Honor Girl!

I guess it would be ok for me to tell a story about myself. I know I loved the stories my Grandmother and Uncle Fred told me.

I started school in the 8th grade at Montoursville. I loved it there except that I had to take care of keeping Clif from crying all day long at school. At thirteen, I was not quite equipped to handle a little boy who cried all day. Cliff hated school at Montoursville and it took him forever to get used to it. The Principal would send someone to my room and I would have to go down to Cliff's room and try to get him to stop crying!! Now, since I am old I realize how much that must have meant to him. He felt better just to know I was nearby.

Anyway, the 8th grade in a huge school was fun. We changed classes and even had some classes at the high school, which was about 3 blocks away. I made friends easily even though they called me "Farmer" or "Skinny". I never minded as it was always in good fun. Having lived in the country for a long time it was great to be able to go to a store on our lunch hour and just shop for a bit.

Near the end of that first year I came home from school one day and my Mother said she thought I should have a new dress for church as I was growing so fast. I didn't care but if she wanted to make me a new one, I would love it. She altered a dress which was given to us and it was so pretty. Pink chiffon with a lacy yoke. Really dressy. I was surprised and pleased, but wondering why this pretty dress all of a sudden. Mom kept her secrets though so---

A couple of weeks later there was a knock on the door and there was a photographer from the Williamsport Sun Gazette. He wanted to interview me and take my picture!! I hadn't a clue!! Of course then my Mother had to tell me she had received a letter from the school that I had been chosen by my peers as "Honor Girl of the Year". What a thrill! The photographer complained all the while that we lived in the back of beyond and he had a terrible time finding me.

We had to be at the Montoursville school on Memorial Day for a presentation. This was wonderful. My parents were both going, which was so unusual. They very rarely attended anything like this. I think they were very proud.

There was a parade with the veterans and then a meeting in the auditorium of the school. There were speeches and such and then they asked that I come forward along with the Honor Boy of the Year. I was so nervous I shook. The lady that tried to pin the emblem on my dress was just as nervous. It was a thrill to stand before such a large audience and be so honored.