June 5, 1968

[Awsi Dooger]

30. I was in 3rd grade

My world was basic and happy before June 5th. As soon as I saw the header on this thread I knew immediately what it meant. It was heading toward the end of the school year and I was very enthused every day because I was in a split 3rd/4th class yet was doing great every day during recess in a game called Flyers Up. One person kicked the ball -- size of a soccer ball but much softer -- and there was a mad scramble to catch it from maybe 20 yards away. I was beating the 4th graders every day and earning praise from them. I hated for the session to end every day.

My father and I visited my grandmother one night and we ate at Huddle House down the street. We sat at the counter and my dad had a long conversation with the guy next to us, about that night's California primary and specifically Robert Kennedy's chances. I knew my dad knew a ton about politics but that only enforced it. I could only listen.

The next morning I turned on the TV to watch my typical kids shows before school. Instead there was a very strange sight -- a man standing atop a white van and shouting into a megaphone. I listened briefly before learning what had happened -- RFK had been shot.

I went into my parents' room and woke them up with the news. My father started screaming something about it being a joke. I somberly insisted it was not a joke. My dad dashed out of bed into the Florida room to watch TV.

I remember attending school amidst mostly silence, and numbed teachers with sad faces. Most kids were carrying on normally but I was not. We had some hope RFK would survive but I remember talking with friends that RFK wouldn't be able to run for president anymore if he did survive, and would probably have brain damage. Then a day later we received the news about his death.

My dad immediately grabbed all my fake guns from my toy box and threw them away. Anything resembling a gun.

For some reason I remember that RFK posthumously won the next primary. Illinois maybe? Somehow I was pleased.