Recreation 2

     It might have been the locked-in-the-bathroom incident, or perhaps it was something else or a combination of things, but when the summer between fourth and fifth grade was over, Mom said that the next year we could only go to the Recreation which was at our Boston Valley school and not the one that was further away in Boston – the one where Clark got locked in the boys's room. Perhaps this was because our school was closer and Mom could get to it easily if there was an emergency – that would make the most sense, now that I think about it. But at the time, I was very upset with this edict.

     My best friend, Diane, went to Recreation also. And she only went to the second Boston school. She thought it was more fun there, or it might have been the one that her mother wanted her to go to. I was upset because I knew that the next summer, Diane would be going to one place for Recreation, and I would have to go to the other.

Before fifth grade began, I decided that I wanted fifth grade to go on forever – so that the summer would never arrive! So I would not be alone at one Recreation while my best friend went to the other Recreation. It was the first time in my life I ever wanted time to go slowly – usually I was eager for the Holidays, or eager to be growing up, or anxious for a particular school year to be over. I knew I could not stop time – that my wish for fifth grade to never end would not come true. And I thought that would be a harsh enough reality to have to face.

     But Fate stepped in and dealt the little-girl-me a most wicked blow. Shortly after fifth grade began, Diane got on the school bus one morning and sat down next to me. It was readily apparent that she had been crying! I asked what was wrong, and Diane told me the family was moving! They moved to Hamburg not long after that, and a few years later the family moved all the way to Scranton, Pennsylvania! I did not understand how life could be so cruel – there I was wondering how I could survive the summer without Diane at Recreation with me, and the Powers that Be plucked Diane out of my everyday life completely!

    The pivotal moment in my childhood.

     My best friend moved away.

     Fifth grade ended eventually.

     The summer after fifth grade, Recreation at the nearby Boston Valley school was disbanded.

     And all the kids went to the second, further down the road, Boston school.

    So that summer I was where, a year earlier, I thought I would want to be, except it was without Diane. Probably my first experience with the adage be careful what you wish for.

84 20150325 Recreation part 2