Like Him (memoir) by Leanne Dyck

As a dyslexic student in the 1960s, school definitely had its challenges. Some were academic. Others were interpersonal.

photo by ldyck

Like Him

He is a mountain of a boy. His catcher's mitt hands are calloused from farm work. His body is a solid mass of muscles. The government informed his father that he needed to be in school. So in school is where he is, but he refuses to learn. Teacher after teacher failed the challenge. Now he is in class with me. I don't know who I'm more afraid of, him or the young teacher, fresh out of university, who thinks she can make him learn. Wielding a yardstick, she storms up the aisle. The rest of us freeze—too scared to breathe. He disentangles himself from the desk and towers over her. She swings. He meets wood with fists.

Someone is going to get hurt.

I squeeze my eyes shut.

His cornea is scratched. Her hair is pulled; her nose bleeds. He stops when he realizes what he has done. What has he done? He squares his shoulders and marches out of school—free.

He'll be back. The months have taught me that, but little else. My classmates continue to learn regardless.

"Leanne?" the teacher calls on me to supply an answer.

I rack my brain in my desperate attempt to find the correct answer. All I can think is how much she must hate me. In her eyes, I'm like that mountain of a boy—a black smudge on her career. When will she whack me with that yardstick?

I have a new favourite film.

Please watch What Is Dyslexia

On this blog in May

Sunday, May 24

"CGIT"

Groups have shaped many aspects of my life. I had a fourteen-year career as an Early Childhood Educator caring for groups of children. In my twenties, I became a Katimavik participant and volunteered in three eastern Canadian provinces. And when I was twelve, I joined CGIT. What's CGIT? Well...

Sunday, May 24

"Don't Worry"

Written with much thanks to a friend who helped me believe in "happy ever after" endings.

Pregnant (short story) by Leanne Dyck

This story was inspired by imagining what it was like when my 35-year-old mother told my 42-year-old father she suspected she was pregnant. 

photo by a nurse (I'm guessing)

'Dad, Mom and me (I'm five days old)'

Pregnant

Before he left for work, she gave him his customary two kisses along with "I'm late" and "Next month, I turn thirty-four. It could be the change or..." Pregnant passed between them in a smile. He'd left with that smile, and it remained with him for most of the day—like lyrics from a favourite song.

His youngest son was seven. His oldest twelve. He thought the months of diaper changes and early morning feedings were behind him. Still, he filled out forms, sorted mail, sold stamps with an extra supply of glee. He whistled while he worked.

"You're happy today, Jim." His assistant Lorna caught herself in time to add. "Not that you're usually grumpy." She chuckled. "Oh, you know what I mean."

He wanted so badly to tell her, to share the joy, but it was too early. They didn't know yet. It could be the change. But what if she was pregnant and there was something wrong with the baby? What if...? 34? The older the mother, the higher the risk. That had begun the spring blizzard of worry. That's why he had decided to take the long way home. He couldn't bring the worry home to Ollie. So he was driving through the back roads of Eriksdale looking for early signs of spring. His car's tires crunched melting snow, dug up the slush, and showered it into the ditch. The melting snow, the slush cheered him, but the worry didn't release him. It countered with four kids on your salary. Four mouths to feed. Four bodies to dress.

We'll manage. Ollie's calm, clear voice. We'll manage. It was like she was in the car with him.

And he knew she was right. Together they could conquer the world. He pointed the nose of the car towards home. 

written on February 16, 2026

Have you seen the film

What Is Dyslexia?

I highly recommend it!

On this blog in May

Sunday, May 17

"Like Him" (memoir)

As a dyslexic student in the 1960s, school definitely had its challenges. Some were academic. Others were interpersonal.

Sunday, May 24

"CGIT"

Groups have shaped many aspects of my life. I had a fourteen-year career as an Early Childhood Educator caring for groups of children. In my twenties, I became a Katimavik participant and volunteered in three eastern Canadian provinces. And when I was twelve, I joined CGIT. What's CGIT? Well...

Sunday, May 24

"Don't Worry"

Written with much thanks to a friend who helped me believe in "happy ever after" endings.