18 Comments
Aug 13Liked by Debra Fried

You nailed it! Brought me right back to my own classroom scandal. The puddle was there, in front of the classroom, but no one knew from where it came. Nasty Mrs. Monarch shouted, and threatened to check each one of us to see who was wet. So creepy. I can still feel my terror as I held back my tears and squirmed in my wet woolen tights.

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Jul 30Liked by Debra Fried

...and now I'm wet. Well, my eyes are. Beautiful story, as always, Debra.

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Jul 29Liked by Debra Fried

This is so well written and incredibly poignant. Such a perfect description of the girl who always follows rules and the dire consequences and utter humiliation that follow. Your teacher! Such kindness with that sweater! And I love your moms advice. I just love the whole piece - you capture so beautifully what it means to be a child. Particularly love the detail of the orange juice in the thermos because what kid gets that anymore?!

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Jul 29Liked by Debra Fried

I left a banana in the bottom of my 5th grade locker for the better part of a year. It remained miraculously concealed and semi-preserved, covered up by a cheap frisbee I won at the school carnival and a pile of old graded quizzes and half-assed class notes.

The site and smell of that blackened but still slimy fruit corpse rocked the class and brought much unwanted attention. Fortunately, it was also the last day of school.

Oh, and I remember more than one kid piddling themselves in class. So, no big whoop, Debra.

-Bart (the gross kid)

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Aug 4Liked by Debra Fried

This was such captivating writing

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Jul 31Liked by Debra Fried

Wow, Debra, you captured one of our biggest fears in grade school so brilliantly. I felt I was right there with you. The humiliation you felt. The discomfort. But these 2 lovely women helped you through it and that’s something to truly admire. You are most generous for sharing this!

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Jul 28Liked by Debra Fried

Just the right mix of childhood heartache and grownup empathy, Debra. You’ve done it again. Let’s end the writer’s strike and get you into the writer’s room ♥️

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Jul 27Liked by Debra Fried

I love this story on so many levels. Wonderfully written!

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Lovely

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author

Thank you so much, @Casually Villainy!

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