Take a sip of milk and nibble on a cookie. Today we’re sharing a poem from Julia Donaldson’s Crazy Mayonnaisy Mum (Macmillan, 2004).
Are you ready? Look up at the camera and say “cheese!”
CLASS PHOTOGRAPH by Julia Donaldson Everyone's smiling, grinning, beaming, Even Clare Biggs who was really scheming How she was going to get revenge On her ex-best friend, Selina Penge (front row, third left, with hair in wisps) For stealing her salt and vinegar crisps. And Martin Layton-Smith is beaming, Though he was almost certainly dreaming Of warlock warriors in dripping caves Sending mindless orcs to their gruesome graves. (Next to him, Christopher Jordan's dream Has something to do with a football team.) And Ann-Marie Struthers is sort of beaming, Though a minute ago her eyes were streaming Because she'd been put in the second back row And separated from Jennifer Snow. And Jennifer Snow is beaming too, Though Miss Bell wouldn't let her go to the loo. And Miss Bell, yes even Miss Bell is beaming, Though only just now we'd heard her screaming At the boy beside her, Robert Black, Who kept on peeling his eyelids back And making a silly hooting noise (Though he said that was one of the other boys). Eve Rice is doing her best at beaming. Yes, Eve is reasonably cheerful-seeming, Though I think she was jealous because Ruth Chubb Had -- at last! -- let me into their special club. (In order to join the club, said Ruth, You had to have lost at least one tooth.) And look, that's me, and my teeth are gleaming Around my new gap; yes, I'm really beaming. ~ copyright © 2004 Julia Donaldson (Crazy Mayonnaisy Mum, published by Macmillan).
*
Class pictures are a lot of fun. As the poem describes, there are interesting stories behind those seemingly innocent smiles.
It’s actually kind of miraculous to see a school photo where everyone is behaving themselves. Sometimes there’s a kid who makes a face right as the camera clicks, another who decides to call out something at the last minute – hence an open mouth – or another who blinks. Those who photograph children have to be extra patient; being able to bring out the best in one’s subjects is a true talent.
Oddly enough, I only have one grade school class picture to speak of – and it’s not even an ‘official’ photo taken at school, but a memento from a second grade field trip.
I’m not sure, but I think Miss Tomita took us to the airport because right around that time, Pan Am offered commercial jet service. The transition from prop planes to jets was a big deal, especially exciting for people in Hawaii, since it usually took forever to fly anywhere. The first commercial flights between Hawaii and the mainland via prop planes back in 1935 took about 16 hours. Compare that to a jet flight taking a little over 7 hours in the 1950s.
Anyway, there we are, all 34 of us, posing as nice as pie in three rows (can you spot me?). I like studying all the facial expressions – stern, bored, bewildered, serious, impatient. There are a few sweet smiles and a missing tooth grin just like in the poem, but for the most part, I’m surprised we don’t look happier.
I remember being jealous of Sharlene Y. because she had a brownie camera (see her in her plaid dress against the chain link fence?), and not too happy with Andrea S. (right next to Miss Tomita). We had a play date one time, where I wanted to show Andrea my new doll house, but she was three hours late. When she finally showed up, she only stayed for a few minutes.
There were three other Kims in the class besides me: Dannel (second row, third right), James (third row, second right), and Rodney (second row, fourth left). Starting in high school, we were seated together in our homerooms in alphabetical order. I’m not related to Dannel or James, but Rodney is my second cousin. 🙂
Wendy M. (second row, far right), shows true to form: she always had the prettiest clothes and seemed poised beyond her years. Her family owned the grocery store where we always shopped. It was the best since you could “charge” groceries on the honor system without a credit card, and pay your bill when convenient.
Kenneth G. (second row, fourth right), the boy with the missing front tooth and blink, was quite a rascal back then (he could probably peel his eyelids back too), but he grew up to be a respected lawyer. Les Nitta (second row, third left), who looks a little confused, is now a thriving artist who creates gorgeous Hawaii-related airbrush paintings.
I did manage to unearth another class picture dating back to 1926. It’s my father’s 7th grade class at Royal ES in Honolulu. It’s hard to make out the faces since this is a newspaper clipping, but this group is definitely beaming. The photographer must have said something hilarious to make them laugh so hard. My dad (first row, third right), wrote “me” on himself so no one would miss him.
He would like you to know that when they all lined up in front of blackboards to practice their penmanship to music, he was in charge of playing Strauss waltzes on the phonograph because his handwriting was so nice. It remained beautiful and perfectly formed till he passed away at age 104.
I do like knowing or imagining the stories behind the smiles. I just wish I had more class photos to reminisce over.
Do you have any notable school picture taking stories to share?
