A Home for Hannelore

By Theresa L. Potts

She crept back down the stairs and turned to her left and saw a stone path which she began to follow that led to the back of the house. There she saw a large enclosed back porch that had many tall windows and a door. She thought to herself that Mama would love to sit out there in the afternoons and Rick could even sleep in his playpen in the enclosed area and how she would just love to play in this big backyard! She turned her eyes to the wide long lawn that comprised the back of the property, and she spied two very large maple trees in the very back of the yard, the leaves of which were just beginning to turn red, and mused that her father could put swings up on each of the trees! Just as she was delighting herself with all the wonderful possibilities of living there, she heard mans voice behind her softly ask, Are you looking for someone little girl?

She whirled around, suddenly afraid of both being on someones property without her mothers permission and meeting up with a stranger. She began to stammer a reply but couldnt form her words very well, I...I...I was... I mean I was just looking...

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Sep 13, 2016
• ISBN: 9781512739770

Theresa L. Potts

Theresa L. Potts retired several years ago and is a grandmother to several grandchildren from whom she finds inspiration. Growing up in a time when life was much simpler and family values were key to raising children, she wanted to write a book that hopefully focuses the reader on these points. She also wanted to draw readers back to a time when the true meaning of Christmas wasn’t so commercial and impersonal.

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Copyright © 2016 Theresa L. Potts.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

1 [phone]

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Cover and book illustrations by Theresa L. Potts.

ISBN: 978-1-5127-3978-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-3979-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-3977-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016906600

WestBow Press rev. date: 9/13/2016

CONTENTS

A New School Year

17 Bridle Lane

Up Against A Brick Wall

Mama’s Dream House

A Friendship Tried, New Friendships Begin

A Day At Harmony Springs Farm

Another Farm Visit

A Trip To A Seaport

A Thanksgiving Pie

A Christmas Shopping Trip

Gingerbread Houses And A Present For Mama

The Annual Cantata And A Misconception

The School Christmas Pageant And A Wonderful Surprise

Christmas Eve - At Last

The Mysterious Midnight Visitor

Christmas Day At Nonie’s

Validation

A New Year And A New Beginning

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This book is

dedicated to my granddaughter,

Hannelore Barlow

And to my husband Harvey, who has supported

and encouraged me all the way.

Thank you, Harvey for always being in my corner.

I love you both, very much.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I wish to express my deepest gratitude to the following four individuals, whose help brought this book to fruition.

First, to my dear Pastor, Gil Tartaglino, whose generosity and kindness helped bring this book to the next level in preparation for submission to the publisher.

A special note of thanks is extended to a sweet and extremely talented young lady, and member of my church, Katie DaSilva, who graciously helped me in my quest to publish my book. Thank you so much Katie for your highly skilled computer knowledge to help me with this book.

And a special thank you to Ed Berrey, friend and member of my church family, who gave hours of his time and computer expertise to shape the final product. Ed’s diligence, advice and outstanding computer skills were essential to me for preparing this book for publication.

Also; a special thanks is extended to Barbara, my niece and all of my friends and family who encouraged and prayed for me as I wrote and prepared this book.

A NEW SCHOOL YEAR

Circa 1955

L abor Day was always spent at Hannelore’s grandparent’s house an hour’s drive from her parents apartment in the small town of Westbury, Connecticut.

Nonie and Grandpa always had wonderful picnics on Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day. Hannelore Bowers’ parents would often go to either of their parents homes to celebrate various holidays. Their current apartment was very small and couldn’t accommodate a large crowd. Nonie, a woman of second generation Italian heritage, always had array of delicious food and always in great abundance. Much as Hannelore enjoyed the good food, she loved spending time with her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins and, most especially, to be able to run freely through all the property that her grandparents owned.

There were several acres, mostly wooded, and their rolling big front lawn was especially appealing to Hannelore. She would run everywhere until she was exhausted, climbing the trees that punctuated the lawn and exploring the woods looking for wild flowers. She and her cousins enjoyed roaming the large wooded property in the back of the house allowing their young inquisitive minds to explore all manner of vegetation just begging their inspection. Most of the male relatives liked to engage in a game of bocce, or badminton, or a good game of stick baseball while the woman would find comfortable lawn chairs to sit under the shade of the trees and talk and catch up on the activities in each other’s lives.

