Thinking about that same, distant past, caused me to realize something. For all the times I have written on here about bullying, whether it related to me or Tyler Clementi, I have never related that, between First and Fourth grades, I did some myself.
I can say now it was minimal, but at the time, who knew what impact it had on the victim?
During these years, again at Irving School, there was a girl, who a year ahead of me, named Harriet Wearie (the spelling is mine, as I am not sure how she spelled it!). My single memory of her is of a girl in an oversized red, winter jacket, with a hood so large it practically covered her face,
Harriet was what, today, one would call plain, but children of that age attached to her the worst title imaginable--ugly!!!!!!!!!!!!
The way things went, whenever a boy walked by Harriet, he would throw his arms up into the air, make choking gestures, or something and yell, in mock terror, "Aaaaaaaah!!!!!!! Wearie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I remember both my parents picking me up one day, and witnessing this. I can recall doing it myself. One day, while my mother picked me up, I was doing it, with Harriet standing there, and Neil Weiss, then a safety patrol guard, said if I did this one more time, I would be reported.
Harriet lived practically outside of town--off Duclos Lane, down the road apiece, in a two story house that looked haunted. It always reminded me of Saki's story, "The Open Window." Legend has it that her mother was a witch; that she was seen on the porch, one day, calling for her daughter, in a witchy voice--Haaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeetttttttttttt!!!!!!!!!!!!"
One day my mother had me walk home from school to my friend Doug's house. She was going shopping, or getting her hair done, and I was to stay there and play, until she came for me. This must have been when I was in third grade.
A group of us, including Doug and I, walked in a pack toward home.
Suddenly, from behind us, a voice--I think it was Patti Aldi's sister, Linda--shouted "Oh, my God!
Wearie's coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Well, suddenly, it was like a scene out of "The Birds'--a group of kids running from a peer, who, as I understand it now, was looked down for being plain and impoverished.
Harriet's clothes always had a threadbare look to them. And I have a feeling the house she was in was rented, not owned.
Then came the Summer before Fourth Grade. I was to have Mrs. Brodsky, which I was pissed about, because I wanted Mrs. Kirschbaum. I would have done better with her, but who listened to me, back then? Even though I knew what was better for me academically than my parents or school administrators.
One day, at this time, as I came in from playing, to get ready for dinner, my mother said to me, "Guess who is going to be in your class?" I made some guesses, but could not figure it out, until my mother said, "Guess who was left back in fourth grade," and I realized--Harriet Wearie. I was both thrilled and excited; I never really knew what Harriet was all about, and I wanted to find out for myself. Of course, I called Doug, and we gossiped about it, madly.
However, by the time school resumed. Harriet was not there. She had moved away, and I have no idea what happened to her since. But I would like to.
Because I would like to tell her how sorry I was for whatever part I played in her humiliation. I hate myself for it, now. And, Harriet, if you are out there, feel free to comment; I hope Life has been kinder to you, than it was then.
Donna Calise, now deceased, made me see the error of my ways by talking to me.. I wish I had had the chance to talk to Harriet.
And if any of you remember this, feel free to let me know!!!!!!!!!!
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