Thursday, October 16, 2008

Tin Foil Spit Balls & Tying Ones Hair in Knots


Twelve years old and yet again at another new school...I shuffled from class to class.
Fourth period...last class before last lunch, my lunch.

I recognized her from homeroom, but we still did not speak.
She sat in front of me & I noticed she carried her lunch in a brown paper bag.

Every two or three minutes, she'd pivot around, lock eyes with me and carefully place one small round tinfoil ball in the carved out notch for holding pens and pencils in my desk.
I spoke not.
Once there was five or six tinfoil balls, she stopped.

Close to the end of class, as our teacher was etching out mathematical equations on the chalkboard and everyone was hand-cramped frantic jotting notes from the board, she spun around and locked eyes with me one more time.
I watched.

As Mr Reeves, our teacher, spun back around to face the class a tinfoil ball bounced off his cheek.
Ninety percent of the class didn't even see it, but I did.
Before I had time to think, I let out a belly-laugh of astronomic proportions.
The class sat in silence.

New to the school, new to the class, I covered my face, not giggling but undeniably laughing, ''I am sorry, I am so sorry. It wasn't me. I am so sorry.''

Mr. Reeves face was the color of crimson tide as he charged down my aisle and eyed the pile of tinfoil balls lined up in my pencil holder.
The wide eyed girl in front of me never laughed and never turned around.
I didn't even bother trying to explain.
I took the punishment that came my way.

Then, day after day, I sat silently behind that girl and one strand at a time, one day at a time I commenced to tying her hair in knots.
Tiny little knots.

Finally, one day, she spun back around...'Are you doing something to my hair?'
'Yes.'
'What are you doing?'
'I'm tying it in knots.'

She bellowed out in laughter...
I joined her.
Thus began the first of many detentions she and I would ultimately serve together and of course, our friendship.

We should never be afraid to laugh ;)

Outsider Hippie Art Compliments of Sister Sing and Just Give Me Peace

13 comments:

Me said...

I had to check to see if this were one of your tales of fiction. Don't know why, but I love your memories far better when it is 100% pure and thi is one of them. No doubt! You were such a devlish little peace filled angel :)

Dee said...

Cute memory. I got my best friend in 4th grade in trouble once but it was not intentional. She was not as gracious as you; she hated me after that. Ah, well...I am glad you and I are still buds :)

Lola Starr said...

Ha! Such a fun story!! I had a girl like that in my second grade class except she would pull my hair and we both got in trouble and we didn't end up friends....But my oldest, dearest friend, Ashes, we met when we were ten and had a full on war-I'm talking my mother had to come to school and people had to keep an eye on us. A year later or so we were best friends and we've never looked back. :)

Mel said...

Ohhhh..how brilliant that memories serve you well--that the memories exist!
I'm envious...all the way around.

Shimmerrings said...

What a beautiful thing that laughter is! I never got in trouble, I should have laughed more!

david mcmahon said...

Perfect basis for a friendship!

Georgina said...

Hi I arrived via David, what a great tale! We used to throw bits of eraser, luckily we never got caught. Debs x

Anonymous said...

Here from David..Great story.
Sorry, but I think I was a wimp. Life was crap enough without drawing attention to myself. Perhaps the fact that I attended 11 schools in 9 years and was ALWAYS the new girl could be the reason.

Laughter IS the best medicine.

Sandi McBride said...

Having been the new girl so many times, I just loved this post...
L O V E D I T !!!
here via David
congrats on Post of the Day mention!
Sandi

Maggie May said...

That was an unusual way to start a friendship! Congratulations on POTD over at David's.

~Babs said...

Great Story!

All worth that belly laugh!
New Girl doing it in style!

kj said...

ahh, skinny, what a great story. i love your childhood tales. you are a model of spunk and courage, and of course brains and good looks!

note to shimmerings: how about starting to laugh now, start and don't stop?

:)

skinnylittleblonde said...

Good Morning & Thanks All!
Threw this post up then hit the road...spent a few days with the family... peace&love to all!