Swirly’s Time Line
Second Grade

Mrs. Routh was my second grade teacher. She was a young woman, much younger than Mrs. Hubbard or Mrs. Caviness. She had reddish-brown hair with natural blonde highlights and an infectious smile was not in the least bit gummy or insincere. The only problem with Mrs. Routh was that she got pregnant.

I’m sure this wasn’t a problem for her or her husband. In fact, she seemed quite happy and excited about the whole thing. It was, however, a problem for a little girl who needed to be protected from a pervert named Jason and who needed a little of the positive reinforcement that she didn’t get a home. It was a problem for me.

Just before Christmas, Mrs. Routh left and another teacher took her place. Her name was Mrs. McLain. I’m not sure if it was the nose, the permanent facial scowl or her cackling laugh, but she reminded me of the witch in Hansel and Gretel. I always got nervous at lunch time and hid to eat my snacks.  I was worried that she would squeeze my finger to see how plump I was getting.

Mrs. McLain tried to make a smooth transition, but it was like going from Belinda the Good Witch to the Wicked Witch of the West. In short, I didn’t really enjoy the second grade after Mrs. Routh left.

… previous stories …
1st grade … K part 2 … K part 1 … school starts … birth to age 5