O Mister Moon

Feb 9,2017  (2nd post of the day - shorter than previous one)
.
I was raised in Levelland for most of my life.   My wife & I met in JHS and have survived together for all the years since then.
.
Levelland was a fairly large high school in those days.  Actually, it was fairly small, but we thought we were big.  We had band and choir.  I was in choir my 2nd half of my senior year.  And, I was in choir during other years.  Our director was Ralph Benningfield.  He was a nice gent with a great deal of patience.  The choir was probably okay.  Who can remember??
.
I do remember that he decided to do a musical each year.  One year, we did Captain Crossbones.  A story about a sea captain, his henchmen, and "getting" the girl.  I had one line.  It had something to do with calling him "Chief" and so forth.  I froze up and barely got the line out.  Brother Jim was one of the other henchmen.  That pretty much is all I remember.
.
Another year, Mr Benningfield decided to do a variety show to "showcase" the choir and other school groups.  The 3 M's performed something.  (Metze, Metze, & McKay)  One particular scene and the reason for this post was in front of the curtain.  There was a backdrop created which had little round windows.   Two rows of gray folding chairs were put by each window - Imagine, if you can, an airplane, a passenger airplane with little round windows.
.
Using this as a prop, different individuals or groups of individuals would rise from the passenger seats and sing something.
.
I cannot remember the kid's name.  He was a skinny frail little kid who did not run with the popular crowds at all  - this kid stood up, looked out the fake window and recited his line,   
"I see the moon."   At this point I got up and sang a song about the moon.  I think it was "Oh Mister Moon, Moon, Bright and shining moon"  Maybe not.
.
Well this kid, who still goes unnamed by me,  had a speaking problem.   Everytime he said his line, it came out,    " I Tee Da Moon. "   Snickers abound.  There was no compassion.   He was really a nice guy and respected enough that nobody made any loud comments.  Well, the 
"I Tee Da Moon" has stuck with me all these years.
.
I have often wondered why Mr. Benningfield didn't change the line to something like,
"Look, the Moon."
.
added note:  Mr. Benningfield was our church choir director at the Methodist Church.  He nursed the adult choir through many a Sunday morning song.  We had Sunday night services in those days.  The Youth made up the evening choir.  We would have a youth meeting, then go down the hall for a 30 minute rehearsal.  Imagine taking teenagers and learning a new song every Sunday evening.   Afterwards, we had what was called "After church recreation"  over at someone's house.   Kum Ba Yah seemed to always make its appearance at that time.
.
When Mr. Benningfield died, it just so happened that I was in Levelland as well as my 3 brothers.  We all sang in the choir at his funeral.  All of a sudden they had a strong bass section. One of his two sons came by and made nice comments later.
It was good.
mtz