The Penguin and the Hucklebuck

It's funny, the things you remember. Especially when you begin to retrieve those memories when you have reached your 60s. St.Pius X grade school opened in Plainview, NY on Washington Avenue , brand new, in 1959. I remember there was a cement cornerstone marking the date just to the left of the main entrance.Every Sunday the Churchgoers could watch and mark the progress of the new school which was of a new, progressive design that featured a large, circular auditorium.

Enrollment in the school was initially low, so the parish used an entire wing of the building as a convent for the dozen or so Sisters of Mercy who made up the majority of the teaching staff.  The school opened with 5th grade as the highest, and that is the level at which I entered. My class would continue each year, ending with 8th grade.

At first, we remained in the same classroom for the entire day, which the Sisters broke up into subject periods of an hour or so, I guess. At the time, Music and Art were very low on the curriculum, sometimes months would go by without a class in either subject. Some of the Sisters were either reluctant or unable to address either of these subjects, so a different Nun with a talent for one or the other would take over the class for that block of teaching.

When the time came for music instruction, Sister Mary Consuelo would take over our class and teach us songs or in a very rare event, tackle some rudimentary music theory. She was always in charge of the annual Christmas pageant in which all of the students in the school played a part. Willing or not.She had the voice of an angel and could play the piano flawlessly, or so it seemed. But always encouraged each student and never criticized or humiliated. At the end of the school year, I suppose the State of New York required some sort of final exam in each subject and Music was no exception. It was decided at some level that each student would stand and demonstrate the ability to carry a tune. If you have ever had a fear of public speaking...imagine having to sing in front of your classmates

Sister Mary Consuelo would come into our class and stand in front, patiently, as each of us droned on through "row,row,row your boat" or the ever popular "Mary Had a Little Lamb". Some of us made it through the whole song. Some were cut off after 2 or 3 bars. "Thank you, Thomas...you may be seated"
My friend, Warren Pujdak, stood up and proceeded to belt out the words to "The Hucklebuck"!
Not the Ed Norton version.....The Chubby Checker Version...

We had never heard anything like it...not in Catholic School.
Sister Mary Consuelo let him fly through the entire song, unable to hide the smile which lit up her face.

I read her obituary this morning in Newsday. I'm not sure how old she was. I hope that she will Rest in Peace with a song in her heart for all eternity.