop talking like that to a nun and grammy sitting there grinning like a Cheshire Cat!.
Well Sister asked that she be left alone with me and my grandparents refused. They would sit with me through the test. I guess they were watching Sister. I took the test. It seemed like forever. Sister said �Thank You� and left. Grammy asked �and it was hard?� I told her no. Easy. Pop laughed.
A few days later. Mother Superior and Sister appeared at our house. I passed the test! Mother Superior gave me a new tablet and pencil and smiled. Sister offered her apology to all of us. Grammy told them that I was doing my homework that the kids brought me and passing the test was proof. I was doing more than that. Every week I got a new book to read from the library. Someone in the family made sure of that. I was drilled on my History and Geography and Religion (Father John saw to the religion part, he was a cousin)and my cousin saw to my Arithmetic.
Well two weeks went by and doc came, I knew what he would say.. nope no school yet! Why.. I had the mumps! Oh well here we go again! He thought this would be the last.
Well as it turned out. I never got back to school until May.. and 6 weeks later school was over and I had passed to 4th grade.
My family, and the Witch Lady took good care of me. How many hours of sleep did everyone loose taking care of me? How much had they given up to tutor me? How much financially did this cost Mother, Grammy and Pop and emotionally?
When there is a family crisis, we pulled together, wouldn�t it be grand if that were the way today?