Every girl in class had a crush on him. He was the boy that wasn't just smart but an athlete - and to top it all off - he was the cutest boy in their class, no, on the Green Team.
Paul was the tallest boy in class, he was a fast grower and all the better for him too because he was the quarterback for his age group in his local football organization. The same organization that she cheered for, which meant she got to see him on the weekends too. Only problem was, there were a few other girls in class that cheered for that same organization AND were on her team.
She doesn't entirely remember how but there was some way Paul knew she had a crush on him. Either way, he was still really nice to her and still asked her for help - because even though he knew he was smart, he knew she was smarter. They helped each other in science a lot.
In sixth grade, middle school, everything changes. You start to change classrooms and teachers for subjects. Because she was on the Green Team, there were only two teachers. Most of the other teams, except for one, had three teachers. Still, that meant there were other kids in her classes that didn't stay all day. On top of which, her special classes like gym and music had even more kids that weren't on her team in them.
It was at these moments that the crush she had on Paul would dissipate and she realized she liked more than one boy. Paul would still be the main crush but several other crushes lied within boys like Matt (her fifth grade friend), Matt F (the boy that made fun of her all the time), and Derek (the boy who would become - to this date - her biggest crush and eventually her first love). But at that point in her life, none of them seemed to resonate as much as Paul did. The all american boy.
Showing posts with label grade school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grade school. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
He called her what?.....
She knew it was going to be a good year. She had spent the summer before fifth grade playing and doing the normal things she had done with her friends since she was 5 except this year she went to school a week early. No, not because she was trying to get a head start on learning. She wasn't that much of a nerd. She went in every day in the morning for a few hours so she could help some of the teachers get their classrooms situated and maybe even meet her new teacher - to get a better idea of what she could expect for the upcoming school year.
Ms. M Hoffmann would be her teacher this year (said like that because there was a Ms. E Hoffman, of no relation - but the name plates outside the door were written as such).
As it turned out, Ms. M Hoffmann had already set up her classroom so she went ahead and helped some of her other favorite teachers that she knew from older friends and her sister.
The school year started the same as any other - but this year she was determined to strive to be the best student in class. Unfortunately a couple of new textbooks were really difficult for her and the rest of the class to understand - so there were several curves on history exams. This was fine with her because she didn't really care much for tests anyway. It was the learning and class participation that she strived for. It was in those moments that she shined and was noticed, as she so often thought he would notice her. Turns out, it wasn't in just those moments that he noticed her, it was all the time.
His name was Matt and she had the BIGGEST crush on him. It was her biggest one to date and she certainly couldn't help but stare at him occasionally. Every so often she would catch him doing the same to her - and he would quickly look down at his paper and pretend to be reading or talk to his deskmate, John.
Matt was, in her opinion, one of the cutest kids in class. He was shy and quiet and even though they rarely had any kind of contact or interaction, she liked him. No need for explanations in fifth grade. You just like people.
The desks in Ms. M Hoffmann's room were situated in pairs on the two outside rows and threes in the middle row - with four rows of each, making 28 kids to the class. She sat on the end of a group of three, third row back. He sat one row in front of her to the right and on the end closest to her. And although the seating arrangements changed every so often, this was the arrangement that was easiest for her to see him whenever she wanted. What she hadn't planned on was being able to see John too - and inadvertently, having a crush on him too.
The day came that she let some of her friends in class know that she liked Matt but somehow it ended up being said to John instead and because of that, John - it turned out - liked her too. When her friends came back to her and asked her if she would want to "go out" with John (which in fifth grade means you call that person your girlfriend or boyfriend and you talk to each other at recess and thats about it), she immediately reacted and said yes. This would be her first boyfriend. A boyfriend! she thought to herself. But then, as her friends had already left her and walked away, she realized - no - I don't like him. I like Matt. What is wrong with me? So, when her friends came back - and she was "going out" with John, she told her friends and set them straight. They went and told John the change and when they came back to her they told her, "Yeah we told him. He said you're a bitch".
