My first grade teacher in North Central School ( formerly Dupac Intermediate School ) was Mrs. Milagros Perez. She was reluctant to admit me in the first grade because I was three months shy from being seven at the beginning of the school year. I remember how she tested my readiness for
school. She asked me to raise my right arm above my head and touch my left ear without tilting my head to the right. I did get in her class. I supposed I was able to raise my right arm above my head and touch my left ear without tilting my head to the right.
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As days went on, I found out that Mrs. Perez had a subtle way of getting what she wants to accomplish. One day, at the start of the afternoon class session, she decided to revise our seating arrangement. She pulled me aside and said, " I want you to sit by the door because you wear new shirts more often than others." I repeated the statement over dinner at home that night.My dad laughed so hard his ribs almost cracked. He thought it was the best and funniest compliment he ever heard. Anyway, from then on, my father would not miss to buy me a new shirt almost every Friday, (the biggest market day in Asingan then).
The day after All Souls day that school year, Mrs. Perez pulled one on me again. She came to me and said, "You must be brave because you are the son of a policeman." I smiled as sweet as I could to savor, again, that unusual praise, until she went on to finish what she had in mind. "Did you go to the cemetery on All Souls' Day?" Still not knowing what she was leading to, I nodded in positive affirmation, enjoying that bit of attention from my teacher. "Well, do you know where the Perezfamily mausoleum is?" I still could not grasp her sinister scheme. I was too naive and prone for manipulation by others. Proudly, I said "Yes" complete with a sheepish nod. I could feel a cold sweat on my back when finally she commanded, "I want you to go to the cemetery and retrieve a bird-of-paradise hanging on the door of our family mausoleum and bring it back here." I guess they forgot to bring home that expensive plant after All Souls Day. The cemetery is just walking distance away from the school.
I looked around the classroom for some sympathy but all I could see were eyes wide open in fear upon hearing what I was ordered to do. Maybe they were waiting for me to drop dead with fright. Day or night, nobody likes to visit the cemetery. I didn't want to disappoint my father and I wantedto please my teacher, so with heavy feet I walked out of the classroom, plodded through the schoolyard, climbed over the wire fence, crossed the street and entered the deserted cemetery. My heart beat like a drum as I raced like the devil to accomplish my mission. When I came back to the classroom, there was no mirror to look into and check what was left of my color but I am sure I looked white as a ghost . To this day, I can remember that proudest smile I ever saw from an old lady. Thats the only reward I received for my bravery!
Another unforgettable first grade teacher was Miss X. I have to call her Miss X and you will know why as soon as you finish reading the story.. Besides having poke marks on her face, a sequela from smallpox, Miss X has such an ill temper to match. One day she substituted for Mrs. Perez.. Then at a certain time during the day she ordered the whole class not to look in her direction .She headed to that spot of the classrrom which had bare earth floor. Well, curiosity got the better of me. I cheated by turning by eye balls, not my head, so I could see what she was up to. I saw her lift up her skirt a bit, sit down and urinated on the spot. Just like that!
I knew then that on that particular day, she was not wearing anything under her skirt.O la-la!
-Ben Soloria
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