Curley Wee and Jelly Beans
“Curley Wee and Jelly Beans”
Mrs. Maloney was a relief teacher that came to teach us when Mrs. Duggan was off. To us she was Mrs. Maloney, I now know her as Rena Maloney from The Green in Balla.
I have lovely memories of her time with us. She would bring us all up around the fire to warm our hands. There were probably only around twelve children in the school at that stage. She always brought the daily paper, the Press I think it was. I can remember her calling us all up around the table and she would read the "Curley Wee” cartoon to us every day. We would be huddled in around the paper as she pointed out the words. She was like a mother hen with her clutch of chickens all around her. Then on a Friday she would open a packet of Jelly Beans and she’d give us one each for being good children all week.
I was lucky enough to have all lovely teachers through my school years. Mrs. Maloney is certainly a teacher that stands out in my mind for her patient, kind and gentle nature.