In the 8th grade class the teacher had a different way of teaching. This was really alright with me because I figured we had already learned all we would need to know to get into high school.
The teacher, a big old man with white hair was teaching us about the Helen of Troy story where the man carved his wife or favorite woman on the front of the ship. I can’t really remember how it went, but the teacher said “One girl in this class has a smile that could sink a ship.”
I guess it was true for she really did have a beautiful smile. My smile was alright, but I did have some cavities in my front teeth. Brenda had a bright sunny smile too.
Anyway, the class and teacher decided for everyone to vote on the prettiest girl in the class. They wrote the names on little slips of paper and put them in a basket.
I wasn’t able to vote. To vote you had to have a nickel. They sent me out of the classroom into the hallway and closed the door.
I was just standing there and here come a boy up the hallway.
“What are you doing just standing out here?” I said “Well they were voting for the prettiest girl and I didn’t have a nickel to vote.
He said “I don’t care what they think, I think you’re the prettiest girl in the whole school!” Then he walked away.
You know I thought I was ugly, but that really made my day. I don’t know who won the vote and didn’t care. But reckon what they done with all them nickels and I wonder who got them.
—Evelyn Louzine Wilson
While cleaning out Granny’s house I’ve found all sorts of things she wrote down in various notebooks. Recently I discovered the story I’ve shared today.
Granny never told me the story. Like Granny I wonder what happened to all the nickels. I think the Brenda Granny mentioned in her story is her first cousin. Brenda still has a bright sunny smile.
Last night’s video: Can You Pass This Appalachian Language Test?
Tipper
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