During my first 12-1/2 years of life many fond events will forever be burned into my memories. The many adventures on our old farm in Northwest Arkansas lie far behind me, only memories remain.
My older brother, Arnold, used to be sweet on this little gal named Betty Cagle. I must say that she was soft as cotton and very nice. She used to pass me love notes to take home to him. It happened a lot, but I didn't mind cause she would grab me and give me a big hug (for being the mailman I guess).
My 5-6 grade teacher, Mrs Jenkins, was a shirt-tail cousin, although I didn't know it at the time. I'm sure she knew. I got straight "A's" in her class. I guess I was pretty smart back then.
I was sweet on Sharon Lancaster. although she never knew it. I was way too shy for that to become known. I also liked Patricia Moon. She was fun to be around. She was very nice...and smart. I remember on one occasion when Karl Thorpe was chosen to be her escort at some event, I wished that it had been me escorting her! Sherry Maye. was nice. I liked her a lot, too. I doubt if she ever took notice of me. I won't even mention Wilma and Judy. I guess I just liked the girls! It helped that our school had so many nice ones!
I remember staying all night with Clifton Medlock one time. We thought we would have an evening of free time to do as we wished. I think we were going to go fishing. Next I knew, Clifton's dad had him working in the field! So much for fishing!
I stayed overnight with my friend David one time, too. Breakfast came early at the Harrison's. Mrs Harrison had the largest spread of food I had ever seen! And it wasn't even daylight yet! I couldn't believe it! There were a bunch of us to feed. They must have had a big family! She made scrambled, boiled and fried eggs. There was bacon, sausage and ham. We had several large plates of home-made biscuits; 3 kinds of gravy and I can't even remember it all! I just knew I'd never seen that much food in somebody's home, ever!
We loved playing marbles and throwing our Barlow knives playing Mumbly Peg and Spread Out. You won't see stuff like that in school today! It's not politically correct, proper nor safe. In fact, a kid can be expelled from school indefinitely for even having s knife at school. And I can't even talk about guns!
Reminds me of the POGO cartoon comic strip where he comes up and reports, "We has seen the enemy, and they is us!"
I never felt like I was close friends with some of the cooler guys. Lee Powell, Dub Tilly and Don Trotter had their own little clique and I was never part of their group. But I did like them and we got along okay.
Grade school was fun, though. We had sports to play, mostly baseball and basketball. I was never any good at the games but I liked playing. I was usually chosen last. That speaks for itself!
It was fun riding the school bus. It would always turn around at our house so we had plenty of time to run out and catch it.
We were still a long way from school one day when fire started coming up around the gas pedal. The driver grabbed a Goldfish bowl from one of the kids bringing some Goldfish to school, for show and tell I guess. He poured some of it around where the pedal rod goes through the floor and got it put out. We still unloaded the bus and started walking. Didn't have cell phones in those days. So we had a long walk. The Goldfish saved the day and didn't even know it!
Paul Millsap was my best friend because he lived the closest to me there at White Rock, only about a mile away. We always played together in the summertime. Our family moved away to Kansas after I finished 8th grade and life as I knew it ceased to exist.
I wonder what ever happened to all of them? I hated having to move away. I will always think of those days and my Arkansas friends with fond memories and longing....and, occasionally, just to remember, the good old days.
Mike Thomas
