Arvida High School - Yearbook (Arvida, Quebec Canada)

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38 A THUNDERSTORM It happened at noon one day in the middle of August. The sky was a bright blue with pure clouds drifting aimlessly about. All week it had been very warm but that day it had turned blistering hot. It was just like the saying, Out of the frying pan into the fire. There was no trace or whisper of a breeze. All was calm and uneventful. Suddenly the bright sky turned to a deep blue, ominous clouds appeared, and a violent wind swirled out of nowhere. A rumble of thunder sounded through the sky. Distant flashes of lightning could be seen, forcing their way through the black sky. A raging storm was approaching. The once-settled birds were now screeching, squawking and flutte- ring about seeking shelter from their bitter enemy, the storm. The forceful wind howled around, picking up dust, twigs, and dried leaves. Unexpectedly people's hats were rolling crazily around with angry pursuers running after them. A THE FASCINATION There always has, and always will be, a perennial mystery in this world-the fascina- tion of the forbidden. To give a person some commonplace object is nothing strange, and will not arouse much attention, since it is not spectacular. He looks at it, thinks about it for a few seconds, then quietly resumes his previous work. But to hint of a secret, show a glimpse of something, or tell of a forbidden place is a sure way to arouse curiosity and interest. No matter whether a 'forbidden' deafening crash of thunder sounded, after which every person and animal raced for shel- ter. Then the rain came down in torrents, cleaning every nook in our little town. Thun- der crashed alternately with the lightning flashes. The clouds seemed to open up and let the rain wash the district. As suddenly as it came up, the storm died down. The wind subsided until there was just a refreshing breeze. The sky took its former appearance, then the sun shone brightly, eager to dry up the sticky wetness. Once again the birds were out, singing gay songs. The drowned grass and trees did their best to perk up again now that they had had their baths. Everyone was upset or worried about the storm except me. Like all the other lucky worms I just crawled around in and out of my many holes enjoying the whole situation. V ERONICA BOLAND, Grade Nine. OF THE FORBIDDEN room holds a dead corpse or still air, an ancient secret or a basket full of papers, it makes no difference to him, the word 'forbidden' is the key, and will lurk in his mind until he yields to the temptation to investigate. He may say that he has given up trying, out of sheer exasperation but in the back of his mind keeps ringing 'who? why? how? where? until the thought becomes an obsession. KAY WOODWARK Grade IX BACK SEAT DRIVERS The pests of life, the cause of accidents and one of the scourges of humanity - back seat drivers. These people can be such agreeable people in every other way. My mother is an exceptionnally good driver herself, that is for a woman, but when she is not driving she is a first class back seat driver. The other day I was driving on a routine shopping tour. When we left the house every- thing started off just fine, not a word said about the way I changed gears. I felt elated-at last mother had confidence in my driving. Then it all began to happen. We were about three hundred feet from a stop light. I was quite aware that there was a stop light there as I've passed by it only about three thousand times, but to assure me of the fact Mother said, Now slow down, there's a stop light ahead. Watch that car ahead of you. No, no, keep to the centre of the roadf' Well, anyway with my mother's expert coa- ching, I finally stopped, but much to my mo- ther's amazement. After the light changed to green, off we went with our destination Bib- bie's Clothing Store three blocks down the street. Did I hear Mother mentioning some- thing about a cloud of dust ? Well as you have suspected, according to my mother, I almost ran into three cars and almost ran down four children during the course of that three block drive. During that short cruise, my mother found many faults with my dri- ving along with the usual, Now watch this car, watch that car, slow down, tI'm going ten miles an hourj. As for the last block I just about rendered the position of driver to my coach. We finally arrived at our destination, without mishap. Even I was surprised. We- were there safe and sound, and it only took us eight minutes, to walk it takes five. ALLAN DIXON Grade X

