From the recording Mrs. Eldredge's Arm
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I heard this story from child psychologist Ned Hallowell and, with his permission, turned it into a song. It is a tribute to the tenderness of one of his elementary school teachers who, to her six-year-old students, seemed quite imposing. I have no idea if the real Mrs. Eldredge wore her glasses on a cord around her neck, but my mother did when she taught second grade, so into the song went that detail.<br /><br /><br />Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer produced another recording of this for me in February of 2007 -- one which featured the great singer-storyteller Tom Paxton. That single is still available on iTunes searchable through the title, or look for the yellow cover among Mr. Paxton’s albums searching with his name. It is also accessible through a number of streaming services including Spotify.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">The version here is my demo of the song.<br /><br /></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"><em><strong>© 2006</strong><strong> Steven E. Cutts</strong></em></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">a Studio C recording, <strong>Summer/Fall 2006</strong></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> </span></span></p>
Lyrics
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">The other kids in first grade were ahead of me</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">When it came time for “Look, look, look, run, run, and see.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> Those stories about Dick and Jane</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> Seemed awfully simple, clear, and plain</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">When they would read,</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">But when I tried, the words would all collide</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">And twist and jumble as they pleased.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">Our teacher Mrs. Eldredge was not young or thin; </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">Beneath her powdered cheeks she had a triple chin.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> Plump and round as she could be;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">My mom politely said that she was “Heavy-set” </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">She peered at us through spectacles that sometimes dangled </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">From a chain around her neck.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> She seemed so stern</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> No question: you were in her class to learn!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> But Mrs. Eldredge very quickly earned</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> My gratitude and trust.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">My classmates never quite got ‘round to teasing me,</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">But I could feel them sitting there impatiently.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> Those letters that to them made sense</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> Confused me and made me feel tense</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">And want to cry,</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> I never quite got ‘round to tearing up</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">And there was a good reason why!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> The time would arrive</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> For reading group, and I’d feel terrified,</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> Then I’d calm down if I sat side-by-side</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> Mrs. Eldridge’s arm.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">If I was having trouble with the words that day</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">Mrs. Eldredge reached her arm around me, as if to say,</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> “Take your time; I know it’s hard</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> You’re just as smart as the others are,</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> I have no doubt.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">That made me bold, the story would unfold,</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">And words began to tumble out.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">I’d really try; </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">I’d lean against her and feel much less shy;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">My confidence shot up surrounded by</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">Mrs. Eldredge’s arm.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">When summer came, I still was stumbling when I read.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">Away from school there was no comfy arm; instead</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> I’d take a deep breath and pretend</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> I was inside of her arm again;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> That’s all it took. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">That comfort of her arm is still a lucky charm :</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">I make my living writing books!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;">The other kids in first grade were ahead of me</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino, serif;"> When it came time for “Look, look, look, run, run, and see.”</span></p>