Balmoral Hall School - Optima Anni Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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11 discoveredf' Best jazz since Basie. You'll get plenty of publicity: we'll get an original story, and everybody's ahead. Okay, he sighed again, I'll tell you my life story, but it won't be quite the way you want it. More philosophical, I think. Sure, sure. just don't make it too high- brow, or you'll scare off half our readers. 'AWell, I was born in this city thirty years ago, the youngest of eight children. and l've lived here ever since. My father was a fine tailor, 3 note of pride crept into his voice, and financially we were fairly well off, but socially . . . l You'd think that in Chicago, being as far north as it is, there would be little racial discrimination, but you're wrong! We were the only negro family living in this white residential district, and the other families made our lives miserable, the kids, by teas- ing us, and the parents, by snubbing Ma and Pa. Right then and there, I made up my mind to become somebody that white people would admire, and raise up on a pedestal as someone special, with a very special talent. Then, from my greater height, I could mock them and their feigned superiority, as once from their make-believe pedestal, they had mocked me. This last was spoken with a sneer. And, dammit, I've done it! When I look up from the keyboard while I'm playing and see those fickle fools listening entranced, but privately wondering how a dirty nig- ger could be so damned talented, I think how much above those inhuman creatures I really am. And you, Mr. Alan Davids, you are one of them! By this time, he had become quite upset, and had raised his voice considerably, at- tracting the attention of the other musicians. As he was outwardly a shy and unpreten- tious man, he immediately lowered his voice, and, with a quiet, mirthless laugh, spoke, Now that I've put a-cross all my moral views, I'll get on with the vital facts of my unwarranted existence. Later, when the band had resumed play- ing, and I was once again seated at my table, I realized how much less enjoyable his music was now that I knew that his calm and smiling exterior was just a mask of pre- tence, to cover up the bitter hatred which was burning inside him. But though I dis- agreed with his beliefs, and hated the force which was sucking the very life-blood from him, I held a grudging admiration for this great musician, and I resolved that the bio- graphy which would run through the presses in less than forty-eight hours would contain none of those twisted thoughts of revenge, but would be merely a simple ac- count of what was actually a complex man. NANCY LITTLE-Grade X The Storm Deliberately Grey clouds gather an omnipresent gloom, Depressing . . . Imperceptibly The breeze bows to a heavy torrid heat, Oppressing . . . Majestically Thunder-rolls rip the despotic air, Impressing . , . Angrily Brilliant bolts sear a funereal sky, Frightening . . . Slowly A silver sphere slithers along the pane Relieving . . . Gradually A revengeful sun pierces the palpable shell I-Ieightening . . . Enlightening . . . Brightening . . . JANE MOODY-Grade XII Tell Them I Came There was a great feeling of tension and expectation among the people who stood in the cold solemn line. They were outside the school house in a poor area of West Berlin, waiting patiently in hope of getting a pass to go into the A'Forbidden Half to see loved ones they had left be- hind. As I looked down the line at the miles of drawn and anxious faces, I was struck by the face of a young girl who appeared to be no older than fifteen. She stood there ,in an old grey coat and a red knitted scarf with a lock of dark brown hair hanging in one eye. Her eyes were filled with tears and her mouth was set in a straight line in determination to keep back the tears. She looked as though she had been standing there for hours for her face was red and she was slapping her hands together to bring back the circulation. Gvercome by curiosity, I went over and spoke to her. After some hesitation she ex-

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10 SIGNE T5 Ebony And lvories The moment I stepped through the door- way, I was overcome with the feeling that I had crossed the threshold of reality, and had stumbled upon another world, a fifth dimension that lured neurotic victims of the twentieth century into its grasp and held them there relentlessly. Silently I shook my- self, and thought, not without amusement, that if I continued to be so melodramatic, people might begin to wonder whether or not I was in complete control of my mental faculties. Actually, it was just a crowded Chicago bar which I had entered, but there was something about that small, smoke-filled room, an ethereal quality, which made me think of things fantastic. I paused for a moment and listened, and suddenly became conscious of a hauntingly beautiful melody which drifted lazily throughout the room., casting its mysterious spell over the occu- pants and holding them entranced. I realized that it was those strains which had affected me immediately on my arrival, and even now were playing upon my emotions. Then the music stopped, and life in the bar re- sumed. I checked my coat and wandered over to a table near the band, seated myself, and ordered a drink. By the time I was served, the transient melody had begun again, ac- companied by a ripple of applause, for it