Margaret has three brothers. The twins, Bob and Ray (Really!) are one year older. The oldest boy, Jim, is one year older than the twins. Margaret thinks she can do anything they can. She passed the twins in the 11th grade. Father Jim, told him after that, they need not pack their lunch pails for school any- more. He’d put them in the Navy (permissible by Canadian law). They both were “lifers.”
Jim was another “Jeremiah Johnson.” He was an excellent hockey player. He let out for the Yukon on a dare from his sister, Francis. He’s still there.
Jim taught school. Math. He was also asked to help with the “special” kids. One night I got Margaret to tell about one of Jim’s teaching adventures.
We were at a Japanese restaurant. Three Elon couples. We knew Kyle and Linda Wills well, not so baseball Coach Mike Kennedy’s wife Liz.
Margaret had a couple of drinks.
“Tell Kennedy Jimmy’s story, Marg.”
Jimmy took a wheelchair bound student who could barely speak to the bath-
room stall. He lifted him up and put him on the commode. Then politely stood outside the closed door. Immediately Jim heard a moan. Not unusual from a stall. Then a louder one. Then louder. Jim felt obliged to open the door.
Is something wrong?” he asked the youngster who had a pained look.
Margaret has three brothers. The twins, Bob and Ray (Really!) are one year older. The oldest boy, Jim, is one year older than the twins. Margaret thinks she can do anything they can. She passed the twins in the 11th grade. Father Jim, told him after that, they need not pack their lunch pails for school any- more. He’d put them in the Navy (permissible by Canadian law). They both were “lifers.”
Margaret mimicked the boy’s response: “I’m sitting on my dick.”
I knew what was coming. I wanted to watch Kennedy laugh. And he did, hardly able to control himself at this statement coming out of Margaret. The next comment was far more damaging, however. It came from wife, Liz, who quizzically told her husband “ Mike you can’t do that!” The laughing stopped and Coach Kennedy said “shut the hell up, Liz!”