“A Walk to Woonsocket’s North End”

Wednesday, April 1st, 2026. 9:18 AM.

A Walk to Woonsocket’s North End

The Last Day of March 2026

Headed for the property where my grade school used to be:

St. Charles School

Went there for my first 8 years of formal education

1958 to 1966

When I got there, I was wanting to see our old brick school building again –

Just to gaze upon it once again

As I had done many years ago –

Before it was put down.

At the back of the property – where the back school yard used to be — stopped and looked at a spot where –

About a year ago – I saw a mature and quiet cat laying down but awake on a small rug that –

Apparently – someone had kindly placed there for the cat. She was looking directly at me.

I crouched down last year hoping the cat would walk over to me.

She just stayed where she was peacefully looking at me.

The next time I went there the rug and the cat were gone.

Never saw either one again.

Is that how it is now – in the world that lies in wickedness – the wicked deprive a poor and quiet cat of even enjoying a rug to rest on ?

Haven’t seen most of my classmates again, either –

Since our last day in class in mid-June 1966 –

When we were 13 or 14 years old.

On my walk there, I was remembering Eileen – my classmate there – from 5^th grade through 8^th grade. She was voted prettiest girl of our graduating class in 8^th grade.

Was imagining a conversation between us.

Eileen: “You’re still living in The Past, Mark.”

I don’t recall what I replied to Eileen in my imaginary conversation with her; but now I’m writing this to her:

Mark: “Eileen, I walked to Summer Street, today; after visiting our old school property. I read somewhere that your dad lived on Summer Street. I wonder what house he and his family lived in, there. I also saw the former Summer Street School house; and wondered if your dad went to school there. And Margaret Callanan told me on Facebook several years ago that she went to school there, too – before joining our class at St. Charles School. I walked all the length of that street for the first time in my life – all the way to Winter Street. As I was walking on Winter Street toward North Main Street, I saw Temple Street on my left. And I wanted to walk down that street, too. My younger sister, Karen and her husband owned their first house on Temple Street many years ago; but a personal problem I almost always have while taking long walks in my elder years kept me heading straight for home as fast as I could walk.”

“There was one other interesting thing that happened on my walk, Eileen.”

Eileen: “What was that, Mark ?”

Mark: “Earlier on my walk, I saw the house where another of our classmates had lived. There was a young boy of about 4 years old in the front window. He looked like he might have been waving his hand while looking at me. I waved back and said Hi a few times. I wanted very much to tell him, “Many years ago – in June of 1959 – on the evening of our last day in First Grade with Sister Mary Collene, RSM – I and many of our classmates spent the evening there – at the birthday party of one of our classmates.” And then a woman appeared in the window – beside the boy. I couldn’t see her face; so I silently continued my walk, Eileen.”

Then I walked back to my apartment. The walk took 56 minutes. My older sister Lesley began school at St. Charles in September of 1956.

April 1^st, 2026

The world calls this day by a nickname.

I wonder why.

April is a beautiful month in which Springtime begins showing forth signs of life – after Winter’s cold and snow and blizzards. April is lovely. April is a time of year when True God displays His Goodness – after we have suffered His Wrath in Winter.

The world also calls Resurrection Sunday by a nickname:

Easter

Search GotQuestions.org

Stuart Townend – See What A Morning (Resurrection Hymn)

Stuart Townend – See What A Morning (Resurrection Hymn)

Matthew 28 ESV

Matthew 28 ESV – The Resurrection – Now after the – Bible Gateway

Mark 16 ESV

Mark 16 ESV – The Resurrection – When the Sabbath was – Bible Gateway

Luke 24 ESV

Luke 24 ESV – The Resurrection – But on the first day – Bible Gateway

John 20-21 ESV