Mrs. Mason

I hated school this year; I have the meanest teacher in the world. She yells and cusses and spanks us without our parents’ permission. My mom told the principal I was to be sent to the office if my teacher thought I needed spanked. She's the only teacher my Mom made that choice about, she had given permission to my previous teachers, and they never had to spank me. I started getting quiet and pulling into myself. I don't remember much about that school year, other than getting three spankings that I know I didn't deserve. The last one was for handing thumbtacks up to a classmate, to put back on the board, the "wrong way". Someone had pulled the tacks down when she left the room and we didn't want to get in trouble.
Mom is pregnant again my middle brother is born shortly after school lets out for the year. Dad joined the Army National Guard; he was gone for about 2 months total during the summer. I don't really remember anything much from the school year, mostly school and church same as before. We went down to Florida to visit family right after Mom had my brother; all of us packed in my Uncles and Grandpa's car. I was able to meet my Great-Grandma and Step-Great-Grandpa on Mom's side for the first time I remember. He was in a nursing home, he was blind and going senile. He died shortly after we went home. I spent almost every day that summer outside riding my bike or down at my Great-Grandma's house. I ate so many oranges my Mom swore I'd get sick. I really enjoyed that summer. I was so glad to get back home and be with my Dad though.