Denver Years III

Ms. Henderson also introduced us to Mark Twain (we read aloud in class both Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn).

For birthdays, she would put a small present in a basket on the bulletin board in the back of the room, and just before lunch, without announcing whose birthday it was, she would begin singing "Happy Birthday." By the time the class got to the point in the song where you name the honoree (Happy Birthday dear . . . .), the birthday person was supposed to stand up, go to the back and get the present. It was something we did every week, so the practice was pretty well established, and by October of the year it was something we had done many times.

Now, just in case I need to state what I think is the obvious, I was not the least bit shy, but on my birthday that year, I remember thinking it was good to be reserved. The class sang the song three times through, stopping at "Happy Birthday dear . . ." At that point, everyone looked around the class, and then at me while I sat in my seat, hands folded in the posture Ms. Henderson taught us to adopt when we had nothing to do (I folded my hands like that for years after). It was great, the teacher was fulmoxed and the kids were hardly able to hold in their laughter.

On the fourth time through the song, another kid who was oblivious to what was going on, recognized what she thought was a duty to move things forward and curtail the rising suspense and drama. At just the right moment in the song, she stood up, walked to the board, removed the small elephant in the basket and proudly returned to her seat.

Well, everyone in class was surprised because it was no secret that it was my birthday. I was mortified, but to my relief, Ms. Henderson gently reminded the kid that her birthday was not until the next day.

With that admonition Ms. Henderson regained control of the rising bedlam, and after lunch, she reloaded the present basket and made the class sing again. I stood up and retrieved my camel, without delay, without suspence, and without the drama we had all enjoyed that morning.

I still think its a good thing to be reserved and understated, but I've learned to move well before the fourth verse.

©2006 David R. Childress. All Rights Reserved