memories from your past - from a stranger

I was at a memorial service for a friends’s older brother yesterday. It was a joyous event with some old friends popping out of every corner. Many of us are now in our sixties, seventies and beyond so there were many stories being shared amongst this crowd of 150+.

One guest came up to me and introduced herself. She had a little story for me. When she was in 8th grade at our Catholic grammar school (in my brother’s class) she had used the restroom on the same floor as my third grade classroom. As she came out my 3rd grade class was lined-up (by height I’m sure) going into the classroom. When she walked past some kids were making fun of her.

I must have noticed her pleated parochial skirt was caught in her bloomers. She says that I “jumped out of line, yanked her skirt to its proper place, then jumped back in line”.

She was grateful — but for all these years has felt horribly because: evidently my heroics got me into big TROUBLE with my Teacher, Mrs. Nameless. She gave me what-for in front of all!! She was a mean non-nun (in a sea of priests and nuns) and always called us by our LAST name! In third grade?To add insult to injury; she pronounced my last name with a “Q” rather than a “G” and that really irked me.

I don’t remember the incident but certainly do remember being scolded (more than once) by mean old Mrs. N. She had long pointy fingernails that she’d poke around in front of your face when she chewed you out.

It as a kick for me to hear the story - classic to my experience on every level, from someone I didn’t know.

Ever had stranger share a story about you with you?