A Tale of Two Teachers

Dear Readers,

I recently had an email exchange with a high school classmate, Robert Fisher. The following contains the rest of one story, Thora Jean Tampke’s “Go-West Show,” for which I will fill in the gaps. It segues into another story. Since I admire Robert’s writing, I will not try to improve it. My part is in italics. 

In the spring of 7th grade our core (English/social studies) teacher, Mrs. Tampke must have felt like she had enough talent in her class to produce a little variety show on the theme of Westward-Ho! of the 1860-1890’s. I have kept her name as is because most of her students will remember her for all the right reasons. We all just loved her. She was a wiry little silver-haired woman, inspiring to the max, but who stood for no nonsense, and who treated us like we were her extra-special (brilliant!) class of 7th graders. Once she showed us the covers on the projects of students from a bragadocious neighboring teacher, and said, “Look at this!"  She held up a booklet with a large object hanging on it and some lettering in gold glitter. "Isn’t that silly to have pasted a whole tip of cowhorn on colored construction paper! How long is that going to stay on? How is anyone going to read what’s inside? I don’t think Mrs. So-&-So has any idea about proper artwork for project covers. I am so happy with my student’s covers! So many wonderful ideas, and so much good, hard work. I’m so proud of you all!” She'd lowered her voice, as she spoke to us confidentially. We didn’t dare repeat it outside the class or she might never tell us another juicy secret again!

In the planning stage of the Go-West program the students really “helped” Mrs. Tampke by submitting writings and poems for presentation.  In my case, I opened the show with the folksong “Sweet Betsy.” From then on I was known as a singer. Robert’s email was an inquiry about the verses of this song….which are many and not very standard because it recounts all the terrible episodes experienced by the Overlanders traveling to the Great West. I told him that there were as many versions as there were minstrel travelers. He continues…..

The western theme presentation for Mrs. Tamke's class was the beginning of the grim slide for me. I was terrified of speaking in public, and had to turn down the big part she had assigned me. One twit who was temporarily bigger than I was made fun of me for that. Hard to believe, now people ask me to speak at their parents' funerals and their daughters' weddings, and I love it. No bigger ham anywhere.

Seventh grade was also when I learned the importance of boys having muscles, and I didn't have any. Again, too late to do the child any good, I lifted weights for forty years and at age 58 could put lots of kids to shame on the bench press. That is all gone now, but the memories are terrific. And my sons loved it.

Well, this is disappointing. (Here, Robert is referring to a rousing marching song about entering 7th grade and going to Jr. High.  He thought I was responsible, though I was not.) I wonder who was responsible? The only other female that comes to mind was Belle Marie Dawson. Not sure how musically oriented she was. As a fifth grader at Arthur Circle she did cause a row in Mrs. Scalf's class.  Perhaps that is why she is memorable. 

Mrs. Scalf was an older woman (probably all of 40) poised to shower terror and pain on anyone who got out of line, especially mean little boys who talked back. She would either throw chalk or grab the offender by the collar muscle. 

Poor Belle Marie was at the uppity little girl stage of her life and would quite readily talk back. More importantly, she had developed an almost involuntary response of exasperation that included a shoulder shrug and a ceiling sweep of the eyes.

On this day to be remembered, she crossed Mrs. Scalf in class over some matter, Mrs. Scalf cautioned her, and, really involuntarily, Belle Marie gave the shrug/sweep response. This absolutely infuriated Mrs. Scalf. As we fifth graders watched, the warning-response cycle repeated itself several times until chalk was thrown AND the collar muscle was grabbed. Belle Marie was sobbing but could not stop the reflex. "Don't look at me like that!" " I will not tolerate that!" "Owwww!!"

Nobody laughed. We could not accept what was unfolding. Belle Marie was powerless to stop her response, and Mrs. Scalf grew more furious with each cycle. 

I do not recall how it ended. It seemed it went on15 minutes, but probably took only a minute. It was the basis of legend, though. Even today I can email John Stahls  in Tyler, Texas and say "Belle Marie" and he'll know what I'm dredging up.

OK, you didn't write the song. Yes, I was in Mrs. Tamke's class. Another story there.

I’ve discovered that memories from 5th to 9th grade can be pretty indelible. Mrs. Scalf has gone down as a cruel teacher who overly humiliated and punished Belle Marie.  I don't recall a teacher being that mean to any young student during my 1 through 12 school years. There were some teachers with harsh tongues & mean glares, but I don’t think anyone ever touched a child aggressively.  

