The complex consisted of 3 housing facilities all of which held 24 boys each, & was divided by grade. I was 1st in the elementary building, & later transferred to the jr. high building. There was a church, cafeteria, commissary, offices attached to the church, a gymnasium, a pool, & a shop. There were some individual housing for some of the workers & their families. such as the preacher. There was a huge barn & all the buildings any ranch would have. We attended the public school & were bussed to & fro each day.
I was a 5th grader & seems the schools administration didn't think well of the Ranch Boys. There was I think 11 boys in the 5th grade, & all but 1 was in what was referred to as the c-class. The classes were separated into A, B, & C classes & special-ed. I was placed in the c-class with the majority of the boys. I had been there about 2 weeks when the teachers called me in from recess to perform some math problems & read aloud some material they provided. I was released just as recess was over & went to my desk. I was sitting there quietly when the door opened & a teacher asked me to come with her. My heart fell to my stomach, from my experience this rarely meant anything good. I was told to grab all my books & follow. I was led to the B-class & issued another desk.
My houseparent’s were happy I had been promoted, & I was also very pleased, until I saw the home work. The boys in C-class didn't have half the assigned home work as I did, & I could see them outside playing, romping & having fun. I would be an extra hour completing my assignments on a daily basis. I decided if I let my grade drop I would be sent back to the lower class. This was not a wise decision on my part, & was informed by my teacher that she knew what I was doing & it wouldn't work. She told me I belonged in the A-class & was not going back to the C-class no matter what my grade. I was then given a heavier work load. I submitted & improved my performance. This did take the added assignments off, & I would get accustomed to the extra hour of study daily.
I was the fastest runner at school & at the Ranch. This attribute was my finest asset & I took full advantage of it. When we had free time there was always some game being played, & I was always included because of my speed. I lost just 1 race between the 5th & 8th grade years, & the guy that beat me the 1 time never did it again. I think he pushed me to be better by pressing me to exert my effort all the more.
Stick 24 boys together & there will inevitably be one that is a bully Timothy B was what I considered to be that bully. I knew I could whip him, but he was the houseparent’s pet & he hung with the tougher boys. Fighting would mean a good flogging & I was somewhat afraid of that. Timothy's days are numbered, but for now I just dealt with it. Today I also have a warm spot in my heart for Timothy, & it's for something he was never aware of. His actions prevented an experience that I would have had trouble dealing with possibly even to this day.
We were all playing basketball in the gym one Saturday, all but Allen L. He had gotten into trouble & was required to do chores for 6 weeks & not allowed involvement in any fun activities. He yelled something mouthy to me as he walked across the gym carrying a commode brush. I ask if he was going to brush his teeth, & it angered him. He squared off with me & swung. I didn't have time to do much more than flinch, & his fist slammed into my forehead knocking me to the floor. I jumped up quickly & squared back off, but he was jumping up & down screaming & holding his hand. He was begging me not to touch him, & I stood down.
The houseparent was called to look at his hand & he questioned how he hurt it. Allen told him he slipped & fell, & then the houseparent asked me what happened to me head, & I told him I ran into the wall after doing a lay up. Turned out Allen broke his hand & would have to wear a cast for 6 weeks. The houseparent learned the truth about what happened & I had to write all of Allen's home work till the cast was removed. I didn't get flogged, although it would have been easier than writing his home work per his instructions for 6 weeks & having to do my own as well. I did earn some respect from the boys for not being a fink. Fink or Rat Rink was not a label anyone wanted. Allen L. became a good friend in the weeks that followed.
Some may find it odd that I can remember most all the names of everyone in this phase of my life, although it has been over 40 years. It's what I call profound effect, I believe anything that has a profound effect on us leaves an image that is engraved permanently in our mind.
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