By Billy Crawford

It didn’t take me long! Not one to waste any time, I got into trouble on the very first day of first grade!

It was September of ’52. My mother had walked me to the schoolhouse. Mrs. Roy Cook, a veteran teacher who I later learned to be both a wonderful person and an excellent educator, welcomed us at the classroom door. As I sat nearby, my mother and Mrs. Cook conversed. Mom was also a veteran, for I was the fourth and final child for whom she would go through this ritual.

Becoming somewhat bored, I began with my left hand rolling one of my new, freshly sharpened pencils from the groove carved into the top desk, rolling it down with my left hand and catching it with my right hand. With each roll, it made a pleasing little clicking sound. (Again, not to waste time, I was already working on my hand-eye coordination, which would later serve me well in athletics!) I continued this over and over while they discussed my future. Finally they completed the courteous conversation and Mom politely said goodbye. As soon as my mom vanished through the door, Mrs. Cook looked down at me and sternly said, “BILLY, PUT THAT PENCIL DOWN.”

Welcome to the real world!

After all these years I can remember not only the words that were spoken that day but also can summon up a vivid picture of it. Of course, now I can’t remember where I put the car keys. But I can remember Mrs. Cook’s command like it was yesterday!

One morning earlier this week I shared this memory with my wife Callie. Immediately, she then started telling me about the first time she got into trouble in elementary school. She then said, ” I think most people have a similar memory. Why don’t you share this with your family members and friends?”

I agreed! I thought I would give it a try. If you want to share your story, you could include your whole name, or first or last name only, or you could plead the fifth, using the line from my favorite detective television show “Dragnet”: “names have been changed to protect the innocent.”

Please send your stories to: billyecrawford@gmail.com

And for you “teacher’s pets” who never got into trouble, please share with us your secret?