Tales of Junior High: Stage Fever and a Great Idea

When I was twelve my family moved from a blue to a white collar neighborhood within the same city. We moved during the summer which was without a doubt the most wonderful summer of my entire youth. After a series of auditions my younger sister and I  were selected to be in the large cast of children for Rogers and Hammerstein’s “The King and I.” This musical inaugurated a new facility offered to Centenary College which bore the name of the major donor, The Marjorie Lyons Playhouse. It was state of the art and the premiere production was meant to be a statement of excellence for the Shreveport cultural community. It was directed by a very savvy man, Joe Gifford, who was given carte blanche to obtain the leads and specialized choreographer that he needed. They were brought in from more sophisticated cities, Houston and New York. No expense was spared for sets, lighting, costumes, and make-up. It was grandiose. It was SRO for the six weeks that it ran. Those who saw it or were in it never forgot it. 

The theatre was constructed so that backstage the kids-- there could have been twenty-five from ages 4 to 13--would not disturb the show in progress. We had a double classroom room, divider pushed back, at our disposal to play and talk quietly. Between our scenes the older children were allowed to go outside when they got tired of indoors. The stage manager was happy for the kids to be happy and knew how to call us in time. 

Chula-longhorn, the Prince, had a few more scenes with the King and some superb chances to emote, especially at the end when the King, his father, dies. Some of us were really into theater and very impressed with every aspect of the production. Others were less so, but still enjoyed “the smell of greasepaint & roar of the crowd.” We all made instant friends, as kids will do. In the case of the Prince, he staked out a special girlfriend, a beautiful, dainty 8th grader. His romance took place only outdoors with the tweens ogling & listening to the pair’s “love talk.” Poor Prince! The beautiful 8th grader did not return his affections, though she was very kind about it. He was crestfallen! It was drama before our very eyes under the moon and stars, in the summer heat, more than 90 degrees. My interest in love-stuff had yet to awaken, so, for me, the failed romance of the Prince was a passing side-show. 

The passion of some of us was to be just like the grown-up cast, to be able to do everything they did, & just as well.  My not-so-secret desire was to be a singer onstage. I found Jordan, a girl of 11 and an aspiring dancer, who matched my verve.  At the end of the production we, the King’s kids, wanted to perform the ballet, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”: Jordan would choreograph the other kid-dancers and, of course, dance Little Eva. I would lead the chorus telling the story, as Tuptim--the captive Burmese Princess, grouped and sitting on far stage left.  Everything we said & did was about our project. Actually, it was a joy to put everything together because we, as little mimics, had our parts down pat. We had learned every line, every dance step, and every song. All the participants invited the adult cast, our parents, and friends by word of mouth. Our show would take place after the last Saturday night show of the run. Even after 10:30 p.m., they did not disappoint us: they all came to clap and cheer our big effort. 

Jordan, who had a last name for a first long before it was fashionable, and I were stagestruck. We were thrilled for our chance to show what we could do.  As it was, we already had dyed black hair and a topknot. But Jordan said that to be really complete we needed body make up. Jordan was wearing the Little Eva Headdress but she still needed body make-up…..on her exposed legs, of course. They must look dark tan, just like the Siamese people. As Tuptim, I only needed face and neck because the rest of my body was modestly covered by a brilliant costume--borrowed and altered--of silks and brocade satins. In the dancer’s dressing room Jordan had whitened her face and drawn on exaggerated slanted eyes & brows. She returned to the children’s quarters with a round, shallow tin, resembling Kiwi shoe polish. I eyed it curiously. 

“What’s that?” I asked. 

“Well, it’s pancake make-up, but we’ll have to spread it on with water,” She added confidently, “We have to do our makeup like the grown-up cast.”

“Where are we going to do that?” I asked.

“Well….let’s just slip into the toilet stall in the ladies bathroom.”

“For what?”

“Well, to use the water in the toilet and apply the make-up.” 

I was shocked but, also amazed at her brilliant idea.  “Are you sure about this?” 

“It’s okay”, she said and added to reassure me, “I’ve seen it done like this before.” 

“Really?…. Sure it’s okay?”

“Of course. I promise, it’ll be okay.” 

“But isn’t the water dirty?”

