Third Form.
Well, this may be the last in the series of High School posts (at least for now anyway.) I was expecting far more commentary from other Blue and Whiters, some of them have been most dismal, hence I’m starting to lose my enthusiasm. Big up to all those of you who did me the courtesy of visiting and commenting. So, I think I’ll return to my other stuff as of tomorrow.
There is one particular incident that is well rooted in my memories of Third Form. Now, I was in 3E, this class was noted for having generally poor behaviour (how I ended up with such a rowdy bunch is beyond me). This incident involved an English Literature teacher that was named Mr. Brown. We actually used to call him, MAD BROWN! This was because he used to dress very strangely; purple jacket with orange necktie and some really strange outfits. In retrospect, now that I’m a Medical Practitioner, I really wonder if he did indeed have a Psychiatric illness, he may well have been Manic.
Anyhow, he was trying to conduct a class in 3E, but not with much success. We really didn’t like him, we thought he was wasting our time. This man had spent over one School Term on the book, “Things Fall Apart,” by Chinua Achebe. We didn’t like the book and frequently rebelled against it and Mad Brown. One of our favourite ways of protesting, was to make the sound of a swarm of bees. We would all sit in the class and everyone, with their mouths closed would start a humming buzzing sound, starting from the back rows and slowly making its way forward until, the whole class was involved! I personally thought it was hilarious. (I was actually no Saint in school, but I knew how to cause trouble and get away with it!)
Now Phleg (who else), was also in 3E. We had already managed to piss off Mad Brown by our buzzing noises, so he was pretty labile this day in particular. Phleg had a peice of waste paper on his desk that he had crumpled up, and wanted to throw in the garbage pan. So Phleg got up. Mad Brown told him to sit down. Mad Brown asked him what the problem was. Phleg explained that he wished to throw the piece of paper away. Mad Brown told him to wait until the end of the class. Phleg persisted, telling him that he needed to throw it away now as it was, “Disturbing him.”
Phleg then proceeded to the garbage pan which was at the front of the class, near to the teacher’s desk. Now the teacher’s desk was on a platform about 6 or 7 inches high off the ground. Mad Brown was furious. Phleg arrived at the garbage pan, which by the way, was made of metal. Phleg was throwing the paper into the bin, when Mad Brown’s head ‘took him’. Mad Brown jumped down off the platform, lined up Phleg’s hand and jumped on it with all his weight, cutting Phleg’s hand against the garbage pan. Phleg exclaimed, “BOMBO CLAAT,” in excruciating pain, and I believe a fight ensued. (Is this the same fellow that is now preparing to become a Deacon?) Mad Brown resigned the following day. This is the most vivid memory that I have of Third Form, and I have told many individuals about it.
Well, I see that the rains continue. The flooding has wreaked havoc in many Parishes. I can see our ‘wonderful’ government using the Disaster Relief as a means of ‘looking vote fi de coming Election’, which by the way, we still can’t hear the date of yet!! More time.
May 30th, 2002 at 12:13 am You know that they are planning to make the most of this disaster. They know to look for the silver lining in dark clouds. Thats why they’re still around.
May 30th, 2002 at 1:27 am Dr D, are you sure that was me?…..:)unfortunate’y Mad brown was fired and now lives on the streets of liguanea.
May 30th, 2002 at 6:49 am Good morning all. It is amazing how our lives have changed since high school. I can’t believe that Phleg would’ve uttered such bad words, it must’ve been someone else like say the Mad Bull
May 30th, 2002 at 8:45 am Hail Phleg, the fact that we all thought that he may have had a mental problem from back then indicates that perhaps all of us could have become doctors (Psychiatrists especially). Can’t say that I’ve ever seen Mad Brown on the streets myself, then again, I may not be able to recognize him now. BTW, I don’t know if it was a case of mistaken identity, but me sure know seh, like all true Georgians, yuh know only too well how fi cuss the claat dem (in case you didn’t learn anything else in the 7 years at North Street)
May 30th, 2002 at 10:53 am Dr. D, It wasn’t just Mad Brown’s weight when he jumped on Phleg’s hand, it was also the big heeled cow boy type boots that he was wearing that day. I can still remember Phleg’s two middle fingers tied up in the white gauze after the incident. Also, I seem to recall that earlier in the class that morning prior to the “bungie” incident, Mad Brown also “boxed” Beenie for insubordination. I was sitting a few seats behind Beenie at the time and Mad Brown warned him several times to turn around, pay attention and stop talking. I also seem to recall that Bad Boy Fuller was acting up that morning (as we all were) and commented to us that if Mad Brown boxed him he would have drawn his blade.
