Kevin M Davis Poet Narrative

Perfect Attendance Award

Perfect Attendance Award
Kevin Davis 2025

I was never able to complete an entire school year without a day being ill.
And at the end of each school year an honor was paid to those who endured.
180 days of schoolwork and desk sitting, without one day being under a pill.

An achievement was bestowed, and all my teachers were proud and honored.
My days of absence was because of the common cold, earache and sore throat.
But more than that, days were without schoolwork, sleeping-in and some fun.

Colds were never fun, sore throats or strep were painful and nothing to gloat.
But watching television, whatever and whenever I wanted, could not be undone.
But the honor others had obtained seemed worthy, so one year I ventured to win,

One full school year, each full day in my seat, learning my eighth-grade lessons.
I made the first half without a day ill, playing basketball till the holidays began.
Christmas was joyful and healthy, and New Years joy, my family were blessings.

Back to class on Monday January 3rd, 1966, the Saturday before I woke-up well.
Ready to begin the rest of the year then to high school and many new adventures.
By mid-day I began to feel different, my throat itched, and stomach wouldn’t be still.

By evening my throat was scratchy and my head hurt, what was causing the aches?
My Mom felt my head, and stated, “You have a temperature, it’s to bed for you!”
“But Mom I want to go to back to school.” “Let me take your temperature and see.”

Thermometer in the mouth for several minutes, then out it came and the orders to do,
“Here’s two aspirins, take them now and get to bed you have a fever of over 103.”

Dr. Buckley was called, and my parents took me to his home/office, and he said,
“I need to check, but I think step-throat is the cause.” The fearful otoscope out
The good doctor peered down my throat. “Strep it is young man it’s off to bed”.

First a shot, cough medicine and pills. “No school for you, and no running about”.
And so, my quest for perfect attendance was done, no honor to be had at years end.
By the end of the next week, I was feeling much better, and Dr. Buckley decreed,

“The strep has healed and you can return to school.” he gave Mom a note to send,
So, the school would let me return but no perfect attendance, the rules did not bend.

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