Quincy High School - Goldenrod Yearbook (Quincy, MA)

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THE PLUG-UGLY’S PROGRESS Bringing the Pilgrim up to Date With many apologies to John Banyan. By Joe Bunion S I roamed the streets and alleys of the Great City, I came to a certain place where was a Den the Cops hadn’t closed. I entered there, and called for the Pipe and the Drug. And I laid me down, and dreamed a Dream. I saw in my Dream a Man, and the Man was sitting in the seat of a Truck. The man was not driving, but looked at a paper in his hand, and as he looked he bewailed loudly. And as he was thus lamenting, a man called Devilish came up, and asked him why he cried. Said the man. I have here an or- der to deliver this Load of Bootleg to Joe Speakprop in the City of Law- lessness, and I don’t know how to get to his place. Then said Devilish, Do you see that Bridge? No, said the man. Do you see that Stop Light? said Dev- ilish. I think so, said he. Then fol- low the Light and cross the Bridge, said Devilish, and turn rght. At the Wicked Gate you will be told what to do. So Rum-Runner, for that was the man’s name, thanked Devilish and started. And I saw in my Dream that he had not gone many miles when, behold! the Truck became stuck fast in mud. Rum-Runner shifted to Low, but the Wheels spun. He threw her in Reverse, but the Truck didn’t move. He got out and pushed, but still the Truck would not move. And just when he was de- spairing of ever her getting out, I saw that a man named Sucker ap- proached. And seeing the Truch in the mud, he got a Team of Horses and pulled it out. And Sucker said, How art thou come to be in that place, which we call the Slough of Filth? Said Rum-Runner, T was directed this way by a man named Devilish, but truly I know not how 1 fell in the Slough. And Sucker said. There is a hard Road even through the midst of the Slough, but it is narrow, and often men lose it because of Darkness or Dizziness of the Head from Drink- ing. After some further talk Rum-Run- ner went on his way, and before long came to the Wicked Gate. And I saw that a Keeper came out, and said. By what right do you come? I know Joe, said Rum-Runner. So the Gate was opened to him, and the Keeper gave him directions, and asked about his Journey. Then Rum-Runner continued again. And I saw in my Dream that he came to a High Hill, the which he climbed in Low. Then going down the other side, he heard a loud noise; and be- hold! when he got out he found a Flat Tire. So he prepared him for a Struggle, and Wrestled with the Flat Tire for a long time. But in the end he prevailed, and went once more on his journey. And I saw that Rum-Runner was coming to a narrow Valley, and one side of the road was a Ditch and the other a Pit. And across the Road at that Place was a Car, and in the Car were some men, called Hijack- ers. Now Rum-Runner saw the Car, but increased his speed, for he thought by ramming it to get by. But he saw that the Hijackers had a Sub-Machine Gun, and he was pre- vailed on to stop. Seeing him stop, the Hijackers boarded the Truck. And when they poked a Revolver in his Ribs, he was constrained to go with them. So Rum-Runner was bound and put in the Car, and a Hijacker took his Truck.

