>>stripped of natural charm

We were in fourth grade.
Jackie came in after the year had already started, and I remembered her from a daycare that we went to over the summer at Pleasant Grove. I remembered that she drew well, and that she had a sister who was blonde.

She did not sit at my cluster of tables, but at one in front of me with the other group of smart kids. Teachers always grouped us like that: smart kids, average kids, below average kids.

In fourth grade Mrs. Eldridge drew a mural on the chalkboard of the rainforest and we all had to give speeches on an animal. I spoke about the sloth, and I remember being so nervous that I had to restart three times, thus beginning my career as a professional “I will not speak in public”-er.

In fourth grade we had a Florida report to do. It is exactly the way it sounds: a report on Florida. We got the assignment months in advance, and we got reminded to do it almost every day. There were pages we had to color, small reports we had to write on the climate and the govenor and the state song. I waited until the day before to do mine, thus beginning my career as a professional procrastinator.

In fourth grade we often played Carmen Sandiego and I loved that game. The first time I remember cracking myself up was when Jackie and I were playing it and she said “Where’s Newport?” and I said “In Richey.” There’s a city in Florida named New Port Richey and I said it not to be funny, but because of word association. I remember laughing very hard, thus beginning my career as a professional laugher.

It’s nice to remember, sometimes, to think about who we are and our reactions to experiences that made us that way.

Jackie, please don’t kill me for posting this.
I feel like the internet needed to see it.