About Duke
Part 3
I don't
remember a great deal about Duke. The truth be known, upon the writing of this,
I don't even, really remember what he looked like. What I do remember, seems to
be in context of "home room" and the people there.
I remember
he was tall. Not just taller than me (which, at the time-was not much of an
accomplishment), taller than most of the other boys in class. Which, as it
turns out, is a preference of mine. I
remember a shock of hair curtaining his
forehead, toward the right side of his face.
My mother used to call this a "Kennedy
part".
I remember
he was mostly quiet. I remember (for
some reason) he was kind to me but I don't remember how, exactly.
Routinely I
was picked on because I was very small for my age. Some teachers treated me as
though I was fragile. Some students incited to call out "midget!" and
"munchkin" as I passed. What I remember of my interaction with Duke,
none of those expletives came from him. In fact, when Duke began talking to
me...there were no more of those names directed my way.
I do
remember one incident where I was talking to him and offered him a piece of
candy. Knowing my predilections, it was likely a lifesaver--because I believed
those commercials that they would "make you feel better", or maybe
tic tacs that I always had in my purse.
I remember a smile from him.
Everything
else I know about him, I have learned recently.
He was born
in March (like me) March 1, 1959. His father was a Major. He was the eldest in
a large family of 2 parents and 4 children.
The family
had recently moved from Texas.
Duke died on
December 13th, 1971 and is entered, with his family, in Fountainhead Memorial
Park, Palm Bay, FL.
There is no
picture of him, (that I could find) in our year book, that year.
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