I remember when I was in the fourth grade. I had a teacher named Mrs. Yaffey She was Jewish.
I attended an elementary school in Bayside, New York at the time- P.S. 203.
I wrote a play back then as an assignment in which I chose specific classmates to act out in roles I had created within my story. I even cast a student for the narration in between scenes that I had written.
This preparation took place among us all in our classroom.
I never received a low or bad grade on book reports so knew I could write well at an early age.
Reading and writing were my best subjects.
After Mrs. Yaffey was impressed by one of my book reports- she to my surprise- gave me the lead role as Robinhood for our school play called “Potpourri’.
I was not one who wanted to be in the spotlight, so I gave the part to a girl named Erica Goldstein. She had a narrator role in which I exchanged with her.
Throughout the days up until we were to perform on stage in front of an auditorium full of people we rehearsed and had to get our apparel and costumes ready.
I had to wear a white shirt, a black belt, and black tights as the narrator. “Robinhood” had to wear her cape and each other character according to their required specific wardrobe.
During opening night my mother later expressed to me that she was disappointed that I had such few lines in a small role. I don’t think she liked that I gave up the lead part to someone else.
But things like that were not a big deal to me. I was not a child who liked being the center of attention.
My mother did not mean any harm, she was just a parent who was proud of her kid.
