Leslie McSpadden

We would walk in and out the door and pass that dining room table for hours waiting on someone to get up and let us play because we were taught to respect elders very much. So, like, you don't ask who it is. You don't say lie. You don't question. You are to be seen and not heard.

We would walk in and out the door and pass that dining room table for hours waiting on someone to get up and let us play because we were taught to respect elders very much. So, like, you don't ask who it is. You don't say lie. You don't question. You are to be seen and not heard.

Her tying the string to our teeth into the knob and slamming the door to pull out our teeth. We weren't scared, though. And it didn't hurt. We was looking forward. You know, our mamas and daddies be like, let me get it. No, no, no. We waiting till we go over there with Granny. She gonna get it. And that's what she did. You know, that's where we went when we were sent home from school.

Her tying the string to our teeth into the knob and slamming the door to pull out our teeth. We weren't scared, though. And it didn't hurt. We was looking forward. You know, our mamas and daddies be like, let me get it. No, no, no. We waiting till we go over there with Granny. She gonna get it. And that's what she did. You know, that's where we went when we were sent home from school.

We didn't go home. We went to Granny's house. She always said, boiled foods make you feel better. She was a boiler pot of food type of person. You know what I'm saying? And so big pots of spaghetti like this. And we would be outside playing so hard that we didn't want to sit down and eat. So we would make spaghetti sandwiches just so we can hurry up and get back outside and play.

We didn't go home. We went to Granny's house. She always said, boiled foods make you feel better. She was a boiler pot of food type of person. You know what I'm saying? And so big pots of spaghetti like this. And we would be outside playing so hard that we didn't want to sit down and eat. So we would make spaghetti sandwiches just so we can hurry up and get back outside and play.

But she had a routine with us. And when we all spent the night, we got up at a certain time, you picked your cover up, you put it up, you got yourself together, and we went in the kitchen and this person did eggs, this person did bread, and my granny would do the meat. It's a memory that none of us ever forget because we shared all that time together. We really did. We really grew up together.

But she had a routine with us. And when we all spent the night, we got up at a certain time, you picked your cover up, you put it up, you got yourself together, and we went in the kitchen and this person did eggs, this person did bread, and my granny would do the meat. It's a memory that none of us ever forget because we shared all that time together. We really did. We really grew up together.

Her name was Miss Sanders, Patricia Sanders to be exact. And she would really, like, keep me in line and keep me out of trouble.

Her name was Miss Sanders, Patricia Sanders to be exact. And she would really, like, keep me in line and keep me out of trouble.

We had this common area where everybody could hang out when you had a free class or in between lunch periods. And we had phones in there. And I used to be in there sneaking on the phone. And, you know, you would think you're sneaking, but it's like she wore these high heels. She was so jazzy, okay?

We had this common area where everybody could hang out when you had a free class or in between lunch periods. And we had phones in there. And I used to be in there sneaking on the phone. And, you know, you would think you're sneaking, but it's like she wore these high heels. She was so jazzy, okay?

I could hear her coming around the corner, and I would try to get off, and she would say, uh-uh, I see you. And she would come and take the phone and say, who is this? Do you know where she is and where she's supposed to be? I mean, she would tell all your business. And she would say, I'm going to take you to class, and I'm going to, you know, say you was with me and don't let me catch you again.

I could hear her coming around the corner, and I would try to get off, and she would say, uh-uh, I see you. And she would come and take the phone and say, who is this? Do you know where she is and where she's supposed to be? I mean, she would tell all your business. And she would say, I'm going to take you to class, and I'm going to, you know, say you was with me and don't let me catch you again.

She was like that mama at school that you needed, you know? And I appreciate her. I really do. I'll never forget Ms. Sanders.

She was like that mama at school that you needed, you know? And I appreciate her. I really do. I'll never forget Ms. Sanders.

We went in the bathroom and I took it. And I remember her saying, ooh, ooh, ooh. And I was like, ooh, what? And she was like, girl, you pregnant. And I was like, no, I'm not. And I was like, oh, my God. I got to tell my mama. No, I'm going to let you tell her. You tell her. And we went to those same pay phones in school and called my mom.

We went in the bathroom and I took it. And I remember her saying, ooh, ooh, ooh. And I was like, ooh, what? And she was like, girl, you pregnant. And I was like, no, I'm not. And I was like, oh, my God. I got to tell my mama. No, I'm going to let you tell her. You tell her. And we went to those same pay phones in school and called my mom.

And she said, April, this better be April's food joke, something like that. And she just was fussing and fussing. And I didn't even get on the phone. I was just like, girl, hang up.

And she said, April, this better be April's food joke, something like that. And she just was fussing and fussing. And I didn't even get on the phone. I was just like, girl, hang up.