Elizabeth Bradley Elementary School, 1946-52

This northward view, taken from near Base Line Avenue, shows the south side of the school’s main buildings, across the playground, duly protected with chain-link (already in place Back Then, as I recall). Tom Mix came here once to show off his riding and roping prowess. But I remember this place mainly because it was here, just this side of the buildings, that I had My Big Run-In With Mrs. Grant.

Mrs Grant was never my teacher, but she overtopped my memorability threshold with this one unfortunate incident. She was standing in for Mrs Hughes, one chilly day, you see, when I exhibited the bad judgment to “play choo-choo” in the playground, near where she was standing. The game amounted to throwing my head back and blowing little puffs of steam vertically, while imitating with little arms and elbows the rhythmic movement of a railroad engine’s drive rods. Well, Mrs Grant decided I was mocking her, and she swooped me into the Principal’s Office. My truthful and tearful protests of innocence availed nothing with the wounded Mrs Grant, and I left in terror of what Mrs Hughes would do when she returned. In the event, I got called back to The Office the next day, told Mrs Hughes my side of the story, and ended up with a hug. They allowed that, in those days.

I believe that this is the first time that an adult ever displayed in my presence behavior that I saw clearly even then as stupid, prideful, and arbitrary. I probably called it “mean.”

With perspective, I’m heartily thankful to have lived so long with my parents, entirely shielded from such. And for the healing touch of wise Mrs Hughes, whose memory I do honor.

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Updated Dec 2013

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