*
The lovely and talented Molly Hogan is hosting the Roundup at Nix the Comfort Zone. Breeze on over to check out the full menu of poetic goodness being served up around the blogosphere this week. Have a nice weekend and don’t forget to smile! 🙂
*Copyright © 2023 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.
Jama's Alphabet Soup 
Jama, this is the most incredible post. I love it! And, you know I’ll go digging into my old photos this weekend to see what gold I can mine for new poems. A fieldtrip to the airport…was probably more for your teacher than the kids? Oh, goodness. This is all so rich. The pic of your Dad is funny with “me” on it. Of course it’s “me.” We are all “me” when we look at our photos.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope you find some cool photos to inspire new poems, Linda. To me the best part of field trips was lunchtime (sometimes I had a box lunch with Japanese food instead of a sandwich). Going to the airport does sound like a weird place for a field trip. At least it wasn’t as traumatic as going to the Swift Premium factory where they made hot dogs. Couldn’t eat them for years afterwards, knowing what went into them.
LikeLike
A picture perfect post, Jama! From Donaldson’s poem to the perfectly poised pupils in front of planes. I love that bare feet and neckties were the norm in your dad’s day. And Les Nitta’s paintings? Swoon. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Only in Hawaii could you go to school bare footed. 😀
LikeLike
Oh, Jama, you have made my day! I love this post! I do have a class picture that makes me laugh. I am in the front, a bit chubby with my long braids. Sister Consuelo is in the back row smiling away, We are all sitting in our desks, hands folded, everyone looking at the camera. Then there is me. Looking sideways, pointed 60’s glasses on, trying to get my friend, Elvira to laugh!😂😂😂By the way, which girl is you? I thought I spy you in the back row, next to the boy with the striped shirt? On that note, have a lovely weekend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hah, sounds like a funny photo, Joanne. You were quite a tease back then. I can just picture those pointed glasses (I had a similar pair). I’m in the front row, center, with my knee up, holding a black purse in my lap. To the right of the boy in the striped shirt (can’t remember his name) is my friend Sharon. We got busted in 3rd grade for “copying” on a quiz. I don’t think we really were — but the teacher said we did.
LikeLike
A lovely collection! Makes me want to dig out my old grade school photos!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re lucky to have them. Wish I had more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a thought and feeling inspiring post! My eye went right to the girl with the camera, wow, but love seeing you. I do want to hunt for some pictures but not sure about what I’d have to go through to get there. Thirty four kids in class. I remember those days.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’ve been going through boxes in our basement containing old photo albums. Seems like an impossible task. Tempted to just throw them out, but what if I miss something important?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your post brought back memories. I have been making a book for my grandchildren and found a couple of my elementary class pictures. Looking at the different expressions on the kids’ faces makes me wonder what they were really thinking. Thank you for sharing this post, it was so much fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s interesting to see what we remember about our old classmates, if anything. It’s nice when they surprise you. For example, I didn’t realize Les was so artistic even though we knew each other through high school.
LikeLike
Jama, it’s amazing to me that you remember the names of so many classmates! I have quite a few class pics, but because we moved around so much, mostly I only knew those kids for a few months, so it’s just me with a bunch of strangers. 😦 And your dad’s “ME” is brilliant and brings a big smile. I think i see you on the back row?? Do tell! xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m in the front row, center. 😀 I remember their names because 1) small town and 2) grew up and went to high school with many of them. I didn’t move around like you did.
LikeLike
I have all my class pictures, Jama, am still in touch with one although she is still in Missouri & I am here in Colorado. I loved the intro & the art for the book, but of course, even more, I love reading about your class & all your remember about them. Wendy M. does have a pretty dress & is sitting so nicely! I think I spot you, front row, middle? And I love seeing the picture of your dad’s class, a beautiful keepsake!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay, you spotted me!! Of course I had a purse (one can’t travel anywhere without a place to carry money and Kleenex). 😀 Wendy is sitting very prim and proper. I envied her living above the grocery store! I imagined her going downstairs all the time to get free treats from the shelves.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I Love This Post! These are just the kind of stories I love. Your dad with his beautiful handwriting, playing the waltzes. *happy sigh* My mom surprised me this week when she casually mentioned that the bullet in her brother’s foot was bothering him. ??? Turns out he shot himself in the foot sixty-five years ago.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow – you didn’t know anything about the bullet? Amazing!