He called her what? How old were they?....all of 10 and 11?! He called her a bitch. She had never been called that before. And even though she knew what the word was and knew how it was meant to be used, she just couldn't believe someone would think that about her. All the while, she still liked Matt but because of the entire situation, she felt it was just better to cool it with the boys and kept her crushes to herself from that point on. And her crush on Matt would remain a crush - and kept in secrecy for no one to know.
Ms. M Hoffmann would be her teacher this year (said like that because there was a Ms. E Hoffman, of no relation - but the name plates outside the door were written as such).
As it turned out, Ms. M Hoffmann had already set up her classroom so she went ahead and helped some of her other favorite teachers that she knew from older friends and her sister.
The school year started the same as any other - but this year she was determined to strive to be the best student in class. Unfortunately a couple of new textbooks were really difficult for her and the rest of the class to understand - so there were several curves on history exams. This was fine with her because she didn't really care much for tests anyway. It was the learning and class participation that she strived for. It was in those moments that she shined and was noticed, as she so often thought he would notice her. Turns out, it wasn't in just those moments that he noticed her, it was all the time.
His name was Matt and she had the BIGGEST crush on him. It was her biggest one to date and she certainly couldn't help but stare at him occasionally. Every so often she would catch him doing the same to her - and he would quickly look down at his paper and pretend to be reading or talk to his deskmate, John.
Matt was, in her opinion, one of the cutest kids in class. He was shy and quiet and even though they rarely had any kind of contact or interaction, she liked him. No need for explanations in fifth grade. You just like people.
The desks in Ms. M Hoffmann's room were situated in pairs on the two outside rows and threes in the middle row - with four rows of each, making 28 kids to the class. She sat on the end of a group of three, third row back. He sat one row in front of her to the right and on the end closest to her. And although the seating arrangements changed every so often, this was the arrangement that was easiest for her to see him whenever she wanted. What she hadn't planned on was being able to see John too - and inadvertently, having a crush on him too.
The day came that she let some of her friends in class know that she liked Matt but somehow it ended up being said to John instead and because of that, John - it turned out - liked her too. When her friends came back to her and asked her if she would want to "go out" with John (which in fifth grade means you call that person your girlfriend or boyfriend and you talk to each other at recess and thats about it), she immediately reacted and said yes. This would be her first boyfriend. A boyfriend! she thought to herself. But then, as her friends had already left her and walked away, she realized - no - I don't like him. I like Matt. What is wrong with me? So, when her friends came back - and she was "going out" with John, she told her friends and set them straight. They went and told John the change and when they came back to her they told her, "Yeah we told him. He said you're a bitch".
He called her what? How old were they?....all of 10 and 11?! He called her a bitch. She had never been called that before. And even though she knew what the word was and knew how it was meant to be used, she just couldn't believe someone would think that about her. All the while, she still liked Matt but because of the entire situation, she felt it was just better to cool it with the boys and kept her crushes to herself from that point on. And her crush on Matt would remain a crush - and kept in secrecy for no one to know.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Daily Affirmations
Miss Pieffer was big on her students being kind to each other. She was the kind of teacher that was thoughtful and relatively new to teaching. Obviously, young enough to still know how cruel kids in the fourth grade can be to each other. It was because of Miss Pieffer that she realized that boys would have crushes on her too.
She knew from the first day of school that she was going to like him. Jimmy. She knew Jimmy's older sister from cheerleading and because of that - they always had something to talk about. He was about her height and not exactly the smartest kid in class but he liked her and she knew it. She always thought of him as a friend because she really had her eye on Dwayne.
Dwayne was a football player - only - not for the team that she cheered for. He played for the bears, she cheered for the cross town rival, the spartans. When they gave out their pictures that were in the form of trading cards, she asked him for one and he gave her one. As soon as she got home it was quickly affixed aside her bed with a penned heart with purple ink. She could look at it any time she wanted to. However, she knew it would always be a distant crush because despite knowing that he was nice enough to give the picture to her, that's as far as his kindness extended. He didn't like her back.
Secretly she hoped he would but knew that the daily affirmations she received were from Jimmy. She could tell by the handwriting.
Daily affirmations were more of a weekly project but it was required that everyone in Miss Pieffer's class accomplish at least three of them a day. You had to do them. All three had to be to different people but you could always give one a day to the same person. And at the end of the week - you looked through your handmade personal "mailbox" to see what kind notes your classmates had left you - entirely anonymous - that is - unless you knew what their handwriting looked like:-).
