At show-and-tell time, kids celebrate woman’s 100th birthday

Published 10:45 pm Saturday, May 31, 2008

EVERETT — Aubrey Davis came up with a wild idea for her show-and-tell presentation.

The first-grader at Jackson Elementary School wanted to bring her friend, Lillie Mae Shuh.

“She is 99 years old,” Aubrey, 7, said. “That’s really cool.”

Aubrey and Shuh sat side by side in front of 20 first- and second-graders at the school on Friday afternoon. Aubrey’s parents and Shuh used to be neighbors in Everett and became friends before Aubrey was born.

“This is Grandma Little,” Aubrey said to her classmates. “She is 99 years old. That’s why I brought her here. She is very special to me. She has a different name, but I’d like to call her Grandma Little.”

Aubrey let her classmates ask questions.

“What’s her real name?” a student asked.

“I’d like to take another question,” Aubrey said, dodging the question.

Students peppered Shuh with questions.

“Do you sleep a lot?” another student asked.

“No, I get up at 7 every morning,” Shuh said.

“Do you have a piggy bank?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Do you get tired of walking?”

“No, I love to walk, That’s good for you.”

Some questions were difficult.

“Who was your second-grade teacher?”

“Honey, I don’t remember.”

“Who was the president when you were little?”

“I can’t remember.”

There were other historical questions.

“Was the U.S. flag different back then?”

“Yes, we added some states over the years.”

“Did you have computers?”

“No.”

Shuh, who never had her own children, said she enjoyed the students.

“I loved it,” she said. “I think it’s wonderful. I love children.”

At the end of class, Aubrey had a surprise for Shuh. Aubrey’s parents, Al and Arlene Davis, brought in a big white cake.

“Grandma Little is going to celebrate her birthday in July,” teacher Theresa Lusier said. “How old is she going to be?”

“100!” the students shouted in unison.

Shuh had attended Aubrey’s birthday parties. It was Aubrey’s turn to throw a party for Shuh.

Aubrey and her classmates sang “Happy Birthday” to Shuh, who blew out the candles on the cake. The students started counting Shuh’s age, clapping their hands.

“1, 2, 3 … “

They took a break at 30.

“31, 32, 33 …”

Another break at 75.

“98, 99, 100!”

There were only smiles in the classroom.

Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.