June 8, 1891
8:40 AM PST

Jules Clint Brown felt very nervous, as he was helping his mother dry the dishes. This sure was his first day of attending school - and his mother, Clara Clayton Brown, was the teacher. While, as with most small children, he greatly loved his mother - he quite felt concerned with how the other pupils would regard him. What if they hated him?

After all, with his mother being the teacher - he worried that the other pupils might be jealous and resentful of him? At least, he was already rather good friends with William McFly and Otis Peabody - and his mother even told him that he could sit next to Willie.

"Cheer up, sonny!" prodded Clara, as she lightly tickled Jules under his chin. "It won't be that bad. The other pupils are courteous and accommodating, and they are simply looking forward to meeting you. At any rate, you do already know Willie and Otis."

Jules nodded, as he tried to feel reassured by his mother's words. He had appreciated the fact that his mother was always quite encouraging and supportive - along with the fact that she was an open-minded person. Unlike Mrs. Peabody, his mother was never one to scold him for being imaginative - and, in fact, she even actively encouraged it.

"Willie and Otis have always been very nice," Jules replied, softly, "along with Jennifer and Tiff. Still, I can't quite help but feel as if... I mean, what if the other kids didn't like me? What if they called me a 'loser'? I don't think I could take that kind of a rejection."

"I'll really see to it that nobody hassles you," Clara explained, gently. "Lately, the only pupils that I sure had trouble with are Charlie Needles and his crowd - and they do not attend school during the summer. So, sonny, you just have nothing to worry about."

"I guess you're right," replied Jules, as he threw his arms around his mother. While he did feel apprehensive about attending, there was simply another part of him that was looking forward to the experience. "I really do wish to learn more about how to read - and it is my goal, in fact, to read through every book in our library. I think it'll be a..."

"That's my boy," gushed Clara, as she hugged back. "I can see that you are quite the ambitious one, and... You might really be about the same reading level as Willie, even if he is over a year older than you - and, until now, he was the most intelligent of..."

Jules simply smiled, as he dried the last of the dishes. He was not even yet five years old - and, yet, he really spent the past few months with actually learning how to read simple words. It made feel special. He wished to become a scientist, like his father.

"Let me throw out the dish water," continued Clara, "and then we can simply head to the schoolhouse. As the teacher, I have the special of living right next to the school. School starts at nine, and... Willie quite sits up front, along with the other pupils that are your age. He mentioned that he was looking forward to your attending school."

Jules swallowed, as he could hardly believe that the moment has arrived. He went to grab his books, as he tried to feel optimistic. The prospect of starting school had also made him feel like a big boy, which was quite reason enough for him to feel excited.

"All right, sonny!" called out Clara, as she hung up the dish pan. "It's now time to get going. I sure hope you understand that, while you are in school, I will have the same expectations of you - as I do of the other pupils. It wouldn't be that fair, otherwise."

Jules nodded, as he and his mother stepped outside the cabin. He was already aware of the concept that he quite should not expect special treatment, simply for being the teacher's son. What did trouble him, though, was the idea that the other pupils would resent Jules precisely for that reason - that his mother really would go easier on him.

"Why don't you quite get acquainted with the other pupils," suggested Clara, "while I do some last preparations?" She gave Jules a hug, as she added, "Don't fret, Jules. I can understand that you are feeling nervous, but everything will be fine. I promise!"

Jules nodded, as he walked up there the other children were. Immediately, he noticed Willie and Otis - as the former waved him over. He swallowed, as he felt rather scared of the older children. Fortunately, they simply seemed to not take much notice of him.

"Howdy, Jules!" greeted Willie, as he flashed a lopsided smile. "I reckon today is really your first day of school?" As Jules nodded, he continued, "You don't have to be afraid of anyone. The bigger kids might tease us, just a little - but they sure mean no harm." In a softer voice, he asked, "Are you going to call her 'Mrs. Brown', when you're in..."

"That would feel a little funny to me," replied Jules, with a nervous chuckle. "In fact, I was a little worried about that - but she assured me that I can still call her 'Mom'. I like to learn, and I am happy that I can finally attend. On the other hand, though, I..."

