The Fall of 1972

 


Whether I liked it or not, I was going back to John Q. Adam’s for school for my eighth grade. 


I remember being jealous of my big brother Kenny because he got to go away to St. Stanislaus for boarding school, which I viewed as sort of a gift of freedom away from the chaotic world. It probably wouldn’t have mattered because I knew I had a problem with concentrating on classroom discussions, an inability to take simple class notes and a complete lack of reading comprehension. I was relying completely on my wits to simply eek by, and each year I was falling farther behind and getting into more trouble.


My parents decided it was time for me to go back on Tofranil, hoping that I would stop driving them and my new teachers from going crazy. I started school feeling totally energized, with a relatively relaxed confidence, and ready to conquer eighth grade. 


I joined the student council, became a reporter for the Library Club newspaper, made Coach Dillon’s basketball team and ran track. 


I sold Saints programs at Tulane Stadium and I started feeling good about myself. 


I even attended catechism classes and was confirmed at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church. I asked my big sister’s boyfriend Chip Doussan to be my sponsor, and he agreed. I really looked up to Chip and I was very glad to have him as a big brother role model. My weekends were filled with either parties, Beach Club or Pontchartrain Beach, pretty much always including drinking, smoking and meeting girls.


© 2022 Jeffrey Pipes Guice

My Wonder Years: A Book

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