elementary school

                    theres where it starts

                                            where the indoctrination begins

he didnt take to it even then

something inside him revoltedhe was revulsed

Get in line, children.

Get in order, you know who’s in front of you and who is behind.

We’re lining up then following in alphabetical order 

                                                            why would he know a five-syllable word as a kindergartener – but he did – why

That’s very good children; it’s very good that you do what you’re told. Yes. Follow the child ahead of you. Let’s walk now, keep in line, in order, let’s show everyone watching you what good children you are.

Fuuck he didnt know that in kindergarten they do now Shesh was his exasperated complaint  he probably learned it from a Bugsy Bunny cartoon  Is there a problem, Joseph?

he didnt respond to Josephhe wouldnt have responded to his parents if they called him Joseph

he was Joe  everyday common Joe

his teacher knew that

they didnt hit it off

apparently neither one forgot  which to his mind was alright he didnt like everyone and everyone didnt have to like him

she was provoking him not that he knew what provocation was

he didnt like her

she didnt like him

nobody gets paid to like someone do your job

Is there a problem, Joseph?

he didnt even bother to look at her she couldnt be talking to him

Joseph?

        she grabbed him by the arm  Joseph? that was allowed then with parental permission she had it so that could just be the start

               why should school be different than at home

but at home they called him Joe

she yanked him by his arm when he didnt fall in line

                                                        You’ll get in line like all the other children.

she brought him into the line roughly 

he saw the other children stare at him

                                           they stared

                                                           he saw their fear

then in line – working a possibly FLUSH – she had to yank him to walk after she told the children to walk and he didnt

possibly FLUSH she yanked him out of line

she threatened to take him to the principal still a FLUSH

No. I’m not wasting my time. ROYAL FLUSH You’ll walk down to the principal’s office on your own; get going! she gave him a little shove to help

                           the little note home straight-pinned to his shirt was a foregone conclusion not that he knew what a conclusion was

Maybe, Mr. Prescott said your parents can help us help you see the error of your ways. as he had his secretary pin the note to him

children have to buy into the indoctrination or suffer punishment

thats intimidation not that he knew what intimidation was yet another five-syllable word

he didnt follow

it was hard for him to read five-syllable words let alone understand them indoctrination is also a five-syllable word

he was as troubled by them as a Greek or Mexican kid would have been

scratch the Mexican

                     there were no Mexican or black kids in the whole township the Greeks were lucky they were let in

the Greek he knew was a girl

her older brothers went to Greek school in the city

she was let in because she could speak Englishshe spoke it better than most the white kids 

                                                                                                 but she still had to go to Greek school after school

she told him things were tougher on dark-complexioned kids white kids could breeze they fit in

OhYeah intimidation another word that didnt stick to him 

                                                               any more than Line up! Follow the leader!

when he was born his mother would say he was peeking outmaybe wondering if he wanted to come out

                                                                                                              He’s naturally skeptical, suspicious, prone to mistrust.

he grew up a hard way by hard knocks

                                            naturally it wouldnt have been any other way

OhYeah he was also lefthanded

                                   being lefthanded might have had something to do with it his grandmother tried to correct itshe bound his hand shut his mother freed him teachers tried but they might as well have been calling him Joseph

        they all tried but couldnt no matter how hard they tried or how hard they made things for him

  

1357,  Thursday,  6  2. 20

1153,  Hiroshima’s 75th anniversary -- Thursday,  6  8. 20

Frank Sinatra  My Way  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQzdAsjWGPg