Reviews from

A Particular Friendship

Viewing comments for Chapter 41 "Tensions growing"
We meet Lizzy who has just come out of the convent

10 total reviews 
Comment from LateBloomer
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Hi Liz, you went to school with quite a lively group. Your group made us kids from Hell's Kitchen look like a bunch of wusses. Those Sisters had us all walking in a straight line. Of special note:

--He struck his own hand and we both made sounds like we were being hurt. That pain-loving teacher must have gloried in it.

(Some of the teachers were sick, sadists.)

-- Sitting on my couch drinking my Pepsi I learned how to dance the Bristol Stomp, the Locomotive and the Twist.

(Great memories. American Bandstand was our first sort of YouTube channel.)

--"You can keep your hand down because I'm not going to call on you. I know you know the answers. You know all the answers."

(Teachers like to call on the Ones who don't know the answer--make them squirm.)

Ugh. Eighth grade math. Boo-hoo.

A story of growing "pains." Well done. I'm looking forward to the next story. Sorry for the late review. Margaret


 Comment Written 16-May-2024


reply by the author on 16-May-2024
    . Thank you for your timely review Don't ever worry about being late to get it to me. It sounds like we had some similarities that we dealt with for obstacles. Thank you for sharing that with me.
Comment from Debbie D'Arcy
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Liz, I have to wonder how you ever survived childhood. Some of those pranks with the sled and being face-planted on the ground, not to mention all the boxing activities leave me feeling amazed and slightly in awe! As for the sadistic teacher, I had one of those and always seemed to be in trouble. He would insist on pulling us out in front of the class and then feeling our pulse to discover whether we were guilty or not! Obviously your heart would be thumping through your chest at this moment! So guilt determined, the ruler on the back of the knees (the most painful site he decided) was your punishment. But the true pain was always the embarrassment. This warped individual could get away with murder because we would never have told our parents. It was our guilty secret!
Following your experience, you nicely contrast the violence with your dancing lessons. And the whole chapter is filled with colourful childhood memories (although sad to hear about Wayne). I fear for what's to come though!
Edits? I wasn't sure what "red (ising) lantern" was.
I consider(ed) the situation.
Thank you for sharing this excellent and evocative chapter, Liz. Take care Debbie

 Comment Written 12-May-2024


reply by the author on 12-May-2024
    Thank you so much for your delightful review.
    You wrote: feeling our pulse to discover whether we were guilty or not!. Sounds like he wasn't just sadistic he was psycho. And you're right Nobody would tell anyone in authority what went on in the classrooms.
    8th grade was pretty terrible and that's my next chapter coming up.
Comment from Barry Penfold
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What an interesting little read. Reflecting on that past school years and the various friends/ foes is a good story line. Well written and obviously scope for a continuing story. Well done and thanks for sharing.
Regards
Barry Penfold.

 Comment Written 12-May-2024


reply by the author on 12-May-2024
    Thank you for your supportive review. Glad you enjoyed it. The next chapter will be about 8th grade, a pretty terrible year
Comment from BethShelby
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I enjoy reading about your past. It sounds like your school years were a lot of fun. I didn't really the dancing that was done back then was considered Jitterbug. I fhought that was from my mother's time. I remember watch American Bandstand and the twist and the locomotion. Before that was the Bop.

 Comment Written 10-May-2024


reply by the author on 10-May-2024
    Thank you for your bopping review. I don't know if I remember about the bop I just only remember these three or four. I looked on line see if there were any others they named I was familiar with and I couldn't think of any. The Jitterbug I was dancing was in the late '50s, early 60's . We were a little Vermont town maybe we were behind the times. I don't know but anyway that's what we did.
Comment from barbara.wilkey
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You had to of had the absolute worst teachers ever. I know you some good ones because you're written about them, but you've also had some who should never have been in a classroom. Thank you for sharing this experience with us.

 Comment Written 08-May-2024


reply by the author on 08-May-2024
    Thank you for your compassion at review. Yeah that guy would be in jail today.
Comment from lyenochka
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I'm sorry that your friend/enemy/frenemy had passed on. But what a great fake fight you had. And what a weird teacher you had.
I'm glad that the teacher recognized your talent in English - even if he didn't let you show your knowledge!

 Comment Written 08-May-2024


reply by the author on 08-May-2024
    Thank you for your compassionate review. Wait till we get to the next teacher who hated English.
Comment from Carol Hillebrenner
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It is nice that you could have the popularity of being the best dancer in seventh grade. And your teacher who wouldn't call on you gave you a great compliment by recognizing your command of English. You might want to do an extra proofread as you have a few small errors.

 Comment Written 07-May-2024


reply by the author on 08-May-2024
    Thank you for your compassionate review. I will check that out. Two serious things change in the next chapter. It's kind of devastating. Just a teaser for you.
Comment from Douglas Goff
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Fun read! Sounds like you were one smart little cookie!

Times seem d a lot simpler back in the day!

Sorry about the loss of Wayne. Sounds like he was as fun as you were.
D

 Comment Written 07-May-2024


reply by the author on 07-May-2024
    Thank you for your delightful review I thoroughly enjoyed.
Comment from jim vecchio
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Wonderful memories. And that teacher isn't the only one who recognizes your intelligence! I was reminded of my grade school days when a fellow student called me "Fatso" and I kicked him in the shins. We were kept after school and we became best friends!

 Comment Written 07-May-2024


reply by the author on 07-May-2024
    Thank you for your involved reviewAnd for your story, that's quite interesting that you became best friends
reply by jim vecchio on 09-May-2024
    We used to play "Batman vs. The Joker" long before the TV show and movies.
reply by the author on 09-May-2024
    They could have filmed you and put you in the movie. I'm talking to a potentially famous person.
reply by jim vecchio on 09-May-2024
    I was in the ending scene of the 70's King Kong, but there were so many people you couldn't make me out.
reply by the author on 09-May-2024
    Ah bummer
Comment from patcelaw
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This is well written and I enjoyed listening to it very much. I wish you the very best with your writing and I am enjoying your story as I read along with you. May you have a wonderful weekend and may God bless you. Patricia .

 Comment Written 07-May-2024


reply by the author on 07-May-2024
    Thanks you for your delightfully entertaining review. I'm glad you're enjoying my series.