day 77 | ‘decorative pillows’

1973. Davis, CA

the only class i ever failed was junior high home economics.
the teacher was mrs. buchholtz. i don’t have any memories of her smiling. maybe she did,
just not at me. i certainly didn’t do anything in her class that would make her smile.

home economics was the one class that elicited a groan from every boy who had to take it.
even if you didn’t mind it, you had to act like you hated it.

nicky thompson was in the class – he was one of my best friends at the time. he had just as
bad an attitude as i did, until the last assignment, which was making decorative pillows.
for some reason he got into it. he had the idea to make a bunch of them to sell at the
whole earth festival. he never did make more than the one required pillow (which i didn’t
make) but mrs. buchholtz was very pleased with his enthusiasm.

when we got our report cards and i saw my F, then nicky told me he got a B, i couldn’t
believe it. i thought it was so unfair. three grades higher than me just for being excited
about pillows.
i went to talk to mrs. buchholtz about it but she wouldn’t have it. would not discuss it with me.