Heh. I had to look up 'Cooter Brown' to see how offended I should be. I think I'd heard the name before, but didn't know that it belonged to an inebriated dude from the Civil War days. If they ever find his lost treasure, I'm a direct descendant. I don't share this great-great-great grandpappy's tendency for drunkenness, but I can identify with his wish to not get killed.
When I was at an all-boys high school, the teachers referred to us by our surnames. The times 'were-a-changing' back then, but our school was still firmly based on tradition. We were addressed by our surnames and whipped with a cane if we didn't observe the correct customs. There were some great individuals there, but there was also some weirdness. After leaving school, my brother and I who had been through the same school used to make fun of the situation by calling each other 'Coote' (which is indeed my surname).
I remember one new teacher asking me my name, and after I told him he said something like 'yes, the same name as a rather stupid bird'. Dunno why he came out with that, other than to assert his leadership or something. Besides, how did he know that coot birds are stupid? They seem like any other normal bird to me. I don't remember what that particular teacher's name was, but I imagine the boys came up with a suitable one.
And in case you are wondering, yes I did get whipped with a cane a couple of times. Once we locked a teacher out of a classroom, and another time a guy punched me in the nuts at the back of the classroom. He picked a moment when the teacher wasn't looking, but I retaliated instantaneously without thinking it through.
I get called Cootie a lot. When I visited the USA back in the late '70s, the Cootie name was a source of some amusement. Evidently some folks over there refer to body lice by the same name. I'd call them crotch crickets. Someone even gave us a game called 'Cootie Bugs' or something. I suppose it could be a good name for me, because I have been known to irritate some people. Teachers and bosses in particular probably. I have had trouble controlling my mouth or keyboard when I've seen an opportunity to lighten the mood with something that I think is particularly amusing.
I think God made religions, bosses, different races and embarrassing surnames so we could all sit around wetting ourselves with laughter.
Hooray for people like Popo and uncle Bennie. It is a good thing to pass on useful ideas and interesting stories.
, but every time I see "Coote", the name "Cooter Brown" runs around in my little head.