Ball High School - Purple Quill Yearbook (Galveston, TX)

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SERGEI VASSILIEVITCI-I I ONES r by Melvyn Schreiber Ah, music. How well I remember the day when first I saw a piano. 'Twas when I was but three years young. Mother had the monstrous thing put in the living room, and it was in that same living room not two minutes later that I received the worst shock to which I have ever been exposed. I crept into the room where the monster stood like a foreboding giant, and quietly seated myself before the keyboard. My fist descended upon the keys, making the most terrifying sound I had ever heard. I leaped from the stool and dashed to my room. No one saw me for the next four days. I was scared stiff. ,M - of, ,Mi My W 'ft awe-21 ff Qgx fffl If ' 2? in This first encounter with the piano was not to be my last, I soon found. VVhen I was nine years of age, Mother engaged a tutor to instruct me in the gentle art of beating on a keyboard. My teacher, Dr. Ignacio Foofifkinoff, was a forceful person, and I soon learned to sit very still at the piano, with my hand in precisely the correct po- sition, for one hour each week. For two long grueling years I worked at the piano for two 'hours each day, trying to perfect the five-finger exercises which Dr. Foofif- kinoff insisted were good for my technique. I devised many ways to escape from the daily chore of practicing my lesson, but I soon found that all was futile, so I resigned myself to the task of making good. From that day forward, I never objected to practicing two hours each day. fPerhaps it was because the new little girl who moved next door just adored to listen to my banging. But that is neither here nor there, although I found myself over there most of the timej 103 iContinued on Page 1333

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These perplexities are still fresh to you gay, carefree 'fyoungstersf' and if I were among your happy, wide-eyed throng again, there are many things I would like to do differently and many others I'd enjoy doing again. I would first get my high school career off to a flying start. On registration day, I would arrive in the newest and most startling at- tire I could muster. I would know exactly what subjects I wished to take and try to get the most highly recommended teachers fthe ones that give the highest grades for the least effortj. Of course, if this were the ideal registration day, I would alight cool, calm, and col- lected from the library after about fifteen minutes. fI'hen the first day of classes would come and this, again, would involve a good bit of touching up, lipstick dabbing, and a general application of that woman-of-the-world air. VVith all my newly acquired grace and poise, I would glide into my first period class. Of course, Ild waste no time discovering the cutest boy in the class and with such a discovery, spend the rest of my days in that class plot- ting to win his heart. Now if I were a very popular and attractive sophomore, I'd try out for a position as cheerleader. As the football season wore on, my spirit for my new school would increase to such bounds that some might turn and gaze upon me with raised eyebrows as I'd march down the center of some downtown street, purple and gold ribbons hanging limp in one hand and an enormous cow bell in the other. Of course, I would only be following the band home from a victorious game, offering my hoarse yells whenever my services were needed. Then after I had begun to feel at home in these new surroundings, my emotional system would be given a jar by the realization that Fish Friday was drawing near. I wouldn't listen to the gory stories they tell of previous days, I wouldn't believe the veterans. of the stinging belts nor the lipstick stained coats, I'd go blissfully on my way hoping against hope that this year things would be different. Besides, I'd just be brave and show those seniors just who's whom around here. But if I were a sophomore, I know that I would have socks of two colors and a poor excuse for a purse, which would really be a milk bottle. And the reason I couldnlt see where I was going would be because I would be behind a rather top-heavy stack of books that- feel-like-they're-going-to-FALL! If I should live through these first weeks without any serious damage to my health or nervous system, I would be deeply thankful and forever more look upon my upperclassmen with deep respect, because I would then know what they went through to deserve it. 102 '

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fricfiy gersona Weld like to introduce to you nine B.H.S. students, the things these students like Cand the things they don't likej, and what they want to do in life. After you've found out something about them, you'll like them, you'll find that out for yourself when you meet them. This is only your introduction- Yes, that brown-haired, brown-eyed, up and coming sophomore is Kathleen CBoboj Duncan. Bobo loves fruit, especially apples. Her favorite radio program is Lux Theater, and she rates Ingrid Berg- man tops among the movie stars. At present she says her favorite movie is 'fSpellboundf' Bobo loves to read, and she liked jane Eyre a lot. If you don't know Bobo, make it your business to meet her right away. Everybody make room for the business manager of Ball Hi-Lights! That's right-Donald Cangeloisi. This industrious junior stated that among his likes are The Razor's Edge, roast beef, Gene Tierney, The Green Years, and English. He also commented that he enjoys basketball, but is far too busy working on the Hi-Lights to indulge in it very much. His pet aversion is smart-alecksf' Donald's ambition is to be a psychiatrist, and of course we know he'll succeed. That pretty lass with those beautiful blue eyes we've seen in the halls since September is Rae Waters, a gal everyone should know. Born in Galveston in 1932, Rae is a high sophomore at Ball High. She insists that her favorite food is brussels sprouts Ckinda' hard to be- lieve, isn't it ?j and says that at present, literature is her favorite sub- ject. Tom Drake and The Green Years really rate when it comes to movies, and listening to Lux Theater is a must. Rae enjoys play- ing tennis and basketball and going to football games. When fand ifj she gets that diploma, she plans to go to T. S. C. W. and on from there to be a physical therapist. If you want to meet one swell girl, we suggest you dial 8354 and ask for Rae. Have you ever met a human dynamo of energy? You haven't? Well, for goodness sakes, meet Elaine Huddleston. This tall junior Cwho has a passion for seagullsj was very enthusiastic when asked for some of her favorites. She likes Cornel VVilde, ice cream, and English, although she can't play tennis, it's her favorite sport. Her favorite book goes all the way back to her uchildhoodf' It's The Dutch Twins. Elaine says The Jolson Story was really tops. Her 104