Old stuff no 5.

“the world is round”


Benjamin Franklin. High School, not the inventor. The greatest school in the world, I believe. One of the best choices I’ve ever made was to break the pattern of my older siblings, who attended Catholic, all girl Dominican. Nah, I said. Don’t think I’ll really fit in there. I’m gonna try for that hippy school everyone is talking about. You know, where girls have mohawks and guys have ponytails?

Not that I ever had a mohawk. I just thought I would be different. And considering it was free, I actually don’t think I really had a choice, as my parents perceived it. So there I was, standing with my friend from grade school at our designated bus stop. The bus halted to a stop in front of us. We inevitably got the bright red hair, 40 something yat who listened to the most annoying am radio talk show, and would not turn the channel at any request. We get on the bus. THANK GOODNESS there is a seat we can both sit in. and so begins my high school career.

I think it wasn’t until the 3rd day, when all the little bus cliques were forming, where I would meet my bus posse. Someone found out that myself and friend attended Catholic school. Here we go. Now, my family is very Catholic, and I think God is the most important thing ever. But I was 13. I couldn’t believe what these people were saying. Religion is man made. It is over rated. Why is your religion right, what about all these other ones. No such thing as God. Prove it. Religion is made so people can feel better about themselves.

Along the lines, topics moved along to abortion. The death penalty. You have to be pro life, your religion says so. If you are pro life but not against the death penalty you are a hypocrite.

I was just trying to figure out where home room was.
As I think back on it, that was probably the first time I felt truly independent. Here I was, with a bunch of rich, poor, snotty, smart, spoiled, laid back kids. And we were having serious discussions. And when you said something, you better have the say with all to back it up. Or else how dare you. So, the bus posse was formed, none of us agreeing on important issues, but becoming a sort of family so it didn’t matter.