The making of Rocky Hawkins

(This is written for those St. Lambertonians who may never have known Bob)

It was evident from the day I started grade one at Herbert Symonds in NDG that I was not a student. On my first day of school when the recess bell rang, I went home. Nobody told me this was an all day ordeal. I followed my sister Rosalyn (Roz) through school, she was the teachers pet, I was their worst fear.

In today’s world I would be diagnosed as having some 4 letter disorder, perhaps 2 or 3 disorders.

It was the summer of ’57 when we arrived in St. Lambert, that is me with my grandmother Jeanne Piche-Taylor on the steps of the rectory at Woodland United Church in Verdun. Note the jeans and wellington boots,that is how I appeared on day one in grade 7 at St. Lambert Elementary. The local yocals labeled me Rocky and rather than be intimidated by them I relished in my new moniker.

From the outset Mr. Brigdon and I had an intimate relationship, I would drop by his office on occasion, he would give me the strap and everyone would be happy.

I have always known that I am different, dance to my own music so to speak but it is only in the last few days that I am reminded of how I stood out as a student. When Miss Sheppard had me move my desk to the back wall by the door, I thought I was the door monitor, I didn’t realize she wanted me as far away from the rest of the class as possible.

One day our English assignment was to write a “descriptive composition”. Really?  I thought. Miss Sheppard came to the back of the room and I said “I don’t know what to write about’ and she replied “just write about something you know”. That night I sat at home thinking “what do I know”? Then it hit me, I sat down and scribbled the one thing I knew best “How to Play Hooky”.

Miss Sheppard loved it, showed it to Mr. Brigdon and he had me read it at assembly. I passed grade 7 that year.

Footnote: Once I left St. Lambert I was able to be known once more as Bob and while I was different as a child I am still different at 73. I turned out OK so please stop telling your children there is something wrong with them, they will learn to cope and they will do well.

Bob Hawkins Blog Admin