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
