Do you know how many damn times I have tried to write this entry? Far too many. It almost seems as if I am not supposed to speak about my experience in second grade for some reason. Is it because it involves a nun?
At any rate, I want to start this entry with commenting on the picture you see to the left. This was from a muscial production the first and second grade did called "The Elephant's Child", based on the short story by the same name. That is me as the elephant having his nose pulled on. It was my first acting gig. I look at this photo today and cringe.
I entered second grade with wide eyed wonderment as to what will happen. New room, new desk, and some new faces as well. The biggest new face was Miss Felciano, a teacher we soon learned was fun but at the same time not one to piss off because she had no hesitation in bringing the smack down. I learned this the hard way.
In the school year books, I am not pictured with the second grade class. This is due to the fact that when the pictures were taken my family took me for my first trip to Disneyland. So in second grade I had the birth of my acting bug, and the birth with my obsession with all things Disney. I came back with tons of stories to tell, and at the same time was disappointed I was back in school and not riding "Peter Pan's Flight".
I think this mentality is why I was in detention a lot with Miss Felciano. it certainly was not because she enjoyed my company. However, one day I took it too far.
In St David's, if you misbehave you get your name on the board. Do it again, and you get a check which means a 30 min detention after school. Do it again and get a second check for a 60 min detention. 3rd check means a parent teacher talk. The dreaded 4th check means you must meet with the principal and discuss your behavior.
Not naming names but I heard someone in the class above us once got 10 checks from Miss Felciano. If that is true I have no clue, but woah!
Anyways, there were those who were well behaved, some who slipped once in a while, and the trouble kids. I for a bit was a trouble kid. Detention after detention. One day I took it too far and wound up with 4 checks behind my name.
I was already at two checks that day. Facing the dreaded 1 hr detention consisting of writing phrases like "I will not talk out of turn" and stuff. Interesting punishment: non stop writing for 30 mins-1 hour. Misbehave in class, we will give you early carpel tunnel.
As I was saying, I was at 2 checks, and then I did something really bad. I was sitting next to someone named AG (not his real name but you know the drill), and we were giggling and being stupid. Suddenly for no reason we both stood up and said out loud "OOH WE'RE NAKED!". we sang it actually. Felciano had enough and immediately moved me beyond 3 checks and directly to 4 checks.
Up to the principal's office I went.
Now as I mentioned in my 1st grade entry, Sister Christian the mother superior as well, and she is a nice person as long as you behave. When you misbehave, all the warm and fuzzy Julie Andrewness disappears. It is replaced with the wrath of God.
So there I was, in front of this angry nun who was demanding a reason for my behavior. I could not give her an answer. So, she called my mom (who at this time was still a housewife) and had he come join me in the office. When my mom entered, Sister Christian got a slight bit nicer, but still was cold. Told my mom about how bad I was, how this path can lead to the devil, and that my mom needed to do this and that. Needless to say my mom was not happy that I was the reason she had to come to school and meet with me and the principal.
I was grounded for the first time in my life.
Miss Felciano and Sister Christian then felt that I needed an outlet. They were right. Later in life I learned I have an IQ of 169 (pretty high) so I am sure I was bored. I was struggling with math in my school years, but my ability to attain knowledge, memorize shit, and just be a walking encyclopedia still astounds me. Plus, you have my comedy quick wit that came to me first in St David's.
Anywho, our music teacher was having our class and the 1st grade put on a little musical play based on the fable "The Elephant's Child". I was cast in the lead. It was the outlet I needed. I got to goof around and be someone else, and it calmed me down. It turned out I was this white hotg ball of creativity that needed guidance. And an audience to perform in front of
Am I still that white hot ball of creative energy? Yes.
Do I still long for an audience to perform in front of? DUH!
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