Like first graders for years and years I was attracted to a books images of prehistoric creatures. That these picutures were line drawnings in the art plates of a copy of Darwins Origin of the Species was beside the point to me. I was already a good reader in 1st grade but the opening segments of Darwins book were pretty dry. I could grasp the theory of evolution as presented there in, I understood what a theory was at least and did not judge this particular theory to be true or false or any place in between. The day I walk across Ramona Drive to Casa De Ora Elementary was like any other. I'd had cinnamon toast and a glass of Carnation instant breakfast to start my day. My fingers still smelled of cinnamon as I arrived at the door to my first grade class a few moments early, excited to have a book with pictures of Dinosaurs in it to share with the class. I guess I'd taken the book from the case in the living room with out asking, or if I had asked my parents had not paid any attention or thought much of it. So there I was standing in the hall outside of room 3 waiting for Mrs. B to come and open the door when a women who I imagine must have been the equivalent of the schools receptionist, who knew me by name as my Mother worked afternoons as a lunch room and playground supervisior, stopped to say hello. The lady then looked at the black leather bound book under my arm. She said : "How sweet! You brought your Bible to class for show and tell." Then she reached out her hand to look it over and her jaw dropped as her face went white. I recall being quite upset with her as she first refused to give it back to me. But give it back she did as Mrs. B approached. The office lady shot off down the hallway and I thought that was the end of it. Not so, my mother was telephoned and called to the office and no sooner had I sat down at my desk did the class intercom buzz to summon me to the office as well. I sat there on the waiting bench till Joan arrived, looking flustered. She was, I am guessing, certain that something serious 1st grade accident had occured, a finger lost to the paper cutter or sissors stabbed in my leg. Her releif was visable as she was told that the reason she was called was the book I had chosen for show and tell. "Oh, that's all" she said. The Princaple came out of his office at that point to see what was going on and after hearing the story suggested that it might be best if I chose a different book for show and tell due to the advanced nature of it's context. I was told by Joan to never bring a book from home again without first checking with her. I had to miss my slot at show and tell that day, the last chance prior to spring break. When we returned to school I was not given a chance to make it up.
