Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe

Junior was six weeks older than his first cousin Margaret to the day and they had been together since birth. They were born in 1965 to families that lived on a dirt road and grew up knowing that hard work was the only way to have a better life. During this time, children did not go to Kindergarten full time, they attended a summer session that lasted a couple of months and then entered into first grade in the fall. Margaret and Junior were attending the summer session in 1970 they were five years old barely since their birthdays were in May and June.

The class was taught by Mrs. Campbell who had taught for several years in Smyth and Wythe County and her assistant was Mrs Doyle. The classroom was buzzing with children moving about from pod to pod visiting the kitchen pod sitting the scaled down table watching the pot on the tiny yellow play stove. Some children were playing in the costume pod putting on various dresses hats and jackets becoming a fireman, farmer, or nurse. In the music pod a small group of children where listening to 45 records on a portable record player.

Margaret calls out to her cousin “Hey Junior listen to this song I just learned "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe, Catch a nigger by the…” a gasp was heard as Mrs. Campbell yanked Margaret up by both arms, grabbing the paddle off the hook, slamming the door leaving a group of wide eyed children staring at the elderly black woman dragging Margaret out the door. They tried not to listen as the paddle smack loudly with each swing. Mrs. Doyle was trying to regroup the children when the door opened and in came Mrs. Campbell looking very angry. She promptly ordered the class to wash their hands and get ready to go to lunch.

Mrs. Doyle went out into the hall and put her arm around Margaret and said “we will go and find you some dry underpants and a pair of shorts in the office” as the tiny child sobbed with her shoulders shaking. She washed her face with a wet paper towel and helped her change into a pair of shorts found in the gym room closet. Mrs. Doyle held her hand as they walked in silence to the lunch room where the children where opening their lunch boxes. Mrs. Campbell immediately walked over to Margaret and said “do you understand why you got a whipping?” Margaret could only stare at her wet tennis shoes and shake her head no. This enraged Mrs. Campbell and she said “well you need a little time alone then to think about what you said so go sit by yourself and stay there the rest of the afternoon.” Mrs. Doyle walked with Margaret across the room who was crying again and down at the table putting her head down. As she sat there head down crying silently she whispered in a tiny voice “Mrs. Doyle what is a nigger?"