What a joy it was for Hannelore to see her parents packing up the family car for a trip to her grandparents’ homes. They would arrive shortly before suppertime and after they had all eaten, she was allowed to play for a while outdoors. Usually her grandfather, together with all of the grandchildren would have a game of catch. Later as twilight fell, her mother and Nonie would bathe her and her baby brother, Rick who would soon be put to bed in the old crib they had kept stored in the attic for just such visits.

Afterwards, everyone retired to the big screened porch at the back of the house where big wicker chairs and a glider invited all to sit and relax. Curled up on her Nonie’s lap on the glider, Hannelore would be completely relaxed listening to the adults talking and laughing. She also enjoyed the symphony the crickets and katydids made singing their nightfall songs. Occasionally, before the darkness settled in, she would here the plaintive mournful call of several mourning doves cooing to their mates.

How the young child loved those summertime picnics that meant a stay over of several days…the good food, the games, the laughter of relatives getting together, and playing with her cousins she would only see a few times a year. Most of all, she loved that both her grandparents homes were spacious, with large lawns with room to play and run around to her heart’s content. She loved playing on the big front and back porches. Inside the homes, the rooms were all large and she could spread out her dolls and toys and play comfortably on the carpeted floors.

Now nestled between her mother and grandmother, the overhead ceiling fan quietly whirling the warm evening air around, she felt a sense of deep contentment. She loved these visits with all the space to run, play and stretch out, such a contrast from the apartment she and her parents and baby brother now occupied above a hardware store on a busy street. So often her heart ached for the old second floor apartment that they had lived in until just before her brother’s birth. It too, had a wide front porch and a large screened back porch where she would often play and pass the time of day when inclement weather did not permit her to run about the big back yard. Two twin maple trees supported a swing much to her delight. The owner of the house had graciously set up a baby swing in preparation for the birth of her brother. She had only lived in that apartment from the time she was born until shortly after her brother’s birth. Rick was very ill when he was born and needed surgery and a long stay in the hospital, all of which had drained her parents savings account money they had been putting away to buy a home of their own.

She recalled those big porches where her mother had put up hanging baskets of flowers and window boxes full of assorted flowers and greenery on the railings of the front porch. She thought often of the bedroom all her own with a big bed and dresser and a big corner for all her toys and books. She remembered the two large windows in that room and the pretty frilly lace curtains Mama had put on them. The kitchen, living room and her parents’ bedroom all were comfortably large. There was a bedroom all prepared for her brother as well, and even a den where her father would enjoy stretching out on his big comfortable armchair and putting up his feet on the ottoman and reading the newspaper.

All that changed when Rick was born so very ill that it took all of her parents’ saving which was earmarked for a down-payment on home of their own. Instead the money was used to pay for the many medical and hospital bills. For the sake of economizing, they gave up their large apartment for a much smaller one several blocks away. To Hannelore those few blocks might has well have been a whole world away. Now the need for frugalness warranted her parents to make necessary sacrifices for several years down the road to when they could once again have a sufficient down-payment for a home.

Their present apartment, located off Main Street on Addison Court was much smaller which necessitated her mother and father putting some of their furniture in storage - split between both of their parents’ homes. It was a second floor apartment over the hardware store which was quite hot in the summer and cold in the winter. There was no place to play except for a hard-packed dirt space between the hardware store and the street. A long driveway led to the street and other buildings surrounding the store. It was supposed to be, as her parents had told her many times, only a few years until they could recoup their losses and save enough money.

She no longer had a bedroom of her own but shared one with her brother who slept in a crib on the other side of the room. This room too, had two windows much smaller than in the old apartment and the view was not very appealing - there were no trees or flowers to look out upon. No, this was not at all what Hannelore had come to know and love in the old apartment. Visiting either of her grandparents’ homes, even for a few days, was a definite respite indeed.

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It was the day after Labor Day, a new scholastic year was to begin for Hannelore and she most definitely liked school. She would no longer be in kindergarten but a first grade student. She would continue to learn to read, do her numbers and learn increasingly more and for this she was eager to return to school. She was seven years old, almost eight. Her birthday was late January and would remind her mother sweetly that as almost seven and half years old she was getting to be a big girl and could be trusted more. She remained in the same school that she had begun kindergarten before the move since it was in the same district only a few blocks away now from their old apartment.

