Central High School - Mirror Yearbook (Birmingham, AL)

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AGLAIA LITERARY SOCIETY

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GRAD BOOKS T 'or the benefit of the unenlightened, we will preface our story by explaining that graduation, or grad, books, as they are called, preserve for the senior maiden a diary or record of her most significant school days. The typical grad, book is the much prized treasure-house wherein one may find anything from inscription., such as “I shall always remember our friendship and hope that it will grow in the years to come.” to locks of hair, and—? Virginia rushed into her house with a series of excited Ohs and 'Whs and slammed her school books down upon the library table. Hilly. she called, as she made a leap for the stairs, it's come! It's come! And it’s the prettiest one in the whole school or anywhere! Oh! Oh! Oh! I’m so excited I don't know what to do. and -Oh! Oh! Oh! Well of all the saints! came in sophisticated yet boyish tones front the study. What on earth ails you. (linger? Did you escape from Uitin matinee or did Jerrv ask you to the senior pla ? Neither! Oh, man alive! It’s my book! My grad, book the one Aunt Sarah promised to send. I bad no idea she’d really send it. but she did—and it„s a beauty! All the girls are green with envy! I just feel like a million dollars! Don't you wish you bad one? She Hashed the purple and gold book before Uillv's eyes and whirled away to seek more enthusiastic members of the family. The next day at precisely the same hour Virginia made another noisy entrance into the house, but this time she was accompanied by a mournful succession of Aws and Ohs which were indeed unusual in the Miller home. I he first member of the household to hear what had called forth these doleful sounds was Lizzie, the daughter of the cook. At present, this dusky personage cast her shadow across the dining room door and stood poised on one red-clad foot with a cujj towel in one hand and a bowl in the other. ()b, Lizzie.' wailed Virginia, I don't know what to do! It’s goue—my precious grad, book—and I had just filled it—! ()h! exclaimed Lizzie, with a broad smile. I wuz jes’ wonderin’ jes what them things wuz, hut bein’s hit’s got t'illins. I low's as how hit’s a cake Doan you worry. Miss (finger. Mammy’ll make it all rat—heaps better’n yo’un, I spec, hein’s you aim over ’sperieuced in them things. I’ll jes go and git ’er. Lizzie. I think you’re horrid! and then the tears began to flow. This was indeed a strange sight for the little maid, who stood first on one foot and then on the other, rapidly biting her fingernails. Everybody’s horrid -horrid—horrid! Virginia sobbed from the depths of numerous sofa cushions. I he sight of her mistress in tears was too much for the little maid and she shuffled off in embarrassment. irginia s grief over the lost hook had rapidly risen to the uncontrollable stage. Such was the state of affairs when Hilly entered, brandishing above his head a yellow note-l ook on which was crudely inscribed in black letters, The Patjc Turnty’ihree

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Sweet Boy Graduate.” ’l Say, Ginger—” he began, but was interrupted by a stream of Horrids” from the sofa. “What in the world? Well for crap’s sake! What ails you? he stammered. Horrid—horrid—horrid 1 came the only reply. “Aw, sis, don’t,” Billy remonstrated. His boyish attempt to quiet his sister was interrupted by a series of “honks which issued from the driveway. Startled by this unmistakable announcement of a caller, irginia sat l olt upright on the divan. “Gosh, 1 forgot! muttered Billy. “Th—that's Jerry—cr—he sent me to see if you were here. He, that is, 1 think he wants to ask you— Oh!” The clouds vanished from the face of the occupant of the divan. “Oh!” And with a dash she rushed up the stairs and into her room with her helpless brother closely following and attempting to explain. “Hush! I'm not any more listening to you than the man in the moon, she interrupted the well-meaning youth. “Do something useful. Call out the window that I’ll be right down. “I ley, Jerry, he yelled, reduced to obedience by the sudden burst of emotion he had just witnessed. “Ginger says she’ll be right “Wait, came in a pitiful groan from Virginia, who had just discovered beneath her eyes the tell-tale circles which time only could remove. I can’t let Jerrv sec me notv! Tell him I've fainted or I'm sick or dead—anything! “She savs she’s dead!” called Billy, keeping a curious eye on a rapidly moving powder putt. “Don’t, screamed irginia. “Well, that’s what you did say. No—Oh, 1 mean yes, but tell him h, tell him I'll be right down. And so it was that a few minutes later “Ginger bounded upon the running board of Jerry's car. 1 say. Ginger, Jerry exclaimed. “I was coinin’ in whenever your fool brother found out— “Yes. yes. prompted Virginia, eagerly. Well. I hate to bother you. but may I—borrow your Virgil? he at Iasi announced. Virginia could have fainted, but she didn’t. Instead, she smiled that stiff, glittering smile with which we try to conceal our disappointment, fter all, no one knew that she had expected a bid, so she merely presented the book to her “most ardent admirer. who promptly drove off. leaving her to mourn her loss alone. “Golly, Billy grinned as he cast a critical glance upon his sister. If you aren’t the most peculiar jxirson I ever saw! You girls are a mystery to me!” “Shut—up! Virginia burst out. with symptoms of a “return engagement of the weeps —to quote Billy. “My book! my book! my precious book!” she wailed. “Book? inquired Billy. “Yes—I didn’t tell you, did I? It’s mv wonderful grad. l ook! I left it on my desk at school and nobody’s seen it since, and Miss Lowell has questioned all Page Twenty-five