Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!
The new school was pretty big. It was in this building that was quite old. I remember one classroom still had wooden floors and the older desks which were bolted to the floor. There was a bigger playground, too. I remember the first day we were rushed through the enrollment process along with over 100 other kids who were new to the area. I met the teacher and the other kids. I adapted like a duck to water. I knew I was going to like this school.

I made a lot of "worldly" friends. There were also a few other witness kids at my school. They also had "worldly" friends. The teachers were okay with the fact that I was a Jehovah's Witness. Most of them knew what to expect and were willing to adjust to us.

Of course there was the moments of embarassment for us witness kids. We could not stand up to salute the flag in class or at school assemblies. We could not participate in class parties involving birthdays or holidays. We could not do assignments involving making projects for holidays. And of course, we would always run into someone we knew on the weekend when we would be at their door with our mother at our side preaching to their mother about the end of the world. While it was embarassing, we were still at the age were kids could still be nice.

My grades were getting better. I felt really loved and secure both at school and at home. The congregation was great. I was even giving talks at the "Ministry School". I made my hours and went to all the meetings and would even underline all the answers in the publications so I could answer at the meetings. I thought things were great.

Then my mom told me she was going to go to school to become a CNA since we needed the money. I thought it would be great. She said we would get a key to the house and could just let ourselves in when we got home from school. I was going to be a latchkey kid, just like everyone else on the block.