It was a cool, crisp clear September morning with a crystal blue sky and bright sunshine. It would most likely get warmer as the day progressed but at this time of morning it was quite chilly. It seemed that the nip in the air began just as the calendar turned to September. The good weather pattern they had been enjoying during the holiday weekend was still prevailing.

Hannelore was up bright and early along with her baby brother who was early to bed and even earlier rise as all babies do. Hannelore’s mother had come into the bedroom at six o’clock to change the baby and take him to the kitchen to feed him his breakfast. Her mother told her the night before that she needed to be ready by seven thirty and the enthusiastic young girl was up and dressing by the time Kathy came into the room.

Hi Hanne, you’re up and getting dressed already, I see, beamed her mother, as she walked to the crib to greet her infant son, who was making sweet babbling sounds.

I’ve been awake even before Rick woke up, she answered. I’m so excited to go to school. Maybe when I get home today Mama, I’ll be able to read all by myself.

Removing the baby’s diaper and placing it in the diaper pail and getting a new clean cloth diaper to put on the baby Kathy answered, sweetly, Oh honey it doesn’t quite work that way. You see reading is a skill you’ve got to learn it slowly over time.

The perplexed child asked, You mean I won’t be able to read like you do when I come home today? But you and Daddy said I if I went to school every day I would learn to read."

Well, yes you will but, like I said honey, it’s a skill. Let me see if I can explain it more clearly so you can better understand what I mean, Kathy replied adjusting the baby’s sleeper. Yes, it’s like this sweetie, as she began to clarify her statement to her daughter. When I got married to your Daddy I didn’t really know how to cook, so I asked my Mother and Daddy’s Mother if they could teach me how to prepare different recipes. I would try it out and keep making the dish until I got it just right. I did the same thing when I learned how to knit and crochet when I was about ten years old. I kept at it until I learned how to do it correctly. Over time it became easier. Do you see what I mean?

You mean I have to keep learning and learning and practicing every day?

Yes, that’s exactly what I am trying to explain to you. It will be the same thing with your numbers and everything you’ll learn. That’s why going to school everyday is so important, honey. You’ve got to keep at it and before you know it, why you’ll be reading so well you’ll surprise yourself. She gathered her smiling, wide-eyed son up in her arms and said to her daughter. Just as soon as you’re all finished dressing yourself come and have your breakfast. You have to be on time each day you go to school.

Okay, Mama I’m almost finished. Hannelore continued to button up the pretty white blouse her mother had bought her to go back to school. She slipped on the deep green corduroy jumper and liked the way the corduroy material felt when she brushed against it with her little hands. She glanced down at the new Buster Brown shoes that she and her mother had picked out at Tom McCann’s shoe store when they had gone shopping for new school clothes for her a few weeks back. She was very keen on the saddle shoes with their brown leather stripe across the front of the shoe which stood out nicely against the white leather. She thought that they were almost as neat as the new dress patent leather shoes that her mother had gotten her that same day they bought the saddle shoes. She admired the ruffled white socks that her mother had bought for her as well, since they too would look well with the black patent shoes. But she knew the black patent leather shoes were just for church and special occasions.

She walked over to the door of the closet in the bedroom and opened the door to have a good look at herself in the full-length mirror that hung on the inside of the closet door. Rosy-cheeked and hazel eyed, Hannelore was a beguilingly sweet and lovely little girl. She had long honey colored hair that fell in soft curls midway to her back. She walked back to the dresser and picked up the hairbrush and came back to the mirror and brushed her long pretty curly locks. She picked up the dark green velvet bowed barrettes that her mother had fashioned for her and clipped her hair off her face. She had a sweet smile that turned up at the corners of her mouth, almost elfin-like and the deep dimples in both of her cheeks added to her impish look. Both physically, and in temperament she resembled her father very much. She had his gentle spirit and warm sunny disposition and her mother’s sociable personality.

Giving an approving nod of her head, she smiled at her reflection in the mirror and turning grabbed the sweater from the end of her bed and headed out to the kitchen. Kathy was putting the baby into his high chair to have his jarred baby food of peaches. She saw her daughter coming into the kitchen and said, You look so very pretty honey. I have oatmeal for you and me, just give me a second to get Rick settled into his high chair. Put your sweater over by the door along side your lunch box for school honey. Daddy had to go to work earlier than usual and he said to give you a big hug and kiss and he wants to hear all about your first day of school when he gets home from work tonight.

