Oaks and Acorns

In the fall, beautiful orange, yellow and brown leaves painted the yards with their bright colors. Many times it was hard to pay attention in the classroom. Looking out the school's windows to watch the squirrels gather acorns for the Winter was too hard to resist. We took turns diving into the big heaps of leaves after raking them to be burned. The acorns would pop as the fire grew hotter. Watching the adults use rakes to keep the fires from spreading, was almost as much fun as diving into the piles. .
             By the time I attended Elon Elementary School, Mrs. Turner was the principal. Mrs. "T." as she was so fondly called by many, was the monarch to six other teachers of this great acadamey. She, with her short stocky build and big protruding stomach, gracefully walked the halls each morning, making sure everyone was in their proper place. Her wide tailed dress seemed to flow from side to side in rhythm to her slow stride. We all knew better than to be in the hallway after the second bell rang. I can still remember the honor of being the first one to arrive at school to press the big black button that called every thing to order. Mrs. T. was always there to make sure we didn't hold the bell too long or make it sound too short. Her knotty arthritic fingers with long perfectly polished pink nails, could thump as hard as my older brother and sting just as much.
             Mrs. T. had many pairs of flat heeled shoes that matched every flowery patterned dress she wore. Even during the cold winter months, she wore beautiful pastel colors that seem to bring summery days into the classrooms. Her fiery red hair with white roots seemed to always remain in place, held by lovely ivory and cultured pearl-covered combs she wore. I remember thinking as a child, one day I would own combs as beautiful as hers. Lavender filled the halls as she passed by. We could always tell when she was near by, just because of the sweet smell that lingered.