Analy High School - Azalea Yearbook (Sebastopol, CA)

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' ‘What do you know about patriotism ? Walt demanded. “You ' re only a girl. Just then they were interrupted. There was a sound of singing, and Tony Picardi came up the path. Tony was an Italian gardner’s sen and he and Bill went to school together. Tony’s face was wreathed in smiles when he say the young folks. “That was some parade we had! he said jubilantly. Did you see the fire engines? It was Walt who answered. “1 saw one fire engine, he announced importantly. Where I came from we have hundreds of them. ‘‘Do you mean you have a hundred fire engines? asked Tonv doubtfully. ‘‘Yes, I mean we have a hundred, said Walt, and when we have a parade they all fall in line. “My father has a cousin in New York, said Tony finally. “But we don’t see him very often. He is a loafer and doesn’t like to work.” “That doesn’t matter; he’s only a Wop anyway. the city boy answered, not noticing the look of pain that crossed the Italian ' s face. “But what ' s the difference. You ' re only a Wop yourself. Tony flushed crimson. Mary started to sav something, but Bill stopped her. “Tonv is as much of an American as any of us, he sHd. “Pie belongs to the Boy Scouts and works harder than anyone. After all isn’t that the way to show you are a good citizen?” “But he isn ' t an American, said Walt defiantly. “I am, I tell you, Tony spoke earnestly. ‘‘The American flag is my flag and I would die for it. Walt only smiled. A ou can say what you want to, he declared, but the American llag is not your flag, and you ' re not an American citizen.” Suddenly the quiet of the afternoon was shattered by a whistle. It s a fire, Bill announced excitedly. “Let ' s listen and we can tell where it is.” Bill turned his eyes to his companions. Forty-three,” he said. “That means the fire is in our district.” Suddenly they were aware of a thin column of smoke rising over the trees in front of the house. In an instant the boys were on their feet, running in the direction of the smoks. When they came in sight of the fire, Bill and Tony stopped in their tracks. “It ' s the school, Tonv announced breathlessly, “Our school. Already a crowd was collecting, but the fire engines were nowhere 23

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Lois Osborn First Prize The sound of music died away softly in the distance; far down the street the long line of marching figures turned sharply to the right and disappeared. The Flag Day parade had passed on. Walt Bowen, with a sneer on his face, turned to his cousin. Bill Smith, who sat beside him on the porch. ‘‘Some parade!” he announced sarcastically. “Why, in New York we wouldn ' t walk to the corner to see anything like that.” For a moment Bill did not answer. He was just a bit tired of hearing about the way Walt did things in New York. He would have liked to ask Walt why he didn ' t stay in New York, if he liked it so well; but Walt was his guest, so Bill fought down the anger that rose in him. “It isn ' t whether a parade is big or small that courts,” he said, “It’s what it stands for.” “And what under the sun does a few policemen and a fire engine stand for?” demanded Walt. Bill felt his face growing red, but he kept hold of himself. “They mean that we people in Kadwag are patriotic enough to recognize Flag Day in the best way we know how, he answered staunchly. Mary, Bill’s younger sister, who had been sitting on the porch, glanced up resentfully. “Well, I guess we know how to serve our country as well as you (to,” she broke in suddenly. “And maybe that ' s more than you can say about New York.” 22

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in sight, and all of the firemen were in the parade, now in another part of town. ‘‘Everything will be burned up. Bill declared excitedly. I he firemen won ' t get here in time to save things. Tony nodded, then suddenly his face went white. “Look!” he cried. ‘‘Look up there! He pointed to a cupola on the building. “It ' s the American flag,” he cried, “and it ' s going to be burned.” “There’s plenty more where that came from,” said Walt indiffer¬ ently. Tony Picardi suddenly knew that he was going to do something brave and foolish. He flung back his head and his dark eyes flashed. “I ' m going in and get it,” he said. Before the boys had time to answer him he had gone through the gate and was entering the building. “I ' m going after him,” Walt said. The frown had gone from his face now. “It ' s my fault”— But a man heard him say this and help a restraining arm. For ages it seemed there was no sign of Tony. The smoke rolled from the upper windows. Still the engines did not come. Then suddenly the flag on top of the cupola quivered and began to descend. ‘‘Tony’s getting it down, Bill said, with a cry of gladness. The crowd watched breathlessly while Tony gathered in the flag. Then he disappeared. In a few moments the figure of Tony appeared at one side of the building. There was only a little smoke in that part of the schoolhouse. He leaned our of the window and cried, ‘‘Catch it.” Bill and Walt rushed out and caught the flag, then hurried back. Just then they saw Tony enveloped in smoke. He threw up his arms and pitched forward. Down the street came the fire engines. “Bill,” announced Walt, “the firemen will never get here in time to pull Tony out. I ' m going in after him.” And throwing aside the restraining hands he rushed up the steps, followed by Bill. just then a fire engine dashed up and firemen jumped out. 1 he crowd were explaining about the boys, when suddenly a cheer arose. The two boys were staggering out of the building carrying the un¬ conscious Tony. A few moments later the Italian boy opened his eyes and smiled weakly. “I—I—we got it, didn ' t we-” he asked. It was Walt who answered. “Yes, Tony,” he said, “we got it all right.” For a long time Tony lay regarding him silently. 24