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37 TOM AND THE PAINKILLER Tom was feeling unhappy because Becky Thatcher, his fiancee had given him back his andiron knob which Tom had given her as an engagement ring. Aunt Polly had decided to cure Tom with Painkiller. Tom made on he liked it and after bothering Aunt Polly so much for it she said, If you want it so much, take it yourself. So Tom mended the health of a crack in the sitting room floor with it. One day while Tom was in the act of do- sing a crack, Peter the cat came purring up. Tom said, Don't ask for it if you don't want it? Peter signified that he did want it. So Tom pried his mouth open and poured down the Painkiller. Peter did a couple of side flips, a double somersault, gave a war whoop and tore around the room spreading havoc in his wake. Aunt Polly arrived just in time to see him sail through the open window carrying the remaining flower pots with him. Now would you like to read Mark Twain's Tom Sawyerw? My apologies to Mark Twain. BOBBY HORWOOD, Grade Seven. GOOD CITIZENSHIP I have divided my speech into four main topics. First, Good Citizenship at school, second. Good Citizenship in the street, third, Good Citizenship in sports, and last of all Good Citizenship at parties. GOOD CITIZENSHIP AT SCHOOL: It's a beautiful summer day. The boys and girls are just waiting for the recess bell to ring. It rings. Out go the boys and girls, each few to their own destination either skipping, softball, or tag. On the way out down go Johnny's orange peels and Jane's chocolate bar wrappers. They don't worry about the appearance of their school ground or any- body's slipping on the rubbish. The recess bell then rings and the fifteen minutes are over. Jack throws down the bat and ball with 'Tm not a sucker expression on his face. Some class will be minus a softball game at recess in the future. Is that the way boys and girls should carry on at school? GOOD CITIZENSHIP IN THE STREETS: Don't walk four or five abreast on a side- walk. It may be fun for you but how about the other people? Are they going to squeeze in bet- ween you, or jump over you? Use some com- mon sense. They aren't Super Man you know. If there is an old lady having trouble to carry her parcels or to cross a busy street, ask her if she would like some help. That won't kill you, will it? GOOD CITIZENSHIP IN SPORTS: In sports you can really determine if a boy or girl is a good citizen. If there is an out- standing player on the opposite team who is different race or creed do not ridicule him. Welcome players from out of town as you would want to be welcomed. In sports you should be a fair loser and a good sport . GOOD CITIZENSHIP AT PARTIES: You may not think there is such a thing as Good Citizenship at parties, but there is. When you are at a party and most likely en- joying yourself as you should, do you ever think about the hostess and her mother? Are they having a good time? Well they aren't but if you would give them a hand they would. Why donit you help pass the cookies around, or bring your glass and some one elses out to the kitchen for a refill, or help by choosing a game or two? Jane will surely run out of games sometime. These kindnesses will also help you overcome shyness. Are you a good citizen? Am I a good citi- zen? Are all the pupils of Arvida High School good citizens? May I quote a little poem which made me think seriously about good citizen- ship? I know a friendly city, a happy place indeed, Where there are friendly neighbours of every race and creed, And when a lonely stranger walks down its friendly streets, He gets a friendly greeting from every one he meets. Each friendly house of worship has doors that open wide, ..That seem to say, Please enter, you'll find your friend inside. So isn't it a pity and don't you think it wrong, If such a friendly city lives only in my song. JUNE SAN TONI Grade VIII

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39 A MISERABLE MOMENT There it stood, tall, sentinel-like and un- nerving - reminding me, always reminding me. Why was it there? I hated it, with its leering look and silly talk. Oh, why had I been so stupid? Why hadnit I stayed in that even- ing? Oh be quiet you foolish grinning article with your silly phrase, 'did-it-again, did-it- again, did-it-again. I buried my face in my hands and tried to forget, but I couldn't. The thought kept coming back and torturing me. I looked at the little alarm clock on the kitchen shelf. It was ticking away the minutes rhythmically. I wanted to stop it. I wanted to stop time altogether, turn it back to much earlier that evening. How could I face people? It was the fourth time. Each time I had vowed that I wouldn't. but I had done it again. Why? SURE Spring is here at least. The snow has gone - practicallyg the trees are beginning to bud, and it is mild enough out that we can dispense with our winter clothing. Baseball has begun, and already there are several broken windows in token of this fact. Bicycles are appearing by the dozens. The pedestrians are beginning to trample down and mutilate the lawns again. The winter has gone by in record time in some respects, but, according to some of the old timers, we can expect snowstorms right up to the end of June. However, we shall see what we shall see. The little kids are starting to litter the roads with glass in one of their favourite games - hopscotch. From the bottoms of drawers, alleys and marbles have appeared, I turned. There he stood, looking malicious and domineering, Said-you-wouldn't, did-it-again, said-you- wouldnit, did-it-again. I took a coke from the fridge. It tasted flat and old. I left it and decided to try to get some sleep. As I mounted the stairs I could still hear that Grandfather Clock ticking away, did-it-again, did-it-again, did-it-again. Oh. why had I gone out instead of staying in and studying for my exams? It would be the fourth time I flunked my final exam to complete my course. 'fDid-it-again, did-it-again. did-it-again. MOYNA BERESFORD Grade 10. SIGNS and we shall be lucky if nobody breaks his neck trying to navigate through the marble tournament vicinities. All the women are starting to spring clean their houses, and one can hardly negotiate through the piles of furniture, Birds are beginning to establish themselves for the summer, and animals are busy repairing the ravages of winter on their homes and themselves. All in all, even though the old-timers insist that this is just an inter- lude, that a blizzard may be excepted any day, I'm not pessimistic - Spring is here! EDWARD NEFF, Grade 10.