Hannelore’s baby brother, Rick picked up his head as he always was delighted at the sight of his big sister. He was happy to be in her company and loved for her to play with him and entertain him which she readily did. Almost nine months old, he was a very happy baby, with an easy-going personality, he smiled readily and was easily entertained. Blonde wispy hair graced the top of his head and deep dimples marked his two fat little cheeks. He was a roly-poly adorable infant and the very image of a cherub. The apple of his doting mother’s eye, the pride of his Dad’s heart and the joy of his loving big sister, Rick rested happily in the love of his dear family.

After she walked back to the table pulled a chair out and sat down to wait for her mother and as she said, I wonder if Dave or Angie will be in my class this year, Mama. All three children were neighborhood friends from when she and her family lived in the big second floor apartment on Granby Street. They have two different teachers for first grade and we might not be together this year, she continued as she took a sip of orange juice, It would be so nice if we could still be together.

Yes, it would be and I hope it turns out that way. But, even if you are separated in the classroom you all can still walk to and from school. Kathy replied getting the hot oatmeal from the stovetop and putting it into two bowls. She then sat down and continued to feed the baby and talking to him to encourage him to eat. But he didn’t need much encouragement as he had a very good appetite and was not a finicky eater.

A young woman in her early thirties, Kathy was very attractive, slender in stature with dark brown shoulder length hair. It was not as curly as her daughter’s but had some wave to it and she wore it rather stylishly to her compliment her striking features. Hazel eyed with a pert nose, high cheeks bones, she had a very engaging smile, a vivacious personality and was more outgoing than her husband, Karl.

My, oh my, Hanne is a first-grader already! I know you will do very well in school this year. You and I have been enjoying reading together since you were three months old! You always loved books and being read to so I think you’ll do very well in school. You really have done a good job with sounding out your letters this summer and I’m proud of you for that, her mother said, as she took a spoonful of hot oatmeal in between spoonfuls of baby food she was giving Rick. You know honey reading is the key to good learning; it is the basis for all you’ll ever learn and I am glad that you learned to count to at least 20. That is quite an accomplishment for a young child as you are.

I love books and going to the library and I especially like it when you read to me before I go to sleep. Hannelore answered as she continued to eat her breakfast.

And I enjoy reading to you at bedtime too. When you’re done with breakfast, brush your teeth and I get Rick fed and dressed and we’ll go downstairs. I’ll walk you to the corner where you’ll meet Dave and Angie. Daddy was kind enough to bring the stroller downstairs for me. I’d like to see you off at least for the first day of school. Afterwards, I’ll take the baby in the stroller to the park for some fresh air and come back and do my chores.

After a few minutes Hannelore was finished with her breakfast drank the rest of her orange juice and got up and brought her bowl, glass and spoon to the kitchen counter and went off to brush her teeth. Kathy had finished feeding her son and cleaned him up and got him changed from his sleepers into his outfit, jacket and hat. She put him into the playpen that was set up between the kitchen and living room so he would be safe and he could see her as she moved about the kitchen. She then went to ready herself for the short trip to school. Returning in a few minutes she came and picked up the baby, Come on baby, its time to walk your sister to the corner. Sooner than I’d like to think I’ll be doing that for you too. She said grabbing her door keys,Come on Hanne time to go.

Okay, I’m ready, responded Hannelore coming from the hallway to put her sweater on and picked up both her lunch and pencil box. What did you give me for lunch Mama?

A peanut butter sandwich, a banana and one of the apple cinnamon muffins I made yesterday.

Yummy, I can’t wait until lunchtime! You always make the best lunches Mama."

Well, it’s good that you have a good a appetite, she replied opening the back door letting Hannelore go down the stairs first she then followed, latching the door lock and headed downstairs.

At the bottom of the stairs, Kathy tucked the baby into the stroller, strapped him in and turning to Hannelore she waved her hand and the little girl fell into step beside her mother and the stroller. The youngster chatted happily with her mother and at times skipped along as they made their way down the driveway to the street. Kathy had taken many trips along this route all summer long each time instructing her child to watch for cars and making sure the youngster fully understood crossing with the street lights. During the school year there would be a crossing guard at Main Street, but Kathy had drilled her daughter to ensure she fully understood the importance of watching and listening for traffic.

It was a short four- block walk to Franklin Roosevelt Grammar School where Hannelore would spend the next eight years being educated. The school itself was in a pleasant enough residential neighborhood. In fact the Bower’s old apartment was in the same neighborhood only three blocks in the opposite direction from where they currently lived.

