ROY MY FRIEND

 

 

We met and became just like members of each other’s families. This was at a time when our two households shared a large two-story house. Roy’s clan had the upstairs flat, while my group lived in the lower one. Playing together came naturally as we shared a liking for the same activities, strange as some of our activities might seem.

 

One of earlier activities was to plan a circus, to be performed in the large shed in our back yard. We got as far as trying to develop a flying trapeze act. I spoiled by falling from our makeshift swing. The Doctor taped the split in my cheek and assured my parents there would not be a bad scar remaining. If stitched there would be a scar that could not be hidden. Time has proved the Doctor right. The circus idea faded away.

 

Another project was to dig a pit the both of us could climb into and hide, along with my dog Laddie (a large Collie-Shepard mix). The pit was arranged so that boards could cover the hole. They in turn were covered with grasses that were pulled up from other places in the yard. After the last board was covered with turf and shifted into place over our heads, we were quite well hidden. My sister was puzzled, when she came out into the yard to find us, and completely surprised to hear voices coming from a patch of grass. Our answering her call “where are you?”and our laughter gave us away.

 

Roy did not attend Kindergarten. He never minded missing it at all, especially the opportunity to take naps on the floor that did not feel any softer even with the sleeping mats provided.

 

In elementary school Roy and many other children became friendly with the kindly janitor. The all liked to be volunteer helpers. They had fun putting out the folding chairs in the auditorium and later puffing them away. This sounded good to me, but the opportunity passed me by.

 

Our stay in elementary school was not during pioneer times. Although we sometimes shared some of its same amenities. Our classroom was a wooden portable a short distance up from the main building. It had a cast iron, pot-bellied stove, coal fired for heating the classroom. On one occasion a photographer came to our portable to photograph us. He was equipped with a bellows camera that required him to set up a tripod for its support. When operating the camera, the photographer draped a black cloth over both the camera and his head. In one hand he held a pole on which was mounted a long narrow tray made to bold an explosive powder. When ignited it furnished a brilliant flash for the picture taking. It was almost impossible to keep from jumping when the flash went off, even though we told to hold very still at all times. The exploding powder made a loud bang and proceeded to fill the room with smoke and fumes. After an airing out period we had additional photos. I wish we could have seen the finished pictures.

 

Cleveland School was a special place with caring teachers and a remarkable principal. During recess and frequently after school he would join the kids playing ball. Fun activities were encouraged and supported here.

 

One semester some teachers decided to have a show for all the school

featuring a series of student tableaus patterned after well known paintings.

My dog Laddie along with Roy and I were featured in one display. Our

Tableau showed the three of together as if we were sitting quietly at a picnic.

I was to hold a morsel of food (a doughnut) up high, while the three of us looked intently at the doughnut. You guessed it, we were as still as rocks until the curtain started to close, then Laddie slyly reached up and took the doughnut. The audience liked that finish to our Tableau.

 

End