The Original Greek selected crops - Flipbook - Page 20
Month after month Mrs O’Connell helped me
That evening we had a family discussion once my father arrived
home. We made a great decision that would change my life. He
would approach Mrs O’Connell who lived nearby, asking her to give
me extra tuition each week after school. My father took me to Mrs
O’Connell’s house and asked her to help me. He said he would pay
her properly for the tuition. Mrs O’Connell was genuinely delighted
to help. She told my father I was to see her a few times each week
with my homework at a specific time. Mrs O’Connell declined any
suggestion of my father paying her. At Christmas time my parents
bought her presents, which she appreciated.
Nancy O’Connell – Kind, Giving and Safe
Mrs O’Connell was a full-time teacher at a junior school. Her son,
Michael, was also a teacher. She was a widow. We never asked
her how or when her husband died. We thought perhaps he died
during or after the Second World War.
Mrs O’Connell’s kitchen was slightly old fashioned but had charm.
It was beautiful. The lounge at the rear of her home was cosy, blue
and felt tranquil. Her front room faced the road and had a large
dining table, which was extended for special occasions such as
Christmas. There was a television and single lounge chairs in her
lovely dining/sitting room.
At Mrs O’Connell’s dining table, week after week, month after
month, she kindly gave me maths and English tuition. She also
helped me with other subjects such as science and geography. I
began to catch up the ground that had been lost in my schooling.
My handwriting and confidence improved. With Mrs O’Connell’s
help I was enabled to do my homework. I was and felt perfectly
safe with Mrs O’Connell. She was to me and my family most kind.
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