Mr. Blackburn insisted we write in cursive, and we write the entire word of the month, and not something lazy like 12-21-90. No, no. It was December. It was 1990.
Four days before Christmas, on the fourth floor of Oak Park and River Forest High School, Mr. Blackburn asked us to interact with a poem, and here is what I wrote in response to the assignment:
Essay #2: Quote 1 line from Thomas’ poem, skip a line, write one paragraph describing your Christmas memory, which Thomas’ line made you think of.
“There were the useful presents….and then the unuseful presents.”
Disclaimer: There is a video somewhere in the world that shows this memory so much better than what my 15-year-old self wrote. Also, I was four or five. Also, I’m sorry.
This reminds me of the Christmas when I was 5 or 6, and every year we would go up to Michigan (we still do).
Anyway, our whole family had our presents opened, then my grandma brought hers out. When I opened mine, I had gotten this dress, and everyone said, “Oh, how pretty.” “Isn’t that beautiful?” I was upset, but I didn’t want to say anything.
Then, my cousin opened her present and she had gotten Crayola crayons, and a cute little coloring book. “Look what I got everybody!”
I took one look at those beautiful Crayola crayons with the crayon sharpener behind it, then took another look at the big piece of material with lace on it, and just started to wail!
Here’s the original. Note that I did write the date correctly, and I attempted the cursive, but I got to writing and I forgot. This is what happens, Mr. Blackburn. You ask me to interact with a story, and I forget the rules and find myself all at once. It’s your fault.
Want to join us? Details here.
Leave a Reply