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18 THE GOLDEN-ROD At a stoplight she skidded halfway across the road and stopped. The unsuccessful stop was like fresh fuel to her dying temper, but the car refused to start, and she climbed out and went into a garage around the corner. An exceedingly greasy young man stuck his head out from under a car. “My car’s around the corner. Go get it. I’ll be in tomorrow,” Nancy snapped. Arriving at home, she squared her shoulders and prepared herself for a scene. Boldly opening the door she walked into the living room. “Nancy, you’re here at last! Oh, I have the most wonderful news! Ronald is coming for tea tomorrow! I called him this morning.” “Really? What fun! He’s rather a snob, don’t you think?” “Nancy, can’t you choose a more delicate word? ‘Snob’ sounds so vulgar!” “Sorry, mother, ‘snob’ fits him so much better than any other word. I’ll be down for lunch as soon as I change.” The next day found Nancy again in the garage perched on the box. Jerry Sear, as the garage man’s name proved to be, was sharing his sandwiches with her. “You stripped the gears on that car. Beside it hasn’t been used right. You can’t treat a car like that!” “Oh. can’t I? It’s my car!” she grinned. “Well, it can’t be finished today. It’ll take quite a while to fix that car up right.” “Are you trying to get rid of me, by any chance?” “If I was I’d tell you to go. What do you do in the evenings?” “Nothing.” “Want to go to the movies Friday night?” “I’d love to. Oh, gee! I forgot. Mother’s having company and I must hurry home. I suppose I’ve got to go.” Rushing into the living room, she was surprised to see Ronald talking to her mother. “Oh! Hello there! Aren’t you early?” Horror of horrors! She had for- gotten to be embarrassed. Clenching her teeth she muttered, “Keep it up, Nancy! You’ll learn yet!” She giggled as she slipped her aft- ernoon dress over her head. She had at least surprised him out of his snobbishness for one minute! The next three weeks passed quickly. Movies with Jerry. Long days at the garage with Jerry. Lunches with Jerry. Dances and teas with Ron- nie, invitations received and accept- ed by Mrs.- Leton. Then, matters got worse. Ronnie was always under- foot. One day in the garage Jerry came over suddenly and sat down beside her. “Nancy, I’ve got a confession to make. You see, it’s this way—” Fifteen minutes later, Nancy, seated on her box, eyes sparkling, raptly listening, was startled by a fa- miliar figure in the doorway. Slowly raising her eyes she met the shocked, incredible gaze of Ronnie! Regaining his usual unshakable poise he spoke coldly to Jerry. “Will you please overhaul my car? I'll be in for it later.” Nancy rose. “Ronnie, will you tell mother something for me?” “Most assuredly,” Ronnie said haughtily. “I’ve got some news that will tickle her to death. Jerry and I are going to be married. Tell her not to worry, that Jerry’s father is Charles Sear, the automobile manufacturer. Jerry’s just been trying to learn something about automobiles, so he’d be able to take over his father’s business.” EDITOR’S NOTE: “Word Signs and Love Songs” published in the last issue of the “Golden Rod” was written by Mary Connors. Through an oversight on the part of the staff, the name of the author was omitted.

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20 THE GOLDEN-ROD Now I saw in my Dream that They came presently to a Wood, called the Forest of Sudden Death. And the Hijackers took Rum-Runner and Plugged him in the Dome, and left him there. So I saw that Rum-Run- ner came to his end. And I awoke from my Dream, and lo! it was but a Dream. But I heard a Great Noise of many feet, for the Cops were raiding the Place. So I left by the Back Door as they came in the Front. TO DIET To diet, or not to diet: that is the question. Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer The pangs and darts of underfed body Or to take forks against a sea of foods And by opposing end them. To diet; to reduce. No more: and by reducing, to say we end The clumsiness and the thousand discomforts That so much flesh is heir to; ’tis a con- summation Devoutly to be wished. To diet, to reduce. To reduce; perchance to be undernourished; ay. there’s the rub! For in that reduction what illnesses may come When we have entered on a strict period of fasting Must give us pause. There's the respect That makes calamity of so long diet; For who would bear the sight of forbidden food. The juicy chocolate, the creamy ice. The crisp potato chip, the frosted cup cake. The delectable sweets and pastries Which the thin the fat delight to tease with. When he himself might eat and eat Of their refreshment? Who would abstain from sweets To long for and desire under a no-sweet diet. But that the dread of gaining more flesh That greatly-to-be-dreaded condition Which no person wishes, strengthens the will pow'r. And makes us rather bear the flesh we have Than gain more that we do not want of? Thus fear does make strong the will of all; And thus the native hue of resolution Is made more great with the imagination And cakes that tempt and beckon With this regard their currants turned awry. And lose their toothsome temptation. Ruth Darr. A Complete Music Store for music lovers and musi- cians where all Foreign and American music is always available. A charge account gladly opened for the convenience of all of our patrons. The Boston Music Co.. 116 Boylston St.. Boston. Mass. PLYMOUTH ROCK ICE CREAM Is Served at our Cafeteria IT’S GOOD FOR THE, CHILDREN