LikeLike
Wow, Jama, you have a fantastic memory! I’m hard-pressed to remember names from elementary school photos, not to mention stories to go with them. Thanks for pointing me to a Julia Donaldson book I haven’t read yet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s not hard to remember their names when you see them year after year at school, sometimes in the same classes, sometimes not. Can you tell I’m still pissed off at Andrea S.? 😀
LikeLike
Love the poem, especially love reading your description of your classmates. I had only one class photograph in my stash, but a boy from sixth-grade (well, 66 yr old boy, turned into a trumpster?) found me on facebook and now I have that class photo and many facebook friends from my younger days. My friend Debbie Diesen wrote a very fun PB called The Perfect School Picture (illustrated by Dan Santat) that revolves around a character who was like Kenneth G in his pre-lawyer days. Also love your classmate Les’ art. Thanks for the fun post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I must read Debbie and Dan’s book now!! FB is such a weird conglomeration of people you’ve known from all parts of your life. I’m FB friends with some of the kids in my field trip photo, and curious about the ones I’ve lost touch with.
LikeLike
I love the poem–it is such fun, and I enjoyed reminiscing with you through your class photo and your dad’s.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you enjoyed the post, Kay!
LikeLike
Amazing post, Jama! I’m so impressed that you remember so much. I have a photo from second grade taken at my First Holy Communion. There are probably about 60 of us second graders posing on the steps of the church. I can remember the names of some of my friends, but definitely not everyone. Thanks for sharing and nudging me to look at that picture again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, 60 kids’ names is a lot to remember. Nice that you still have that photo though. 🙂
LikeLike
The poem is fun, and I LOVE your photos and post, Jama. Wow. Great memory and stories. I don’t think I was ever in a school that had class pictures, but, oddly, we did take an annual field trip to the Coca-Cola bottling plant.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think learning about Coca-Cola was probably better than Swift’s hog dogs. But then, we also went to Meadow Gold’s plant one year, where we learned about milk and ice cream. 🙂
LikeLike
This is such a great post, Jama. I now will be going to find old school photos and take a closer look. And Donaldson’s poem is the best.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope you find some old photos, Jone!
LikeLike
Thank you for this wonderful post! I loved the poem. I laughed, on and off, all the way through–and appreciated the deft weaving of repeated words. Your descriptions about flights from Hawaii and your classmates were fascinating and fun. I’m inspired to look for poems in some of my old class photos.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I imagine there’s lots of grist for the poetry mill in old photos. Happy Writing!
LikeLike
Oh, the drama of Picture Day! This post has it all both in the poem and in your class picture + stories. I have a binder of class pictures where I’m that teacher sometimes beaming authentically and sometimes through gritted teeth!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cool that you have a binder of class pictures. Lots of poetry ideas there I’m sure. 🙂
LikeLike
So many stories in this fun, rich, delightful post! I thought I spotted you in the front row and then I combed through the comments to see if you revealed where you were. (I was right!) So cute. This brings back so many memories of school and school photos. Loved seeing your dad’s photo, too. And now I need to check out Les Nitta’s art!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay, you found me!
LikeLike
Jama, your post for this week’s Poetry Friday is “picture perfect” with a dose of nostalgia. The poem you shared is funny. Class photos make for great story prompts. I guess I will need to find anything I have in the way of photos.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, look for some!!
LikeLike
Wow, the kids in your Dad’s class are rolling in laughter, great to see them so happy it’s contagious–love it! 🥰 And all those tidbits about your class photo, what fun-lovely, juicy artwork too by Les Nitta. I’ve got a pic of my 4th grade class hanging in my studio–I wrote a story about an incident that happened, but that’s another story… Love your post, thanks for all the goodies and good vibes here Jama! ☺️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope you tell us about your 4th grade class sometime . . .
LikeLike
What a joy ride down memory lane, Jama! I grew up in a time when we had annual class photos. My mom put them all in a scrapbook for me…Years of gawky girls and boys, standing in rows, in our itchy wool Catholic school clothes. It’s been years since I looked at any of them; doubtful I could name more than a few – not like you! But my favorite group photo – is a family shot, taken at my baby sister’s wedding reception. Bride holding a screaming young ring-bearer, various sisters and brothers-in-law (one with a drink in his fist) with arms linked to children looking away, hair askew, and the groom barely visible in the back row! This is us!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a fun memory captured in that wedding photo!
LikeLike
Jama, what a fabulous post! I went from delighting in Donaldson’s poem and the potential stories behind all the faces to riveted attention as you shared your own photos and stories from your life and your father’s. I love that you included art from your classmate as well. These photos and your post are so wonderfully layered. They made me think of all the photos I went through with my Dad shortly before his death and how many people we know, loose track of, and sometimes forget throughout our lives. Such a wonderfully structured rich post!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Molly. Glad you enjoyed the post. Going through old photos is definitely fun, reminding us of people we’ve lost track of — and I also wonder how many people from my life I totally have no memory of . . .
LikeLike