Within a few minutes, they had arrived at the corner where Dave and Angie stood waiting for her across the street on the corner of Avon and Granby Streets. They waved as they spotted their friend and Hannelore waved back. Pausing at the corner, Hannelore said looking up at her mother, I can cross by myself Mama. I’ll look both ways and be sure no cars are coming, Watch me. Okay?

Okay, here’s a hug and a kiss for my big first-grader. Kathy put the brake on the stroller, bent down and kissed and hugged her daughter. You have a wonderful day. Mind the teacher and when you come home you be sure to look and listen for cars as well, all right?

Yes Mama, I’ll be careful, I promise. The young child then stood at the curb as the crossing guard motioned for her to cross the street where she greeted her friends. When she reached the other side she paused a few seconds and turned to wave to her mother again, then turned and began walking and chatting animatedly with her two friends.

The young mother’s eyes misted for a bit as she watched her seven year old daughter walking away with her friends. She swallowed back the lump in her throat as she saw the three children receding away from her view. It seemed like just yesterday she thought, Hannelore was just like Rick in a stroller being wheeled by her everywhere, then learning to crawl, then tentative first steps to walking and then talking. Where did those first few years go, she asked herself? How will I feel when she is in eighth grade and high-school and then off to college? How heavy-hearted she felt, each school year was a milestone in and of itself. Hannelore was such a delightful little girl, loving and always eager to help. Ever eager to sit beside her mother to have a book read to her, cuddle up and just be so sweet and loving.

When she couldn’t see the children any longer she slowly turned the stroller around and headed for the park for a brief respite in her morning routine. Soon, before long she’d be doing this same trip with her son she mused to herself. She vowed in her heart to cherish these precious days with her children, happy that she could enjoy their childhood, each special moment, insignificant ones and the more memorable ones…that wove into the tapestry of their young lives. Too soon, these days would all be sweet memories she thought wistfully as she proceeded on her way.

Franklin Roosevelt Grammar School, built in the early 1930’s was a two-story brick building surrounded by a neat manicured front lawn with a tall flagpole to the right of the main entrance from which the flag of the United States flew proudly during school hours. The flagpole’s base was encircled with a bed of various flowers all maintained by the groundskeeper who also doubled as the janitor, Mr. Shanahan, a kindly Irish gentlemen who loved his job almost as much as he loved the children. The double doored main entrance was flanked by two small evergreen trees and a small bed of flowers surrounding them.

In the front of the building were assembled all the teachers and the principal, Miss Freney, a stern old fashioned spinster who took her duties seriously, but maintained a deep love for children stood on the top steps. As all the children filed into the big front courtyard, she blew a whistle several times and then announced. All children, grades second to eighth grades you have been given your assigned teachers and rooms, please proceed to those classrooms. Your teachers will be waiting in your classrooms.

She waited a few minutes until the older students had gone to their classrooms. All kindergarten children and their parents please assemble to the right in the front and follow the kindergarten teachers to the classrooms. That group was quickly dispatched and now all that remained were the first graders. The principal continued as she said, Now first graders, you’re group is the smallest we will have the first grade teachers Mrs. Calabrese, and Miss Healy stand on either side of me and they will call out the names of their students. When your name is called please stand directly in the line in front of your teacher.

Hannelore, Angie and Dave stood together hoping that when their names were called they would be together in the same class with the same teacher just as they had in kindergarten. Mrs. Calabrese began calling her students names and nearly at the end of the list she called Dave. He gave a bit of shrug of his shoulders and walked to the end of Mrs. Calabrese’s students. The last name she called was Angie’s and Angie looked at Hannelore with a look of concern and genuine surprise. She reluctantly released her friend’s hand as Angie looked back at Hannelore with some anxiety, not wishing to be separated from her friend.

Miss Healy called off her student’s names and being Hannelore’s last name began with a B she was called very soon. She walked with some hesitancy for this was the first time since she began school she was in a classroom with no one she knew. It concerned her a bit for Miss Healy was a much older woman than Mrs. Calabrese who was young, pretty dark-haired woman. Hannelore had heard about her from the older children, how despite the fact Mrs. Calabrese had no children of her own she was a most wonderful teacher and much loved by her students.

