Disappointing My Dad

 

This is a hard story to write.  It is about the time I disappointed my dad.  I loved my dad and I did not want to disappoint him. 

We didn’t have release- time seminary in Caldwell, where I grew up.  We had “early morning” seminary each school morning at 7:00am at the old, white church.  That church was across the street from the junior high school, so it was convenient for the ninth graders.  The high school was across town, so we had to drive or get rides over there when in 10^th-12^th grade.

We also had to be driven to seminary at 7:00am. My freshman year, my next-door neighbor, Janis Blacker, drove me each day.  My sophomore year was a rocky one in seminary.  A seminary teacher was not a paid position.  And it was a commitment to be there that early every single day.  That year, we didn’t have a teacher that was responsible.  Many days, the teacher just didn’t show up. 
She was replaced, but the next guy also wasn’t responsible and didn’t last long.  I don’t remember how many teachers we had, but no one stayed long.  So, instead of just sitting in the classroom, a bunch of us girls would go sit in the bathroom.  There was a big, soft couch in there.  We would talk and do each other’s’ hair.  It was a fun time. 

Then came Brother Norman.  He was called to come in and be our teacher and fix the problems in the sophomore class.  Brother Norman was solid and faithful (he later served as bishop and then as stake president.)  But we had our bad habits and continued to hang out in the bathroom rather than go to class.  One evening, my dad got a call from Brother Norman.  He told my dad that if I missed many more days, I would not graduate from seminary. 

My dad called me in to talk to him.  He told me about the phone call.  He said the chilling words that I will never, ever, ever forget, “You mean I take you to seminary and then you don’t go to class?”  I could see the disappointment in his eyes.  I started crying.  Just as now, as I write this, I am crying.  I was devastated.  Stupid teenager!  I was so sad to see this from his point of view.  I promised him I would start going to class.  And I did.  I don’t think I missed a day after that. 

I learned a lot from Brother Norman, once I started attending.  I am grateful to him for coming in and changing a bad situation into a very good one.  And I am grateful to my dad for caring and giving me another chance.