School Reunion: Atkinson High After 36 Years
Childhood friends are the gems we keep in our hearts forever. We were a group of young girls in an all-girls convent school—innocent, carefree, and bound by friendships free of jealousy and rivalry. But life has its way of scattering us, and soon we went our separate ways. Marriages, families, careers—all took priority. Yet, as time passed and our children left the nest, the urge to reconnect grew stronger. And so, School Reunion: Atkinson High After 36 Years became a reality.
Reconnecting Through Time
One day, as I sat reminiscing, the faces of my childhood friends flooded my mind. I was ready to bring our old group back together. Finding them after all these years felt daunting, but technology was on my side. Within three days, thanks to social media, I reconnected with 20 of them. My heart leapt with joy. It was as if I had found the best treasures of my life—old friends.
I created a WhatsApp group named “Atkinson Good Girls”—a nod to our convent days. Excitement bubbled up with every message. Stories and memories poured in, and we set the date for November 29th, 2015. After all the confirmations and cancellations, 13 of us gathered in my home in Vijayawada.
The Joy of School Reunion: Atkinson High After 36 Years
Seeing my friends’ enthusiasm was moving. Each one made an effort to be there, crossing cities just to make this reunion happen. Kalpana, one of my closest friends, arrived a day early. When I hugged her at the airport, time seemed to stand still. We couldn’t stop talking, as if all those lost years were just a dream.
The next morning, the reunion began in full swing. One by one, they arrived, with laughter and hugs filling the room. Faces had aged, and our voices were softer, but in spirit, we were back in those pinafores, reliving our school days.
Reminiscing Our School Memories
As we gathered, laughter echoed with memories of our school days. We shared funny incidents through a lively game of Passing the Parcel, where each friend recounted a favourite story from our school days. Here are some of the stories that brought endless laughter and joy:
Sabiha’s Story: The Mimicry of Mrs. Vincent
Sabiha had us all in splits as she recalled how our English teacher, Mrs. Vincent, would enter the class with her usual authoritative tone. She’d say, “Girls, take out your books. What has happened is that…” followed by a dramatic pause before completing the rest of the sentence, often making a simple lesson feel like a mystery novel! Sabiha’s mimicry was so spot-on that we could almost see Mrs. Vincent before us, and laughter filled the room.
Mallika’s Tale: The Giggling Fit
Mallika shared another unforgettable moment involving Mrs. Vincent. One day, Mrs. Vincent caught Mallika and Sabiha giggling in class. Irritated, she snapped, “You girls giggle at everything! Even if I lift my little finger, you start giggling.” Naturally, this only made Mallika and Sabiha laugh harder. Recalling that day brought back every ounce of their teenage mischievousness!
Chaya’s Recollection: The Jam Session Dance
Chaya had us in stitches with her story from a school jam session. As ours was a convent school, only Anglo-Indian boys were allowed, and they were vastly outnumbered. This led us girls to pair up with each other, and at one jam session, Kalpana and Mallika tried to do the “bump dance.” It was a hilarious sight as the two danced with wild enthusiasm, drawing laughter from everyone.
Padma’s Clarification: The Fourth-Grade Incident
Padma finally set the record straight about a long-held accusation from a fourth-grade trip to Madras. During that trip, Padmaja was hurt, and Padma was wrongly blamed for pushing her at the railway station. With a laugh, Padma said she had nothing to do with it, and we all laughed at how schoolyard rumors had stuck with us through the years.
Kalpana’s Memories: Marching Discipline
Kalpana took us back to our sports teacher, Annapurna Ma’am, who was known for her strict discipline during marching practice. She would draw a line on the ground and make us walk it straight. If we strayed even a bit, she would whack our legs with a scale! We all winced in sympathy, remembering those painful yet endearing days of rigorous discipline.
