Journalism Class 1960...continued...Part 2

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..Miss Brown, who seems to like me pretty well, told me this morning that she has nominated me for a special award during graduation for my journalism skills..I am so overjoyed with happiness, but there is a very dark cloud hanging over my head and I feel the sting of tears, because I know that this is the last school paper that I will be a part of and that I would not be graduating here in two months.....

I know that tomorrow will be the last time I enter this room, this school and the rented house we call home these past two years.
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Dad is out of work.. again, and is ready to pull up stakes..again..My gramma says that Dad has an itchy foot and is always ready to travel on, even though it hurts his wife and children..Dad and gramma dislike each other a lot..This time we are going to Columbus where he hopes to find a job..Our rent is due in two days, and he needs the money for bus tickets for himself, mom, me and my slightly younger sister..The bus leaves the Greyhound station at 6pm tomorrow evening. We will be staying with a family we knew here several years ago..

I will have to quit my job and ask for my pay tonight..That will be very awkward, because it is a small town and they know us and will question me about the sudden move.

The dismissal bell rings, and I quickly gather my books and purse and leave the building, and walk to the A&W to tell them that we are leaving town and may I please have my pay?

Mom is ironing our clothes when I get home with $5.50 in my purse which is for eleven hours work at fifty cents an hour... Each of us has a suitcase to pack our belongings in..I look around at the shabby furniture that will be left here..It is clean, because my mom is a good housekeeper even without modern luxuries such as a vaccuun cleaner..The rest of our clothing and items she plans to keep are packed into a few boxes that will be stored at my older sisters home.

My sister and I are supposed to go to the office first thing in the morning and tell them we are leaving and will let them know in a few days where to send our records..Between us we have decided not to, because of the questions everyone would ask. I fall into a fitful sleep filled with nightmares of falling...

This morning as I arrive at school, the first person I see is Danny. He is tall, thin and has a flattop, and the dreamiest eyes.. I have a big crush on him, and he seems interested because we often talk and went to a movie once, and he took me to his house for supper with his parents last month..I have a feeling he just wants to be friends and is being kind to me, because he has only held my hand once, but in all truth, he is my very first love..Danny wants to know if he can drive me to work after school..I lie and tell him that I am off tonight and that I have to go home right after school..He looks a little puzzled because I am stuttering (an old habit from early childhood that shows up under intense emotion) I managed to say, "Talk to you later" and turn my back to him so he doesn't see my red face or the tears that are threatening to overflow.

I manage to get through my morning classes and lunch time and study hall by avoiding people as much as possible..Now it is the dreaded sixth period..Journalism.."Pleeeese God, if you will get me through this last period, I promise not to lie anymore..after today"

Miss Brown is congratulating us on the paper that was once again a success, and we were discussing assignments for the coming week..My assignment is to interview the teachers who will be chaperoning our senior trip to Washington DC next month..I will have to approach Miss Brown after school and find some excuse to get out of it..

Class is finally over, and everyone rushes out..except me..I have to tell her..Miss Brown smiles and asks what my parents thought of the award I would get on graduation night..I am trying to swallow the lump, but instead out comes a big gasping sob, and I am crying uncontrollably and can barely catch my breath. Miss brown puts an arm around me and leads me to her desk..I am telling her about the move to Columbus tonight, about not graduating here, about an uncertain future..We talk, she comforts me and tells me that everything will be fine and wants me to write to her..I promise her I will..I can't believe she just gave me a hug! It makes me feel a little better and she tells me I may want to start making some plans right away about my immediate future since I am already 18..I wonder why she told me to really think about immediate plans?

I say goodbye and am heading home to embark on another of Dads adventures..I am tired of moving around, I am tired of not having a real home like the other kids, I am tired from working just to get through school only to leave so close to graduation..And I wonder what the award was for Journalism that I will never receive..And I am thinking about plans..

Mom has the house nice and clean and has written a note to wrap around the key that she places in the mailbox on our way out the door for the last time..

Daddy is whistling as we head towards the bus station. Mom walks quietly beside him..My sister and I follow..We both have our eyes on our feet as they move one step closer to an unknown future..

We are just in time to board the bus and settle down for the two hour trip..My sister is reading a book she brought along, Mom is quiet and sits beside dad in the seats before us..Daddy is smiling and talking to another man.

I am making a plan.......to be continued