Too Smart for Her Own Good

I can't remember if I've told this one before or not. There have been well over 1200 posts, so forgive me if I'm repeating myself.

When the Old Woman was a child, she sometimes saw the world in more pragmatic terms than even adults. I don't know if this were a function of her personality, the fact she was quite a bit younger than her older siblings, or if she were the daughter of two fairly clever, well educated people. I suspect it is personality.

When she was in the 3rd grade, the Temperance Ladies came to her school. The Old Woman is old enough that the evils of drink were considered one of the main issues destroying families and communities. From what I gather, the Temperance Ladies would, among other things, visit schools and lecture young children about the dire consequences of that evil booze and, not too unlike the anti-drug programs in schools today, have the children sign pledges that they would never, never, ever, never take a drink.

All the little children in her class eagerly signed the pledge, except the Old Woman. They pressed her to sign. The teacher prodded. The principal insisted. The Old Woman refused. Her explanation was "I'm eight. I don't know what I'm going to do when I'm grown."

She was sent home from school that day for refusing to sign and being sassy.

Here's the wonderful part. The Old Woman is on the verge of turning 90 years old and has never had even a sip of alcoholic beverage. Not because of some slightly inaccurate bit of propaganda from the 3rd grade. But, she understands that there is a history of addictions in her family and she decided, quite rationally, that it was better to never start because she might like it too much. I wonder if any of the kids who readily signed the pledge stuck to it?