May 30th, 2002 at 2:24 pm Goodness gracious me!!! I can’t imagine what was more hilarious - the fight or phleg’s swearing. I can’t ever recall Phleg uttering expletives, but I believe that the good doc would chronicle only the truth. I guess Phleg was also lucky to have escaped with his fingers, as I heard that Mr. Brown had enormous feet. Thanks for the enlightenment on that event, as I have heard some weird twist to that tale. Do keep the stories coming as only you can. I am sure that in time the entire batch will want to log on to your blog. Sorry to hear of Mr. Brown’s situation, although he never taught me. I was blessed instead with the all American Priest ‘ Big foot.’ Do you remember anything about him Dr. D? Most noticeable was his turnip red bald pate and size thirteen (13″) feet. Everytime that he made an early morning trip to the beach, the entire 3C would be alerted to it by the sight of his reddish pate. He was an excellent literature teacher though.
May 30th, 2002 at 3:52 pm I just commented to Krueger on the phone, that from my vantage point Mad Brown launched off the platform like an albatross and landed on my hand (platform boots and all) like an elephant
May 30th, 2002 at 4:08 pm Krueger and Phleg you guys are keeping me in stitches; I almost fell off the chair laughing. You both should write stories - you’re great. Keep them coming. I mean ‘big foot,’ and ‘launched off the platform like an albatross.’ Mercy! Not sure who is killing me more, you guys or Dr. D!!!! Best high school blogs.
May 30th, 2002 at 6:40 pm Good day to one and all.I was also a 3E class member and recall the incident. Mad Brown can be seen now a days roaming the streets of Upper Barbican Rd. and Liguanea Avenue totally insane. This is gospel truth.In fact Yugo-a-gogo the insane son of Miss Wilmot our second form spanish teacher, seem to be in far better shape than Mad Brown.
May 30th, 2002 at 7:24 pm Hey Michael, long time no see…how are you? It seems as if every teacher or someone connected with ‘the great blue & white’ are insane…is this an indication of things to come??? Remind me not to ever send my offspring (if and when) to ‘the great blue & white.’
May 30th, 2002 at 7:43 pm LAAAmBert. Welcome. All I can say is that I’m truly happy for all the feedback. Makes me feel as if the typing and staring into computer screen is worth the effort. Yes Bert, I see Hugo almost every day on the corner of Barbican Road. If Mad Brown is worse off than him, then he must be really screwed! BTW, Mamas (Mrs. Wilmot) died about a year or so ago, I saw her death announcement in the Gleaner. Tyroc, I remember the details of the shoes of the ‘albatross’ now that you have jogged my memory. Also that he had boxed ‘Beenie’. My God, we had a rather ‘colourful’ high school experience, BOMBO CLAATS and all!
May 30th, 2002 at 11:02 pm Although it will live with us forever as a source of laughter I must say I am a bit saddened by the reports about Mr. Brown’s current state of mind. Even though we chose to label him as Mad Brown virtually from day one (and more out of childhood mischief and rebeliousness than anything else), it seems to me now that he was perfectly “righted” until he snapped before our eyes that day. Sorry to hear about Mamas. With the exception of the last time I visited Ja, every time I went back I ran into her at 9:00 mass at St. Peter & Paul. She was a really nice old lady. Incidentally, the last time I visited a few years ago the celebrant at 9 am mass at SPP was none other than Fr. Q. He was visiting from Brown’s Town which is where he had been since we last saw him over 20 years prior. He did not remember me. Then again sitting in the back pew it took me about 20 minutes after recognizing his voice to actually figure out why I recognized the voice. I now wear glasses and could not make out his face well from where I sat. Don’t know if he is still with us but the one thing I still remember while chatting to him afterwards was how incredibly old he looked which is reasonable since he actually was then. You know guys for as much as we had the strange ones like Mad Brown, Woof Woof and Daddy Rups, by and large we were very fortunate to be taught by some damn fine people. If I had to do it all over again I wouldn’t change a thing. AMDG
May 31st, 2002 at 12:04 am Tyroc, I don’t know about you, but I could tell from the first day that Mad Brown was indeed mad. Actually, I’ve heard that he was an exceptionally bright ex georgian, and he had suffered a nervous breakdown. He came to Georges for help, because he could get no other job at the time. I kinda believe this, bacause priests are wont to allow all manner of things that other people wouldn’t, eg. the recent transferring of paedophiles from place to place rather that doing the right thing… Anyway, he had nowhere else to go after his fall from grace at ST.G.C. and so hes on the streets…
May 31st, 2002 at 12:08 am Oh, and I remember “Big Foot” Father Ryan. I remember this argument he got into with Fernando (Nando) Young, where he told him “Go teach your grandmother to suck eggs, not me!”. Nando, much incensed, replied in the vein of “Fatherman, yu bumbo”, and Ryan shouted at the top of his voice “Speak English!!!”… Those were the days… Lots of fun and excitement on the cheap
May 31st, 2002 at 8:32 am Well, like I said before, if we never learned anything else at Georges, we certainly excelled in cussing the claats!! (something that many of us, myself included, still have the ability to do today)….listen, onoo don’t mess with me —-claat…..
May 31st, 2002 at 11:04 am To all bloggers: I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading all of the above….it’s like being Dr. D’s young teen age sister all over again. Quite exceptional…. God bless you all and take care.