School’s Out
It is absolutely great to finish High School when you are 16, except socially! Most of the time when I was 15 and 16, many boys and girls would go out together. There were movies, ice skating, dances, and lots of pizza!
I had some “dates,” but nothing much came from it. I was just too immature socially while I was too accelerated academically.
Starting my last year in high school, I had already completed all my required courses and the number of credits required for graduation. I only had an English class to complete. Because I was 15, I was required to attend school for a number of hours every day. The last thing I needed was three lunch periods. I filled up my schedule with fluff. One of the classes I chose was the History of Music. I like music, so I figured, why not?
The class, unfortunately, was quite boring and I was sorry I hadn’t chosen lunch!
Toward the end of the semester, the teacher announced that we would be talking about jazz, but because she was not well versed in jazz, we would have an x-student of hers come to teach the class for a couple of days.
The day arrived, and this cocky guy came into the room. I had an immediate reaction to him. I hated him!
I had to admit that he was much more entertaining than the teacher and seemed to know his subject well.
I decided that I would research what I could and ask a ton of questions the next class. The only material I had to look up was the World Book Encyclopedia. This was well before personal computers.
I came armed with my questions. When he finished his lesson and asked for questions, I raised my hand and started firing questions at him. Damn, he answered each one correctly.
I went home and told my Mom about him. She looked at me and said, “What’s wrong with you? You'll never see him again for the rest of your life!”
That made sense to me, and I relaxed. The semester ended two weeks after that class. My last semester of High School began. I still had that one English class. Instead of classes, I did “service” for the AV department. I delivered movies and videos to teachers that required them, as well as set up lab equipment from beakers to bunsen burners. I would then retrieve everything at the end of the class.
Feb 1, 1963, was a very cold Friday. That evening, my friend and I decided to attend a fraternity party. I can’t remember if we were invited or not. Most of those parties were open houses, and no invitation was needed. Since neither of us drove, we took the bus. The party was disappointing, and we quickly decided to leave. Without planning to go anywhere, we would just return to her house and hang out. The next day was my 16th birthday. I had opted for no party. Instead, I was offered to go to Mexico City for the summer and to enroll at the University for Spanish classes. What a deal, even though my mother would be traveling with me.
The bus usually ran quite frequently. Not on that night! We were freezing. A car stopped and tried to pick us up, and we told the guy to get lost. A second and third car stopped, but we wouldn’t get in.
As I finished the sentence, “ We are getting into the next car or freezing here on this spot,” another car stopped with two guys. The window rolled down, and I couldn’t believe it was the guy from school. I looked at him, and he looked at me. Each of us pointed and said, “YOU!”
My friend had no idea who he was. We started to argue, and I said, I’m getting into the car because I can’t argue when I’m frozen.” He got out of the front and escorted me to the rear seat. My friend got in the front. I can’t really remember what we were fighting about!
We decided we wanted to eat something, and the guy driving took us to an ice cream parlor! It was below zero, and he wanted ice cream. Honestly, I have never refused ice cream, so we went in. After several hours of hurling insults at each other, the two guys drove us home.
My accidental date walked me to the front door and asked for my number. I refused and went inside my house. I felt vindicated! I had won whatever it was we were fighting about! I felt so much better!
Two weeks later, he called. He had gone to the teacher and was given my phone number. Something the teacher would get fired for today!
We fought over everything for three and a half years till I graduated college. Then we were married. It’s been 57+ years, and the fights still continue. Truly a marriage made in heaven and music class.
