I Like Making People Laugh
I've always been a bit of a rebel...even as a child. For a few years, I had a fear of looking ridiculous, because of an incident in grade one.
This goes back to 1950. I was 6 years old. It was my turn for show and tell. I had a great mom and she had helped me find a good picture in a magazine. Told me what the story was and helped me prepare my story. I don't recall what the story was, because on the way to school I saw something much more interesting and way more fun to tell about.
I got to class, all revved up. I loved show and tell, because I was always a bit of a show off and I was a pretty good story teller. I could make people laugh and I liked that. Finally the Lord's Prayer had been said, we sang god save the king. And it was time. The Teacher called me up to the front of the class. I launched into my story.
On the way to school we had to cross a street with street cars.
You know, what I mean? Buses that run on train type tracks? Yeah those.
Well, of course all my class mates knew what they were. So I told them about the funniest thing ever. It was so funny that I kept giggling as I was telling the story, so the kids were expecting to be very amused.
I told them about a street car that had broken down and was being towed by a little green peach. And then I collapsed in hysterical laughter. All I got from the kids and the teacher were blank looks. Not a single smile. No giggles. Nothing. Well, I was floored. I repeated it. A little green peach was pulling a huge street car.
Nothing. Finally, the teacher took me to the side and asked me if I was sure it was a peach. Yes. I was sure. I know a peach when I see one. She asked for a description. I told her. It was green and it had no roof and it had four wheels. It's the same kind army guys drive. Ah!! Of course. She finally understood. She took me back to the head of the class. Explained that what I was trying to say, was a little green jeep was towing the street car. That's when the kids laughed. But they were laughing at me, not my story. It was a long time before I did show and tell again. And when I did, I stuck to the script.
I was terrified of looking the fool again. Until one day, in grade 4, a kid who was supposed to tell a story in assembly wasn't there. The teacher asked me to do it. It was a story from one of our story books and it was about a wizard who disguised himself as a rabbit and went to town to find a generous person. I can't remember much of the story, but in this town, it seems, there were no generous people. They all just chased the rabbit away from their gardens. Until one really nasty old woman yelled at him and said scoot, go, and she threw a carrot at him. And she was rewarded with great wealth. Yadayadayada, and so on.
There was no way I was going to do it. The kids all said I was the only one who could tell a story and make people laugh. I was voted in. I had to do it. So I did. I didn't ad lib. I didn't giggle. I just told the story from memory. And I guess I did okay.
I can't even remember why we had the assembly. Maybe a talent show? I don't know. I just know that the kids and staff loved it. And I became a story teller once more. Okay I guess I had never really stopped, but up until that day, my audiences had been a couple of friends in the school yard. I didn't try to keep it real. I made up silly stories, just to make my friends smile. Being on stage was terrifying, but I survived. And I was congratulated. I still don't like public speaking, but I still love telling stories and making people laugh.
And I love to laugh.
Serenitree
GOOD DAY
DEC. 18/16
6:44 pm
ejk
This goes back to 1950. I was 6 years old. It was my turn for show and tell. I had a great mom and she had helped me find a good picture in a magazine. Told me what the story was and helped me prepare my story. I don't recall what the story was, because on the way to school I saw something much more interesting and way more fun to tell about.
I got to class, all revved up. I loved show and tell, because I was always a bit of a show off and I was a pretty good story teller. I could make people laugh and I liked that. Finally the Lord's Prayer had been said, we sang god save the king. And it was time. The Teacher called me up to the front of the class. I launched into my story.
On the way to school we had to cross a street with street cars.
You know, what I mean? Buses that run on train type tracks? Yeah those.
Well, of course all my class mates knew what they were. So I told them about the funniest thing ever. It was so funny that I kept giggling as I was telling the story, so the kids were expecting to be very amused.
I told them about a street car that had broken down and was being towed by a little green peach. And then I collapsed in hysterical laughter. All I got from the kids and the teacher were blank looks. Not a single smile. No giggles. Nothing. Well, I was floored. I repeated it. A little green peach was pulling a huge street car.
Nothing. Finally, the teacher took me to the side and asked me if I was sure it was a peach. Yes. I was sure. I know a peach when I see one. She asked for a description. I told her. It was green and it had no roof and it had four wheels. It's the same kind army guys drive. Ah!! Of course. She finally understood. She took me back to the head of the class. Explained that what I was trying to say, was a little green jeep was towing the street car. That's when the kids laughed. But they were laughing at me, not my story. It was a long time before I did show and tell again. And when I did, I stuck to the script.
I was terrified of looking the fool again. Until one day, in grade 4, a kid who was supposed to tell a story in assembly wasn't there. The teacher asked me to do it. It was a story from one of our story books and it was about a wizard who disguised himself as a rabbit and went to town to find a generous person. I can't remember much of the story, but in this town, it seems, there were no generous people. They all just chased the rabbit away from their gardens. Until one really nasty old woman yelled at him and said scoot, go, and she threw a carrot at him. And she was rewarded with great wealth. Yadayadayada, and so on.
There was no way I was going to do it. The kids all said I was the only one who could tell a story and make people laugh. I was voted in. I had to do it. So I did. I didn't ad lib. I didn't giggle. I just told the story from memory. And I guess I did okay.
I can't even remember why we had the assembly. Maybe a talent show? I don't know. I just know that the kids and staff loved it. And I became a story teller once more. Okay I guess I had never really stopped, but up until that day, my audiences had been a couple of friends in the school yard. I didn't try to keep it real. I made up silly stories, just to make my friends smile. Being on stage was terrifying, but I survived. And I was congratulated. I still don't like public speaking, but I still love telling stories and making people laugh.
And I love to laugh.
Serenitree
GOOD DAY
DEC. 18/16
6:44 pm
ejk
