No, I Wasn’t Too Cool for School - Dr. Ed Iannuccilli

No, I Wasn’t Too Cool for School - Dr. Ed Iannuccilli

We live just a spit away from the elementary school, close enough to hear the boisterous, boundless wild excitement of the young ones. The waves of rhythmic cadences reminded me, almost to the point of envy, of the days when I returned to school after summer vacation.

When my parents said, “It won’t be long before you’ll be going back to school, Edward,” I feigned indifference. Even though I was excited about returning, I shrugged my shoulders. Among friends, it didn’t seem “cool” to want to go back to school.

The smell of autumn and the ring of the school bells were in the air. The sun was setting earlier, and nights were cooler. We no longer sat on our porch in the dark of a warm evening. I had traded and pitched all the cards I wanted. I swung many a baseball bat. The excitement of fireworks drifted. Enough of the beach and stickball and playing capture the flag. I was bored. It was time.

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Three months before, I had dreams of limitless freedom on the last day of school. I thought there would never be enough time in the day, nor enough days in the week to appreciate those hot summer days, games, beaches, pools, and movies.

Now, all were on the wane. I had borrowed enough books from the library.

Sure, I was sad that summer was over and a little frightened because of the unknown: new teachers, new assignments, new books, new friends, and one day a new school. But these uncertainties disappeared after the first week.

I restocked my pencil box as I readied for the fourth grade at Academy Avenue Elementary School in Providence. I collected the necessary things: pencils with erasers, a separate eraser, a pencil sharpener, a few crayons, and a small ruler. They fit perfectly in the narrow cardboard box that folded over twice and snapped shut with a pop. It was good to be prepared.

I even readied for that dreaded assignment . . . what I did on my summer vacation, the one where the class groaned when the teacher mentioned it. I had already planned to write about a pig farm I visited.

The first day of school was my chance to find my way around, enjoy new classes, and meet new teachers. Sure, I had some worries. We all did. But they were eased by reconnecting with friends I had not seen for almost three months. We shared the enthusiasm of that first day.

In a few years, I would be moving to a new school, and it gave me pause. Though anxious, I was eager for the challenge. For example, seventh grade. I replaced the long-gone pencil box with a lunch bag. I stayed at school for lunch. Junior high meant a locker, homeroom, and forging forward from class to class.

I may have been different in harboring excitement about returning to school after the summer vacation, but I don’t think so. I’ll bet many of you felt the same.