1950,
4th grade,
circa Feb. 1st
Teacher, Mrs. Rupert Green announces that we will have a Valentine's party on the 14th. We will be served red strawberry flavored Koolade, cupcakes with red icing and exchange valentines.
Party?
Oh my, those were few and far between in my world.
My heart fluttered.
Then to add more flutter, she tells us that the ones receiving the most valentines would be crowned Valentine King/Queen.
EPIPHANY...
I would wear the Queen's crown.
Hook or crook, I would.
I could feel it, I could hear it, I could taste it. The crown was mine and I would make sure of it somehow.
But, how?
Mama had 25 cents saved from selling eggs or denying herself something. Valentine's were 2 for a penny at Gilmores Merchandise. Five of us were in school. Mama handed each of us 10 store bought valentines as she advised,
"Make do, best I can do".
Thought to self,
" Mama I will need more to win that crown".
About 30 classmates and 10 store bought valentines didn't seem fair to some, but I would work on that...
Being a deep thinker, I got busy thinking.
TIMEHOP!
Blue Horse lined note paper would see me through.
I folded sheets in half, chopped out half hearts to unfold into whole heart Valentines.
All my classmates got a valentine from me, 10 got shiny declarations of love and some got a half hearted try at being sincere.
Oh, well!
I needed to get busy and figure this crown thing out.
LIGHTBULB OVER MY HEAD MOMENT.
I folded, I chopped I colored, I printed love words,
Too: From:
Finally time was running out and I panicked.
I folded, I chopped, I colored red until I saw red.
I wrote, Too: Earline
I used all my Blue Horse, I borrowed Blue Horse from all who were willing to lend with promises of payback.
Mama gave me permission to put a pack of Blue Horse on Daddy's tab at the Crossroads store.
Mama ask if it was for a test.
"Yes!"
It was for a test to see if I could get the most valentines and win that Queen's crown.
"Yes mam, it's for a test Mama."
The burden of sin lay like a dark cloud over my noggin, but...
I needed that crown.
February 14th, 1950 dawned bright, clear and cold.
Love was in the air as everyone all up and down the hallways of our old school because all the classes were celebrating with parties and Koolade and cupcakes and exchanging shiny notes of love.
My heart fluttered, I had to squeeze.
Late afternoon all heck fire broke loose as the 4th grade class had valentines hand delivered by the anointed one and her handmaiden from a red crepe paper covered box with a slit in the top.
I lived in fear of the anointed one wearing that crown.
She knew how to work the system and I was watchful.
We gulped red strawberry Koolade and ate red icing off cupcakes and teased and flirted and held our breath to see which two would wear the Valentine Crowns.
I cannot remember who the valentine king was,
BUT,
As my name was called to come forward to have that tinfoil covered crown placed on my head the anointed one, aka "Teacher's Pet", announced in a loud voice,
"No fair, cause nobody signed her cards."
Oops!
I hadn't factored in that small addition.
Time in the home stretch allowed only,
Too: Earline
Mrs. Rupert Green suggested that she sit down and mind her own business.
My favorite teacher of all time knew how needy a child I was.
TIMEHOP!
***That crown has always made Valentine's day seem like a fraud. Still does.
