I started school in the winter of 1933 at Rock Creek School, about half a mile from our house. It was a two-room building, used for school, church services, community meetings and, on occasion, shelter. School was held in one room, the other was closed. I suspect this was to save fuel.

The teacher was Mrs. Pleger, who had been my father's first teacher. There was only one student in the first grade, me, until sometime in December when Aleta Holt moved into the neighborhood. I don't remember a lot about her, for she became ill the following year and died. I never knew what made her so sick, and thought about it for years. I had a hard time understanding why she died.

The school room was heated by a large pot-bellied stove fired with coal. My cousin, Ed Nance Jr., would go to the school early and build a fire. The school room was always comfortable by the time we got there.

Mrs. Pleger walked to school, except when it rained a lot and the creek would flood. Then she rode a horse. She was a rather large lady, and when she rode her horse wrapped up in blankets with a canvas tarp on top, she looked as if she was moving her entire house. Somehow this dear lady found time for each of her 30 students, from first through sixth grades.

Mrs. Pleger retired at the end of my first grade year. I am not sure why. I do know that everyone missed her a lot. She was a wonderful person and a extraordinary teacher.

My second grade teacher was Miss Dinke Horn. She lived in the town of Mansfield, and drove a Plymouth automobile to school every day. It was one of the few automobiles in the area, and everyone would stop whatever they were doing and look when she drove past.

When the rains came her car often became stuck in the mud and she could not go on. Many times she and her car came to school pulled by some farmer's mule.

I attended school at Rock Creek through first and second grade. I sincerely believe that no better school ever existed. As all good things must, the school was closed, I believe in the summer of 1936, and everyone had to attend Mansfield School.

My younger brother, Bethel, was born January 22, 1934. I was the most delighted kid in the county. My Mother would set me down and put him on my lap, and I just thought that was the greatest thing in the world.

The old school building at Rock Creek was used by the Rock Creek Baptist Church for many years. There was Sunday School and worship services each Sunday morning and worship services with hymn singing every Sunday evening. There were gasoline and kerosene lanterns hung from the ceiling to light the room for evening services.

Some of the men put a sort of pen in the front corner, where the ladies would place quilts, on which they would put their babies during services. If a baby should cry during services the mother would go forward, pick it up and do whatever was necessary to make it comfortable.

Almost all mothers nursed their babies, and it was not uncommon, nor was it embarrassing, to see a mother nursing her baby right there in church.

One incident stands out in my mind, that I still chuckle about. Mrs. Bertha Henley had given birth to Joyce some time after Bethel was born. When the two of them were somewhere around one year old, they were placed in the "children's" area at the front of the church. Joyce was larger than Bethel, and promptly crawled to him and grabbed his toy. Bethel yelled, so Joyce pushed him. He became angry and grabbed her and bit her on the arm. She screamed in pain.

Both Mom and Mrs. Henley went forward to attend to their children. Mother took Bethel outside, and I think she swatted him. Mrs. Henley picked up Joyce and swatted her right there in church. The Minister paused for only a moment, then went right on preaching. God works in many, many ways.

Bethel and Joyce grew up together, and were married in 1951. They now have two daughters and five grandchildren. Joyce said she married Bethel so he would spend the rest of his life paying for that bite on her arm... But I think there was more to it...
- - - Tom