She knew what Jimmy's handwriting looked like - and he knew what hers looked like. I guess that's why they both ended up being such good friends. Afterall, it was only fourth grade - but it was then that she realized - I guess these crushes aren't always one-sided.
He moved away after fifth grade - to somewhere in New Jersey. And she would reconnect with him sometime in high school when he finally confessed to her what she already knew - he had had the biggest crush on her and just never thought he could tell her. It was, after all, fourth grade. You don't meet your soulmate when you're 9, right?
She knew from the first day of school that she was going to like him. Jimmy. She knew Jimmy's older sister from cheerleading and because of that - they always had something to talk about. He was about her height and not exactly the smartest kid in class but he liked her and she knew it. She always thought of him as a friend because she really had her eye on Dwayne.
Dwayne was a football player - only - not for the team that she cheered for. He played for the bears, she cheered for the cross town rival, the spartans. When they gave out their pictures that were in the form of trading cards, she asked him for one and he gave her one. As soon as she got home it was quickly affixed aside her bed with a penned heart with purple ink. She could look at it any time she wanted to. However, she knew it would always be a distant crush because despite knowing that he was nice enough to give the picture to her, that's as far as his kindness extended. He didn't like her back.
Secretly she hoped he would but knew that the daily affirmations she received were from Jimmy. She could tell by the handwriting.
Daily affirmations were more of a weekly project but it was required that everyone in Miss Pieffer's class accomplish at least three of them a day. You had to do them. All three had to be to different people but you could always give one a day to the same person. And at the end of the week - you looked through your handmade personal "mailbox" to see what kind notes your classmates had left you - entirely anonymous - that is - unless you knew what their handwriting looked like:-).
She knew what Jimmy's handwriting looked like - and he knew what hers looked like. I guess that's why they both ended up being such good friends. Afterall, it was only fourth grade - but it was then that she realized - I guess these crushes aren't always one-sided.
He moved away after fifth grade - to somewhere in New Jersey. And she would reconnect with him sometime in high school when he finally confessed to her what she already knew - he had had the biggest crush on her and just never thought he could tell her. It was, after all, fourth grade. You don't meet your soulmate when you're 9, right?
Freckles
People were starting to realize that she was one of the smartest girls in their grade. She was always the one to help out other kids who were struggling and the teacher always seemed to call on her to read outloud in class. She decided to focus more on that than the fact that she had a major crush on Brian.
Completely the opposite of her first and second grade crushes, while Brian was gangly, he wasn't exactly tall but had the exact stature a third grader would have. On top of which, the brownishred hair with brown eyes and freckles put him the name category as her, irish american with a great smile that said - I am fun and cute. Again, not quite the stature of a geeky kid and maybe she picked him on purpose. He was out of reach and therefore looking was the only activity she had when it came to him. Honestly, how much more do get in third grade?
Sure, they worked in groups on things and sure he knew who she was - but conversation were minimal and after he found out there was a majority of girls invited to her birthday party (also that he had a baseball game that day), he didn't go. Only he wasn't like Drew - he didn't give her a present anyway - which made her realize that Drew really did like her back (unless it has something to do with the fact that their mom's were friends through the local women's organization). Either way - he was not like the rest of them. She knew he wouldn't be a friend the way 2nd grade Drew would be. Out of reach, out of touch, and out of her sphere of friends. But those freckles got her every time. Every time.
Completely the opposite of her first and second grade crushes, while Brian was gangly, he wasn't exactly tall but had the exact stature a third grader would have. On top of which, the brownishred hair with brown eyes and freckles put him the name category as her, irish american with a great smile that said - I am fun and cute. Again, not quite the stature of a geeky kid and maybe she picked him on purpose. He was out of reach and therefore looking was the only activity she had when it came to him. Honestly, how much more do get in third grade?
