Grammar School and Recess

I started school in September of 1913 at Holy Family in Manayunk. The school was about a mile and a half away, I think, although we always said it was one mile. Sometimes we walked on the roads, but very often we found it shorter to go over the fields and through the woods because most of the route was either wooded or idle lots.
I remember very little about the classroom, but the recesses and lunch hour left quite an impression. All the new kids and new games. Many of them became friends. Ray Ballesty, Bill Wolf, George Smith, Tom Costello, Jerry McNally, Ed Kroose, Steve Scully, Sylvester McCormick and many others.
One of our games at recess was to form a long line holding hands and then they would crack the whip. I was usually at the end of the line and would have to run with steps about ten feet long. At first I didn't realize that I was being set up, but I soon caught on and enjoyed it. We were taught by nuns and in those days there were always enough to teach every grade and a couple extra, a music teacher, a housekeeper, etc.
Looking back, I think I was always small and skinny, the runt of the litter, but I always had a very good appetite and was always very active and inquisitive. I often worked and played alone even though I enjoyed the company of others. I am sure that this was not good because I missed learning from the experiences and fellowship of others.