Not knowing anything about Miss Healy, Hannelore felt butterflies in her stomach and dearly wished for her mother to be there at that moment. But, when all the names had been called out she dutifully followed Miss Healy into the building and to the classroom that the young girl would occupy for the next scholastic year.

Miss Healy’s room was a pleasant surprise to Hannelore. It was sunlit with shades only half drawn giving the room and air of warmth and cheeriness. From several of the windows hung beautiful green healthy plants adding to the inviting atmosphere. Miss Healy assembled the children in the front of the room and explained she would call off their names alphabetically and they would take their assigned seats for the year. Hannelore’s name was first to be called and she was in the first seat of the first row and that made her feel better.

Soon all the children were seated and Miss Healy stood in the front of the classroom directly in front of Hannelore. She reminded Hannelore of her mother’s mother whom she called, ‘Nana.’ Miss Healy had a small face with wrinkles like her Nana’s, rimmed glasses that sat perched on her nose and with cords on each side of the eyeglasses so she could remove them without losing them, Hannelore supposed. Her dark blue cotton dress was plain with white pearl buttons down the front of it and she had a dark navy blue sweater thrown over her shoulders and fastened with decorative gold clips to keep the sweater from falling off her shoulders. She wore heavy dark tan stockings and her shoes were black, laced up and covered most of her feet. Oh no, groaned Hannelore inwardly, I’m going to have an old crabby granny for a teacher for the WHOLE year! I wish I were with Dave and Angie. They got pretty Mrs. Calabrese and I’ll bet she is tons better and nicer than old Miss Healy. Oh how I wish Mama was here!

Just as those thoughts wove through Hannelore’s mind, Miss Healy began to speak. Good morning my dear little children. My name is Miss Healy and I will be your first-grade teacher for the year. I expect for all of you to behave yourselves and I can see right away that I have the best first graders. I can tell you know! I have been teaching first grade for many years and I always, always get the best of the first graders…every year.

She began to walk back and forth smiling warmly at each child, nodding her head as she spoke. Both of her hands were clasped behind her back as she walked and talked. We are going to be not only the best first graders, but the smartest. Do you know how I know that is true? She asked with a twinkle in her eye. Because I am here to help each and every one of my first graders to learn and understand. If you have any questions or problems, or not understanding anything in our lessons at any time, I want you to come to me and allow me to help you. I will not let any of my first graders down. I am here to help each and every one of you with anything you need to learn. Please don’t be afraid to raise your hand to ask a question. And most of all, even just think you have the right answer I want you to go ahead and answer. You raise your hand for both help and for answering questions. I will do all I can to help you, I want all of you to understand that I will be here to help all of you to learn?

Nodding that they understood in unison the children sat quietly as Miss Healy continued, I do have a few, but not many rules. No talking without raising your hand first for permission to speak and I expect good behavior, good manners and order in my classroom. All the rules followed and we will learn our lessons and best of all I believe, we make learning fun.

She still continued to walk back and forth in front of the room as she spoke, During the year we will have some really fun projects we can all work on together and soon we will have a portion of the day when we set aside some time to practice for our Christmas pageant the whole school will participate in. And there will be of course along the way some good times…when we will have some fun and even a party or two along the way. But, all this we will have, if we of course, follow the simple rules I laid out. Most importantly I want each one of you to know I am eager to help you with your reading, letters, and numbers.

Now before I begin with the first lesson today we will stand and salute the flag, recite the Pledge of Allegiance and pray and then pleased be seated. After that, I want each of you to stand and turn to the class and say and I welcome all of you to my first grade classroom. I am so excited to begin to know all of you and for all of us to have fun learning..

Hannelore began to breathe more easily as the anxiety she initially had been feeling was leaving her. She thought, that while her teacher may have looked old and crabby to her at first glance, in reality now she didn’t think that was true. In fact, the child believed that Ms. Healy was going to be a really good teacher.

When the dismissal bell rang at three o’clock, Hannelore walked out of the school and waited for Angie and Dave by the big oak tree in the front yard of the school grounds. At the close of the school day she was in fact feeling very positive about Miss Healy and eager to hear all about her friends first day.

Soon, Dave came running up to meet Hannelore for the walk back home followed by Angie. They began excitedly to relate to one another their first day as first graders. Both Angie and Dave loved Mrs. Calabrese who was a well-liked teacher among the students at Franklin Roosevelt Grammar School. They