Padmaja’s Flashback: Sister Imelda’s Duster
Padmaja recounted a funny incident from Sister Imelda’s moral science class. Sister Imelda had a habit of dozing off with a duster in her hand, only to wake up abruptly and ask where we were in the lesson! We all shared a laugh, imagining her sitting there with the duster and pretending she’d been awake all along.
Manjula’s Chilling Memory: Old Delhi Mishap
Manjula shared a slightly terrifying story from our class trip to Kashmir. While shopping in Old Delhi, a gang of men attempted to surround us. With only the school cook as a chaperone, we defended ourselves with anything we could grab, swinging our shopping bags and even using our shoes as weapons. We all thanked our lucky stars for the presence of mind we had that day!
Padmavathi’s Laughter-Filled Story: Sister Imelda’s Brandy
Padmavathi added to the laughter with her story of Sister Imelda during our trip to Srinagar. Sister Imelda had a little brandy to ward off the cold. As she tried to count the girls from the balcony, she kept getting the count wrong, showing her fingers and asking if we were “this many.” We were all in fits of laughter as we remembered this hilarious moment.
Uma’s Oath: No Movies for a Year
Uma was known for her love of books and academics, and she once made a vow to avoid watching movies for an entire year. Towards the end of her vow, our class planned a movie outing. Tempted to break her promise, she was advised by Mallika to stay true to her word, and Uma kept her oath. Her story reminded us of her admirable discipline, even as a student.
Heena’s Tall Tale: Standing at the Back
As the tallest in class, Heena always had to stand at the back. “And there I was,” she laughed, “the towering tree always in the last row.” In contrast, I was the shortest, always up front, and it was funny to see how we had stayed in our “spots” even in memory!
My Story: The Ninth-Grade Science Lab
I couldn’t resist sharing my own memory from ninth grade in the science lab with Mrs. Lourdes Mary. She once asked the class, “Where can we find urea in the classroom?” We guessed every location except the correct answer. To our surprise, she laughed and said, “In your panties!” We all gasped, then burst into laughter at her unexpected answer.
Sesha and Padma’s Secret Chats
Sesha and Padma admitted to sneaking off to the washrooms just to chat during class breaks. Caught by the teachers more than once, their little “secret” spot turned into an inside joke over the years.
School Reunion: Atkinson High After 36 Years-Visiting Beloved Teachers
The day wouldn’t be complete without visiting the teachers who shaped us. First, we visited our science teacher, Mrs. Lourdes Mary. Bringing her a quilt and some fruits, we shared our admiration and gratitude. Her experiments had inspired my love for science, and her kindness had touched each of us. Age had softened her memory, but she remembered us fondly, blessing us with warmth and love.
Next, we visited our math teacher, Miss Rammannamma. After searching in circles, we finally found her. She was still the same, with her starched sari absent but her humour intact. Her unique way of teaching math was unmatched. Although I never loved numbers, I passed my exams because of her dedication.
Our last visit was to Mrs. Vincent, our beloved history teacher. It was bittersweet—she struggled with memory loss, calling us “children” as she tried to recognise us. Her vibrant way of teaching history stayed with us, and though time had taken its toll, our love and respect for her were unshaken.
A Celebration of Friendship
As the day wound down, we headed to Blue Fox at Minerva Grand for a cozy dinner. We laughed, sharing stories, and crowned ourselves with napkins(reminded us of dunce caps), embracing the silliness only lifelong friends can enjoy. Amidst the clinking glasses and shared memories, we vowed to make this a yearly tradition.
I learned something priceless that day—time and distance can fade, but friendship grows stronger with age. While life may pull us apart, the bond we share with those who knew us when we were young can bridge any gap.
As we bid each other goodbye, I felt a deep sense of gratitude. We promised to meet again next year, hoping to relive these precious moments once more. Though the next reunion never came, this one day will forever remain in my heart.
True friends are life’s greatest treasures, and that reunion reminded me of the power of friendship and the timeless beauty of reconnecting with those we cherish.
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