A Peaceful Fall Day

It’s a peaceful fall day and I can’t help reminiscing about grade school. I can’t imagine walking into those huge doors, up the large staircase to the first room on the right. First grade held no fear for me, because we had learned to read, to sing, and to socialize, in sunday school every Sunday.

The grand old building is still being used, it is being renovated for gatherings, for concerts, or anything you would choose. I would like to sit one more time in that first and second grade classroom, with adult desks of course, and have a teacher give us a lesson. Now the school ground is used for a parking place for the mill. I would like to see just a grass strip, perhaps even 10 ft, in front of the building to make it shine once again.

The vast playground, which in those days accommodated two soft ball diamonds, a football field and hours of fun, has been replaced by a large office building, and an empty space. The east side of the building where we played Red Rover is simply gravel.

Heading north on the Milan Center Road, the corn is just beginning to get ripe. The ditch banks that are mowed weekly, and trimmed, reminds one that Amish still living in that area, still pride themselves for keeping things neat.

As I return to reality, the traffic on Indiana 37 is very dense, with traffic stopped for construction. Cuba Road is only a mile north but it might as well be across the continent. I have someone waiting for me at home, but the 2 mile will take an eternity. Well so much for my trip, and I think I’m back to reality.(This story is part of the book Now and Then. Please send your hometown story.) 

—James Neuhouser