We entered a completely deserted ladies room. Jordan chose a stall and once we were both inside I latched the door. With a look that said, see-I’m-checking-it-out Jordan peered into the toilet bowl. “Water looks clean enough to me.” We got busy fast. If anyone came in, no one would know what we were doing. After all, do grown-ups need to know everything? Our task took about ten minutes after which Jordan squeezed out the round sponge applicator & I  flushed the cloudy toilet water. After all, we were conscientious to a flaw and did not want to leave any traces. We walked out perfectly turned out for our long awaited presentation. We felt so Siamese! Our show was a howling success.

As it turned out Jordan did make a career as a dancer in NYC and she also did stage directing for opera. But as things go, our friendship only lasted for the show’s run. Jordan was in 6th grade at elementary school & I was entering 7th grade in junior high. A few years hence, she danced the bird in “Peter & the Wolf,” while I got to turn pages for the pianist. How I admired her! There was envy, but not a shred of jealousy: She was the dancer and I was the singer.  Oh, but that girl had brilliant ideas.

A Sunday Lesson - Part III Conclusion

Yet, the bird kept pace pecking and squawking as Regina veered down the longest street lined with beautiful homes, mature trees, manicured lawns, and flowered beds. The occasional Sunday gardner stopped to gape at the strange sight of a Sunday-dressed school girl, pony tail & streamers flowing in the wind chased by a little white rooster. Pious church goers began to slow their cars to gaze in wonder at the fast moving duo.  One car had young people inside who paused to cheer her on, “Hey, Gal, you can beat that ol’ Rooster!” They hooted with laughter, tooted twice and sped away. Regina, who had been thumping the concrete in her now painful pumps, began to realize how silly she must look. Filled with embarrassment and rage she nevertheless could do nothing else but run.

Her side began to hurt. Her throat began to burn. Her face felt flushed. She was heaving and sweaty. White Rooster was still on her heels. Regina looked ahead to see the only red light intersection she would have to cross. How she hoped that the light would be green so she could run across. Who knew? Maybe a car would run over that stupid bird. No luck. She had to stop for the red light while the rooster kept pecking at her heels.  She fended him off swinging at him with her straw purse, jelly beans flew his way, as she hit him twice. Fighting valiantly, she could see the pedestrian light blinking in the corner of her eye. The cross street was quite wide and the light very short. She darted across without a second look behind reaching the church’s tall orange brick wall, standing like a protective sentinel. She sank against it, caught her breath, & gazed back to find her feathered enemy. 

But where was he? She squinted to check for a dead white mass  in the middle of the intersection. No sign of him!  Reassured in a instant with not a moment to waste, Regina walked briskly toward her Sunday School classroom. She might be just in time for Mama’s check-in. Mama would never suspect a thing. 

As it turned out Mama never even checked. Regina clomped  home at noon on sore, blistered feet. To avoid another encounter with the rooster she took the wide, commercial street. When at last she passed through the side gate Rooster was there, peaceably picking at the ground with the three hens. She slipped into the house blessedly unnoticed.  At dinner, after the blessing Mama said with a soft, sly laugh, “Well, I guess you got a good Sunday lesson today. A little bird told me that a mean ol’ rooster chased you all the way to church. My oh my,….The Lord works  in mysterious ways.” 

A Sunday Lesson - Part II

With a hustle and rustle Regina did an about face, took a deep breath, & marched purposefully across the house to the lonely sound of her heels: tap, tap, tap, tap....  Her marching tempo halted briefly to grab a handful of jelly beans from the clear glass jar, hidden in the back of the pantry. She glanced at the wall clock as the hard beans snake-rattled to the bottom of her purse. "Oh dear!" she exclaimed.  Already 9:15 and only fifteen minutes to get to church. She would have to run to beat Mama’s check-in. “Oh darn!” she muttered, thinking her heels would probably rub a blister. “Well, and maybe not,” she added with confidence. 

She stepped lightly out of the back door, and down the concrete stoop into a long back yard, a swath of St. Augustine green shaded by mature pecan trees. It was already quite warm. The sunshine bathed her in happiness. Four little white chickens rushed toward her cheeping loudly for feed. Wasn't it nice to be appreciated and loved?... even if it was by these dumb clucks that had shed quickly their yellow down feathers & turned into into little white chickens. The only yellow that remained was their sharp, pointy beaks. Regina had worn down her mother’s resolve with all the arguments as to why she should have those Easter chicks sold at the T G & Y. Mama had finally been won over by the fact that her elder brother would be helping to feed and take care of them. But now they weren’t as cute as when they were fresh-hatched jumping around, so tiny, fluffy, and cheeping away. Only yesterday Mama had said it was time to find another home for them because soon they would be scratching up the grass, and they would be way too big to keep in a city neighborhood. That was fine with Regina because they weren’t very much fun anymore, always begging for attention. Brother had already lost interest. 

