Albany High School - Prisms Yearbook (Albany, NY)

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THE GARNET AND GRAY 23 children dear, they probably figured they didn't need to cheer, seeing that the teams were so good. When the cheer leader had the consultation with the coach, it resulted in the Team going on the floor with the most foolish instructions possible. VVhen the Team began losing and were razzed by the Other Town, the Moral Support finally awoke to the fact that they were falling down on their part of the job. The moral, children dear, is that people shouldn't wait to be hit on the head before letting the idea sink into the oatmeal. Louis H. BAER THE CRUISE OF 456-896 QA MODERN FABLED They are all bright and beautiful, Everyone is short and small, But the gaff they stand is Wonderful- For the great Ford made them all. t 456-896 had never broken a lawg 456-896 was innoccnt of all that she was accused of, and yet in the freakish manner in which she was dressed by her master, she felt guilty, she felt ashamed. This unhappy feeling came over her only when she was in the presence of the great knights of the road, when there was some part of her body that was in pain, some part of her nervous system out of order, and could not perform according to her master's wish. The real name of 456-896 was Lizzie and she was a member of the largest family in America. Yes, Lizzie was a Ford. It was a fine, clear day in September when 456-896 left Albany on a long journey. It was a novel journey. And Lizzie wore a traveling suit that was of the very latest, yes, later than the latest, for no one had yet seen the like in a traveling costume. The suit was made to order and designed by Lizzie's master. When she rolled out into the street on that eventful morning, She was proud. For her habit was indeed exclusive. Her body had been stripped to the channeled frame, and in, its place was built of Wood, a large platform surmounted by a tent over a skeleton frame to hold it rigidly in place. She looked like a prairie schooner of old, a miniature. The master and two friends were starting that day on a camping trip to Canada. The three musketeers drove her through the beautiful moun- tainous country of the North. Lizzie was invigorated by the wonderful air. It thrilled and tickled her in the carbureter. She was happy on this free-lance drive, through the country. And she danced with every rebound of her air-cushioned rubber, quiv- ered throughout her entire frame in her eagerness.

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22 THE GARNET AND GRAY cheer. The final score seemed like the Other Town's census against our lonesome 2. That 2 was the only unavoidable accident at the game, The Moral Support never said a word but went home as soon as the whistle had blown. At the three following games with no-account schools the Best Team on Earth got in a winning score but the Moral Support never opened their mouths. In fact, they were never asked to, for the cheer leader seemed to have business elsewhere. Then the Fates decided to give the School another chance, and so, children dear, by being a runner-up the Team was scheduled to play the Other Town again. And when the Moral Support said their prayers that night they added I' Give us strength for that gamef, When the day arrived and the doors opened, the crowds began to till up the gym until all the seating and standing room was taken up. The Moral Support were there to a man. The strange part was that all who had been at the first slaughter were there. Outside of the yells and boos from the Other Town, all was quiet. Then the Other Town's team ran in. The Other Town gave them their best. It certainly looked as if the Team and the Moral Support were in for a good time. The Moral Sup- port, by the way, seemed to be looking for someone. They finally found him with dad's white trousers and a megaphone sitting between the Time- keepers and the Reporter. He was thrown out on the floor. When the Best Team on Earth ran in there was the lull in the storm. The cheer leader feverishly asked for the Regular. And so, children dear, a splendid comeback was staged that -was to live long in athletic history. When the plaster had stopped falling from the ceiling and the windows had ceased rattling, the game began. Whenever the Moral Support cheered, the Umpire and Referee stopped the game to look at the ceiling. Even the Other Town stopped to hear them cheer. The final results were some- thing like Rockefeller's income tax and VIS. The Other Team didn't get the income tax numbers either. VVhen the Other Town went home they looked as if they had seasickness. Now, children dear, there was a reason for all this. And that reason was what the cheer leader saw in the silver ball. He saw something at first that made him want to quit cold and throw up his job. What he thought he saw was a boy with a tag, Socially Unrecognized pinned on his jersey. A boy who thought he had enough popularity to lead the Moral Support into cheering. The cheer leader, you see, was a real fellow who knew in his heart, that they couldn't be so snobbish and so he stared harder into the Crystal Gazer's ball. The scene faded and he was looking at championship teams Hit by with foot- ball, basketball and track suits. He couldn't help recognize them as the School's Own. And he saw a Moral Support watching them win. But what he saw in the ball he had failed to see in reality. It wasn't that the Moral Support were snobbish or even asleep. No, sir. Although they didn't cheer they kept their eyes fondly lingering on the teams. You see,

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24 THE GARNET AND GRAY VViggled with the delight and happiness. A happier Ford could not have been found. She was happy and frolicsome as a young colt, much to the discomfort of the three musketeers. They traveled on, this unique quartet, and W'hen the shades of night began to fall, they sought cover through fear of being crushed under its accelerating weight. They slumbered that night, the three musketeers and Lizzie. Aye, Lizzie still slept when the trio were up and doing. They tried to awake her, they coaxed her, they' pushed her, they cranked her, but she slumbered on in peace. She would not even grunt. Ah, gentle sleep, sweet sleep! What a soother of tired nerves. Lizzie had exercised vigorously in the fresh air of yesterday and was tired. She determined to have her rest. At last she gasped, sputtered, and kicked like Maud. Another' crank! She jumped forward and fell back in exhaustion. She choked, gasped for breath, quivered in every nut and halked and began to shiver. It was indeed a cold morning. Pt-sput-tick-bangg r-r-r-tick, sput, put, put, put. She chattered in the transmission, as the foot of the musketeer descended on low. She was awake and, As the musketeer let out his foot She responded with a jump, and was off in a clatter of valves. A powerful Stutz was scared, And gave her the road. Lizzie was imbued with a new spirit. So they traveled for many days, And so they slept many nights, And so they labored many mornings, until one bright morning they halted on the shores of the great, Stately St. Lawrence. Ferried across into the North land, over the border that knew no fortress. Lizzie was happy in this new adventure. She pranced along with the fire of a Morvitch, with the speed and spit of a De Palma. That day she was in Ottawa, and turning back east that evening she snorted through the streets of Montreal the next afternoon. 456-896 slept that night in a garage, the first time in a week, with a roof above her. That night was a miserable night for Lizzie. Although she was rated by the customs at one hundred dollars the next day found her feeling as though she was worth ninety-nine dollars and ninety-eight cents less. VVhen the master musketeer came the next morning to see her, she told him her pitiful story of the night. A haughty Fierce-Sparrow, nickeled and polished, spick and span, began the impolite game, speaking to a Twin Six who was also visiting. VVhere did this thing blow in from, he asked disdainfully. The Twin Six raised his rear wheel and scratched his fender thought- fully. Ask the man who owns it. It's all I can do to keep track of