was an old favourite, and for the next few minutes I relaxed, sipping my drink, and S - po-Q7 CSU!! I I N ac I?g Q R SC enjoying the exquisite, slow and dreamy music. When the band had completed their re- pertoire and had gone backstage for a brief recess, I followed, a trifle hesitantly, for I knew that they would not relish being both- ered during their only break in the even- ing's work. But my business was with only one of the musicians, the piano soloist, the man whose exceptional artistry was draw- ing crowds of people, and would draw crowds more in years to come. I-Ie was not seated, smoking and chat- ting, with the rest of the group, but was standing by himself, resting one foot on a crate and leaning upon his raised knee, gaz- ing fixedly out of the window, and inhaling deeply as he smoked a cigarette. When I first spoke to him, he seemed not to hear, and so I raised my voice and repeated my- self. f'Do you mind if I smoke? A pause. See those stars out there? In a way they're like peopleg they form their own private little groups, and they won't let any others into the group because they might spoil the pattern. Yes, just like people. The big negro sighed. Silence for a moment, then, You're Alan Davids, aren't you? I saw you in the audience, and guessed what you might be here for. Thats right. The magazine wants a .complete biography. You know, all the usual stuff - birth date, hometown, child- hood sweetheart - the works. Then there'll be the usual plugs - Rising young star

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12 plained that she wished to get a pass to see her grandparents, her only relatives, who were well on in years. I was filled with pity for this child, who at the age of about thir- teen, had come over to the west with her parents, who had been killed, and now whose only wish was to see her grand- parents again before they died. I watched her as she entered the school house and followed her in hope of hearing the interview. As I entered I heard an of- ficer ask in German: What is your name? 'Anna Veriskovskyf' came the reply. A'What is your age? Fifteen. What relatives have you in East Ber- lin whom you wish to see? My only relatives, my grandparents. What are their names, and where do they live? Mr. and Mrs. Nick Veriskovsky, They live, I think, on I-Iamburg Street. Your reason for wishing to see them? My - My grandparents are very old and will die soon. I - I wish to see them before they die. That was all I heard and a few minutes later I saw the officer get up to confer with another officer. Anna sat rigid in her chair with her hands in her lap. About five minutes later he came back and handed her a piece of paper. As she turned around I saw the tears running down her face - she had got the pass. Anna's big day was the twenty-second of December between the hours of eleven and six. She had a week of preparation and waiting. A During that week Anna and I became good friends. She made preparations and with the little money she had she bought presents for her grandparents: a handker- chief for her grandfather and a piece of soap for her grandmother. In spite of these preparations, time passed very slowly. Finally the twenty-second arrived and Anna, her parcels under her arm, started out. I met her at the checkpoint and we walked through together, for I had a pass to see my mother that day. I offered to help her find the house. We walked up and down various streets near the wall until Anna spotted the house. Boldly she walked up to the door and knocked. A large gruff-looking man opened it and peered down at her. Meekly she in- is ii u quired, 'ADO Mr. and Mrs. Nick Veriskov- sky live here? Yes, he replied, but they have gone to the country to be with a friend who is very ill. When will they be back? Not until about came the reply. Oh, replied Anna after a long pause. Then with tears in her eyes she added, 'Tm Anna Veriskovsky, their granddaughter. Tell them I came. RUTH THOMAS-Grade XI eight-thirty tonight, Leaves Born from sticky buds they burst In riches green and beauty first: Then steals in glory to o'ercome each fringe The gold and crimson with sunlight tingedg The wind, the cold, the frost foretell The nearness of the deepening spell, While parent sheds the dead from high, Whose strength diminished with beauty's rise, Like tears that spring from growing love Fall from the darkening sky above: They float and swirl in eddy spray, Flames that triumph o'er shades of day, And they as only nature's slave, Fall at measure to their grave. MARCIA JACKSON-Grade X11 Ordeal At High Noon The house was hushed. Then, sudden- ly, an ear-piercing scream shattered the silence. I could put it off no longer. Day after day these unfortunate occurrences happened -1 followed by scenes, tears and tantrums. Life was too short and no human being should have to endure this. Why must I be the one continually selected for this job? I who am sought everywhere: but it must be done! Quickly I hurried up the stairs. As I paused at the door, once again doubts arose in my mind, but these were overcome by the thought that if 'twere done, when tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly. So, I seized my victim and hurried into the next room. Then the struggle began! Eventually I forced him, writhing and wriggling onto the cold table top. With my knee on his arms and my elbows against his legs, he was trapped at last. Quickly I grasped a strip of rough white cloth and again forced