In Honor of September 31

Many Septembers ago, when my mother was five years old, she took herself to school. She was five years old, and the cutoff date for first grade was October 1. If you weren't six years old by then, you waited another year.

My mother's birthday was October 31st. She would have to wait to start school until she was almost seven.

Even so, when her older brother got on the school bus, she did too.

The principal contacted my grandfather. The cutoff date was October 1; wasn't she too young?

Why no, my grandfather replied. She squeaks in just under the wire; her birthday is September 31.

The principal accepted that answer, and my talented little mother stayed in school. Whether she grew up to be as brazen as her father is another question!


[Little Uncle Fred; Grandma Madeline; Little Ann]