Suddenly, with mischief in her heart she spied one that didn’t quite look like the others. My goodness! He was just a little bigger and he had some red flesh starting to grow around his head. Would this one be the rare rooster? She crept up close to him, lunged toward him, throwing her purse with both hands at his head, she shouted “Boo!” Just as suddenly, he flew back on the attack with a great squawk. She turned and ran around the side of the house, slamming the gate to the back yard. Undeterred the rooster squawked again & flew over the chest high, wire gate, and began to peck at the heels of Regina's shiny learner pumps. 

She thought that by the time she reached the sidewalk the bird would just give up and go back to his usual habitat. After all, wasn’t he just a dumb ol’ chicken?  Oh no, this rooster had a purpose, and that was to catch Regina’s shiny black heels. By now she was running faster than she ever had, even in a Field Day relay... but, she couldn’t seem to lose that bird. If Mary had a little lamb, Regina now had a little rooster….except that Mary’s lamb was nice and tame, but her rooster was menacing and mean. Her heels clopped noisily, trying to keep beyond the reach of the sharp beak. Surely he would give up at the next turn, for how would he know how to get back home? 

to be concluded.....

A Sunday Lesson - Part I

To my readers: I have had several requests to publish the following tale about my sister as a "tween." The whole thing was rather long for a blog post. I was advised to merely cut it into 3 parts. 

My youngest sister at age 12 was on the path to becoming a serious backslider.  She thought that church was “for the birds,” and she had more pleasant things to do on Sunday morning than attend church. Short of a switchin’, Mama had to apply serious pressure to get her to church on time. 

“Regina! You lazy thing, you! I got you up in plenty of time to get ready & go with us. You’ve dawdled your time away and now you’re not even ready. You just get yourself ready and you’ll walk to church in time for Sunday School. That mile trot serves you right. I’ll be checking to see that you made it to Sunday School.” Mama’s high heels clicked as she walked out, screen door slamming in her wake. Regina grimaced and continued to ponder how much she did not want to dress for church. She loved her lilac organdy dress with the ruffled, full, stand-out skirt, and puffed sleeves. It was her special Easter dress. But oh those ol’ hot hose! As a “big” girl, she must now wear that uncomfortable garter belt and pull those sticky, hot hose over her prickly, as-of-late shaven legs. How she hated them! Why couldn’t she just go back to not shaving her legs & wearing white Buster Brown socks which were just fine? 

She looked at the clock. Only 8:30! Good! There was still almost an hour until Sunday School at 9:30. She leisurely ate a big sugar-glazed bear-claw and washed it down with a tall glass of cold milk as she devoured the Sunday color funnies. Feeling full and fine, she sauntered into the living room and sat down at the old Sohmer spinet. She couldn’t resist playing one of her favorite hymns, “This Is My Father’s World.” Then she flatted a few keys which turned a rousing tune into a sad drone. She laughed wickedly. Regina could do as she pleased and no one would stop her. Back in her room, inspired by the funnies she reached for some lined notebook paper and began to sketch a cruel cartoon of her least favorite teacher, Ol' Maid Sadie Jones. She chuckled as pinned it up on her personal bulletin board, and sighed as  she turned to the task of dressing up.

Underwear and hose on, dress buttoned down the back and sash tied, she slipped on her new black patent Sunday shoes with a “learner heel” (she hated those, too!) & grabbed her 6” by 6” woven, straw clutch purse filled with 7th-grade items: tiny note pad & pencil with eraser, light pink lipstick never applied unless she was playing dress-up, a rat-tail comb. The latter reminded her that she hadn’t fixed her dark, waist-length tresses which hardly matched the just-so rest of her.  With brush in hand Regina expertly swooped her hair up into a tidy pony-tail to which she tied a matching lilac grosgrain bow with extra long streamers. Like Mama taught her, she checked herself out in the long mirror on the inside of Mama’s closet door. She would add some hard candies to her purse on her way out. She knew she would have to make up for missing early church by attending 11 o’clock service, but she had no plans to listen to the sermon, though she might sing the hymns. Naturally she would sit in the balcony with other teenage rowdies, quietly doodle on her notepad, and suck hard candies. If she didn't have to go to Sunday School church could have been almost fun.

To be continued.