The Talents Of Miz Harrison

24. A book – nay- several books- could be written about Miz Harrison and her impact on our family—and every family in the community. The first is as our teacher. For Ivy and me she was a godsend after our introduction to our new school via the Oakes young man.  In so many other ways Miz Harrison was to become central to our lives.

The following stories are not necessarily in chronological order.  I write them as they surface in my memory. My first story is of  THE GREAT SNOWMAN WAR.

It was one of the snowiest winters our neck of Tennessee had recorded in more than a decade. School did not close. When students and teacher walk to school snow accumulation is irrelevant.

For days we devoted our recess time to making a giant snowman. We rolled and rolled and rolled a big snowball for the base. Believe me when I say it was big. On its top we piled four smaller—yet not tiny—snow balls which we patched into one with added and patted snow mortar. The head—so high that to place it we had to drag a ladder out of Willie Davenport’s shed, just across the road from the school. Coal from the school yard supply made remarkable eyes and a charming smiling mouth.

Three days of recess time.

A spectacular snowman.

Then the squabble.

One of the Davenport boys – exactly which one was known to all the boys but kept secret from the girls- hid Jeannette’s gloves and would not return them.

Next day’s recess began the SNOWMAN WAR.

We girls with the ability of a well trained army attacked the snowman. With the adrenaline fix of severe anger we threw coal missiles at the snowman’s face. Piece of coal after piece of coal flew until the poor Snowman’s face looked a horrid victim of leprosy. The boys became wild men, vowing to kill us girls, chasing us as we entered the school and the protection of Miz Harrison. Whispered, mouthed threats flew like darts in a pub. Cordell Davenport swore they would kill is once school was out.

Miz Harrison, with calm and demeanor, conducted her afternoon classes. At 2:30 she said, “Now Girls. Get on your coats, get your lunch pails and go directly home. If I hear that any of you lingered I’ll speak to your parents.” That meant we went straight home.

She held the boys until 3:00. The GREAT SNOWMAN WAR was averted.