"I told your mother that I would sit next to you," Willie replied, softly. "She certainly is a nice teacher, and I'm so glad that she doesn't ever hit us with the ruler. I sure know of other teachers who do that, and... Howdy, Jennifer and Tiffany! Jules is here!"

"It's a pleasure to see you here, Jules," Jennifer greeted, softly. "Sometimes, I really wish that my mother could be a little more like yours. Sometimes, I sure do wish I was adopted by you folks - instead of the Peabodys. Daddy isn't so bad, but Mommy sure seems to always be grumpy. At any rate, I love going to school - and I like to learn."

"I do, too," Otis replied, nodding. "Jenny, though, you really should not be so hard on Mommy. You should know that, deep down inside, she loves us both rather much. You should also be grateful that she actually accepted you into her home, and her family."

Jules swallowed, as he felt uncertain of just what to say. He knew that he would hate for his own mother to be like that of Otis and Jennifer's. He really did not wish to get in the middle of that argument, though. He simply felt bad for both of them.

"How about we just not talk about that, right now," suggested Willie. Turning back to Jules, he added, "Aye, I do reckon it would feel very strange to refer to your mother as anything but 'Mom'. I bet you must feeling excited about learning. After all, it sure must make you feel like a big boy. Linda keeps asking when she can go to school."

"I guess it does," Jules replied, softly. He thought of how Willie's sister was about the same age as Verne, his brother - who simply did not appear to have much enthusiasm about attending school. "I must admit, though, that I am feeling a mite... nervous."

"There's nothing to be so nervous about," Willie protested, laughing. "Charlie Needles and his buddies are not even in school, right now - and the older pupils never actually harmed us, however much they might tease us. Besides, your mother's the teacher."

"Actually, that is what worries me the most," Jules confessed, in a near whisper. As the others looked baffled, he added, "Well, I'm just quite worried that some of the other pupils will... resent me... for it. They could assume that, just because she is my mother, that I'll be receiving... special treatment. I am certain that I won't, but I..."

"I guess I never thought of it, that way," replied Willie, softly. "Well, I can't speak for the other pupils - but I... I've always found your mother to be fair and just, and... At least, it has never crossed my mind that... that she'd treat you with special favour."

"Me, either," Otis replied, as Jennifer and Tiffany nodded. "Well, you need not worry about us. I know I would be real horrified, if our mother was the teacher. In our case, though, I'd worry about how she likely be even harder and Jenny and me."

"Or if my father was the teacher," Tiffany added, shuddering. "I'm very thankful that he doesn't live with us, but... It's really a major embarrassment, though - having a father who's a notorious gunman. After all, what if people think that I'd simply grow up to be... just like him. Even your mother regards me with suspicion, whenever I..."

"You shouldn't let our mother get to you, so much," insisted Otis, nervously. "She is a good person, but she... There aren't many folks that she has really taken a fancy to. You can't let her get to you. Mad Dog Tannen might be your father, but that sure..."

Suddenly, Clara rang the bell - which Jules knew to be the signal to line up. The boys formed one queue, while the girls formed a second. Willie just stood to his front, and Otis stood behind him. Jules swallowed, as he knew that the moment has arrived.

"Good morning, class!" called out Clara. "I would like you all to greet our newest pupil, my son: Jules Brown - and make him feel rather welcome to our school." Jules glanced behind him - as he saw the older pupils waving to him, as they had rather warm smiles on their faces. "Now, let's come inside - as we prepare for another day of learning."

Jules swallowed, just as he followed Willie into the schoolhouse. There were twenty desks, with ten occupying each side. There was also a bigger desk simply occupying the front of the room, which was facing the class. That was where the teacher sat.

Willie grabbed the desk in front of the room, as he signaled for Jules to join him. Jules smiled, as he sat next to Willie. Suddenly, he began to realize that things really would not be as bad as he feared. Even the older pupils seemed to be welcoming of him.

Indeed, he began to ponder over how lucky he was. He had friends to lean on, along with the opportunity to further his knowledge. Furthermore, he had a very warm and happy family - and, above everything, he had a loving mother to really help him learn new ideas. He realized that starting school was the beginning of a new adventure.