8-10-09...OUR OWN LANGUAGE
Daddy used to say “Get shet of that, or you need to get shet of that” meaning get rid or rid yourself of that. He also would say hesh up meaning to shut up right now. I grew up hearing these things the way my Parents and Grandparents said them. In school I learned to say everything the way it should be said, You know all proper like, but at home I reverted back to 'Our Language'. It was sort of like moving to a foreign country and learning the language but when conversing with ones of your nationality it is easier to just talk in your own language. Well there are times now when I go back to my childhood and talk the way we all did then. Sometimes when I do that I am, angry, scared, nervous, or even overwhelmed by things around me and woe to the one who makes fun or tries to correct my speech. Yep!
When I was in the third grade we had moved to Henrietta Oklahoma to be with my Daddy who worked in the coal mines there. My teacher was Miss Ford. I distinctly remember her. She was big, reminded me of a big bull to be exact. She was also very strict. I remember one day I had a cold and my nose was running something awful. I saw a box of Kleenex on Miss Ford's desk so I got up and went up to ask her for one. She handed me a Kleenex before I even asked and I went about my day. At the end of the day Miss Ford told me I had to stay 30 minutes after school because I hadn't raised my hand before approaching her desk. That upset me and upset my Mama worse. She was in our apartment with Norman who was three at the time. She bundled him up and came looking for me. I met her about half way home. The school was 6 blocks from home and it was getting dusky outside.
Mamma and Daddy went to the school the next day. I don't know what happened but it sure seemed to me that Miss Ford picked on me from then on.
One day I had gum in my mouth when I went in from recess and forgot to get rid of it. I knew that old bag would know so I decided to just tell the truth and ask her to let me spit it out in the waste basket. I was so nervous but I did remember to raise my hand and ask if I could come to her desk. She motioned me up there. By the time I reached her desk I was terrified of what she would do. I had been taught to tell the truth and that would be enough and I believed that.
When I started to talk the first thing that happened was the gum fell out of my mouth. I said, “Miss Ford I need to get shet' of this gum”. That was all I was allowed to say. Now my Teachers in Arkansas would have known what I was saying. They would have corrected my language but they would have known I wasn't saying a bad word. Miss Ford thought that I had dropped my gum and said s_ _t. She spanked me right there and took me to the Principals office at recess time. I was really frustrated by then. I hadn't been allowed to say a word in my defense and really didn't even understand what all the fuss was about.
I just blurted out to the principal, “ I axed her if I could get shet of my gum cause I fergot to spit it out and she wouldn't hesh up long nuff fer me ta tell'r what i'se tryin' te say. She hit me on my lag' a bunch of times and brung me here”.
I could see the beginning of a smile on the Principals face. I suspect she had picked up on some of 'our' language in the meeting with my Parents when I'd had to stay after school. I looked at Miss Ford and her ol' fat bull face was redder'n'a bunch'a mashed pokeberries. Now let me tell you she was mad.
The principal was a kind grandmotherly type of lady and she knew I guess that she had to make Miss Ford understand what I had been trying to say. She also knew My Mama and Daddy would be back the next day when they heard my story. She said, “Clydene honey would you wait out in my front office and let me talk to your teacher”? Well of course I was eager to get outta' there so I said, “Yes Mam” and left.
I don't know what was said in that room but Miss Ford came out and took my hand and led me back to the class room. Before school dismissed she handed me a note for my parents and a piece of chocolate candy. I do know Mama and Daddy went to the school the next morning, and I do know Miss Ford almost broke her face trying to smile at me.
It wasn't long till we went home to Arkansas on a Friday night. Mamma, Norman, and I stayed home when Daddy went back to work. I missed my Daddy till he got home every Friday night but I sure did not miss that school or Miss Ford. We did go back to Oklahoma when I was in the fourth grade but the teacher was a nice lady called Miss Nellie and I loved her. I don't remember ever reverting to “Our Language” that year. Nope! My Papa always said “Clydene you can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar”. Too bad Miss Ford didn't know that.!!
