“Weading, Wighting, and Withmatic”

Going off to the first grade that morning, I really looked nice. My mother had dressed me in a brand new yellow-flowered dress, with a wide skirt and "bloomers" to match. My brother Eddie asked what I was going to do in school and having two front teeth missing, I replied “weading, wighting and withmatic.” Eddie from there on called me “Marwee.”

At school, I was seated at a double desk which “Robert” shared with me. After we gave our names in turn, the teacher had us form a circle and had us sing, with her, “Good morning to you, good morning to you, we're all in our places, with sunshiny faces, and this is the way we begin a new day.” I don't know how I remembered all this, because while we were standng in the circle, I was aware of a rather dribble. I looked down — my dress and "bloomers" were soaked — it was me. Embarrassed I froze and even before the teacher approached me, Robert took my hand and said, “it's all right, Mary.”

But it wasn't all right. From here I find myself walking, alone, down High Street, hoping not to meet anyone, past Woods Store real fast, because the Woods (Bert and Rose, whose names I didn't know then) might see me, down Village Street, down the Hill on Haven Street, and along Charles Street to my house. The longest journey on foot or otherwise I ever made in my life!

Inside the house, the table was set for lunch; Charlie and Tommy were there, and my mother; Mabel opened the door and my embarrassment was even greater there — everyone was surprised to see me home for lunch. But Mabel whisked me off and changed my clothes and said she'd take me back to school after lunch. No way!