Sure, they worked in groups on things and sure he knew who she was - but conversation were minimal and after he found out there was a majority of girls invited to her birthday party (also that he had a baseball game that day), he didn't go. Only he wasn't like Drew - he didn't give her a present anyway - which made her realize that Drew really did like her back (unless it has something to do with the fact that their mom's were friends through the local women's organization). Either way - he was not like the rest of them. She knew he wouldn't be a friend the way 2nd grade Drew would be. Out of reach, out of touch, and out of her sphere of friends. But those freckles got her every time. Every time.
The Same Only Different
As is the case in most grade school crushes - it depends on who is in your class. It isn't until middle school that you switch classmates on a regular basis. And it just so happens his name was the same as the crush from first grade - only it was an entirely different Drew.
This Drew was shorter, still blonde haired/blue eyed, but shorter and without glasses. In fact, he was pretty much the class jock - but he was smart - and slightly inclined to be geeky - but she was the only one who knew that.
They weren't just classmates in Mrs. Peters class but also at CCD - the beginnings of what would become their catholic learning process (for kids who didn't go to catholic school).
All she remembers about him is that this is when their friendship started - and although she would always have a crush on him - she knew he was always out of her league. It was when she realized she wasn't the pretty girl in class. She was the girl the boys liked to play baseball with - not the ones they wanted to kiss.
This Drew was shorter, still blonde haired/blue eyed, but shorter and without glasses. In fact, he was pretty much the class jock - but he was smart - and slightly inclined to be geeky - but she was the only one who knew that.
They weren't just classmates in Mrs. Peters class but also at CCD - the beginnings of what would become their catholic learning process (for kids who didn't go to catholic school).
All she remembers about him is that this is when their friendship started - and although she would always have a crush on him - she knew he was always out of her league. It was when she realized she wasn't the pretty girl in class. She was the girl the boys liked to play baseball with - not the ones they wanted to kiss.
Personalized Cork Boards
His name was Andrew but everyone called him Drew. He had the distinguishing characteristic of being the tallest kid in First Grade and not only that, also happened to be the perfect example of what a nerd would be. Tall, gangly, blonde hair, blue eyes that were covered with glasses that had big brown frames. When he smiled, two big front teeth were at the forefront of what had grown in after his first two experiences with the tooth fairy.
She knew from the first time she met him that she thought he was cute. For whatever reason her first encounter of being attracted to the slightly geeky boy in class ended up being the case for every guy she was involved with later on in life.
Drew was smart and athletic. Two main reasons she liked him. He was nice to the kids in class and was friends with everyone.....well, everyone that mattered in first grade (you know, the kids that have the best lunches or snacks, or the ones who always play games at recess). Drew was the one she wanted to be around all the time. But, being a girl, she never got to play with the boys at recess - even if that's what she did when she was at home because all of her neighbors were boys.
The best part about Drew is that he liked her too....atleast she thought he did. He smiled at her. That was always good. How much more do you get in first grade, right? He even gave her a present for her birthday even though he couldn't make it to her party. A personalized cork board that he wrote her name on himself. She had it displayed on the door to her room until she was in high school - until she realized she hadn't heard or seen him since he moved away from the school district in 7th grade.
She never forgot him and likes to think that he never forgot her but she'll never forget her presnt or the way he made her feel when he smiled at her.
----------
If only life were this simple anymore.
She knew from the first time she met him that she thought he was cute. For whatever reason her first encounter of being attracted to the slightly geeky boy in class ended up being the case for every guy she was involved with later on in life.
Drew was smart and athletic. Two main reasons she liked him. He was nice to the kids in class and was friends with everyone.....well, everyone that mattered in first grade (you know, the kids that have the best lunches or snacks, or the ones who always play games at recess). Drew was the one she wanted to be around all the time. But, being a girl, she never got to play with the boys at recess - even if that's what she did when she was at home because all of her neighbors were boys.
The best part about Drew is that he liked her too....atleast she thought he did. He smiled at her. That was always good. How much more do you get in first grade, right? He even gave her a present for her birthday even though he couldn't make it to her party. A personalized cork board that he wrote her name on himself. She had it displayed on the door to her room until she was in high school - until she realized she hadn't heard or seen him since he moved away from the school district in 7th grade.
She never forgot him and likes to think that he never forgot her but she'll never forget her presnt or the way he made her feel when he smiled at her.
----------
If only life were this simple anymore.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)