MISS ANDERSON, a substitute fifth grade teacher, Pistol was one of her students.

I'd been called to the school that fall and I'll always remember when I saw Pistol's name on the roll call sheet.  It's a name one doesn't forget.  I thought it was a joke.  Believe me, as a substitute teacher, I'd seen and heard it all.  But he didn't show up that day.  When I skipped his name on the call sheet the little girl after him in the alphabet, Polly or Rebecca or something, I don't quite remember the name, asked why I didn't call out Pistol?  I thought, oh my goodness, this is no joke.

I was expecting some kind of walking talking firecracker.  A real whizbang kid.  The next day when I called out his name a little hand poked into the air and there was a normal looking little boy with eyeglasses too big for his face and slick backed hair.  He never said one word during class.  To think I'd actually trembled when I first saw his name.  I laugh now when I think of it. 

Can you imagine naming a child that?

The regular teacher returned the next day.

Over the years I've often wondered what ever happened to that little Pistol.

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Author guidance for This story

A look at a man from the eyes of friends and acquaintances. Each person shares a story or experience about the man named Pistol McDoozie. It can be observations from a lifetime friend, or a single moment remembered by an acquaintance, or even quick observations by passers-by. Next door neighbors, life-long friends, business associates, garbage collectors, etc., in their own voices, share their recollections of Pistol McDoozie. Secrets are revealed and myths destroyed by those who knew him best. STORY GUIDELINE: At the beginning of each piece, the person speaking should list both their name and relationship to Pistol at the time of the story or moment. Please make a note, either in the remembrance itself or the speaker’s description, the general timeline in Pistol’s life when each event happened, such as adolescence, adulthood, etc. The same people can used many times, at any age, as long it includes a memory of interacting with or seeing Pistol. This could be an exercise in character building. Maybe a coherent story will develop about our friend Pistol McDoozie.

updated Dec 6 '08 by Miki-deMillion