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

Page 128 text:

1111114101011 SAY YOU SAVV HIS AD IN THE nQUlLL n1oi111i 1021 wpolaus Smarter Clothes for Smarter Young Fellows 2309 MARKET SCHLANKEY 5: SONS INSURANCE-REAL ESTATE Loans on Real Estate and Autos 2201 Avenue B J Phone 2-5951 ,, 2. . . . K2 , 4,, ,wdflfzcfifwe ,gimme QZWCG 7.909 We QW vZWiZEilflf lli6 Metropolitan Galveston Drug Dept. Model Laundry A' lafgrbeft CLEANING AND H' Gerbert FUR STORAGE Metropolitan Food Stores, Inc. 2502 Church St. Dial 5522 Your Leading 'y-m j BIG STORES llllchaels 35 Ye-HTS - ,. .H . ,.... - gl'-LL .3'5 . -..'lQ'J.'L -'Q' TSX-HS CNY A RQ Credit At Cash Prices Pasadena rioioioioi r1oio1oioio14r101lx11x14x1o3o14x1 xioioioioioioix 126

Page 127 text:

of their conversation when I saw Jane coming down the sidewalk. She was alone, walking along as if she were not concerned about the others, as if she were alone of her own choosing. But I caught the hungry look in her eye. She had obviously eaten her lunch, it wasn't food for which she hungered. I watched the expression on her face and could see her mustering up courage as she approached the little group under me. They were girls in her class and she had made up her mind to be very friendly to them, and maybe they would ask her to join them. But when she reached them, all she could force out was a weak Hhel1o and a timid smile. They turned toward her, said their dutiful hellos, and turned away. As I was saying, Betty, you must come home with me after school so I can show you my new formalf' Jane walked on and disappeared through the door. A wind came up, and I sprayed them with my dryest leaves. The bell rang and they went in, laughing and brushing leaves from their hair. 21 is Pls Dk Pk The winter was bitter. My bare branches made a harsh outline against the cold sky. Almost every leaf had died, and in Jane some- thing had died, too. She came to school and went home immediately after school, always keeping to herself. I-Ier only interest was in her studies. She worked hard and made top rank grades. She had come to realize a lot of things. To her, our school was filled with nothing but selfish, snobbish girls and conceited, thoughtless boys. So why should she even bother about themg why should she care if they were her friends or not? 'Why should she? But she did. School was dismissed and Jane started home bareheaded. It was colder outside than she had anticipated, so while carrying her books in one hand, she tried to tie her scarf with the other. A gust of wind picked it up and carried it away before she knew what was happening. Turning around to retrieve it, she was confronted with the smiling face of Alfred Gerrick. In his hand was a blue scarf exactly like the one that had just blown away from her. Dropped something, he smiled. Oh, thank you. The wind really surprised me. Here, let me hold your books while you put it on. I haven't seen anyone yet who could tie a knot with one hand. V I guess it was kind of silly of me to try. Jane put the scarf on as carefully and slowly as she could. She wanted these few minutes to last. just think, here was Alfred Gerrick holding her books! But Alfred made no attempt to surrender them. Say, you can't really think I'd let a girl carry a heavy load of 125

Page 129 text:

books like this when I'm going the same way she is. Uh, you don't mind if I walk with you, do you? I mean, since Ilm going your way anywayf' f'Of course not. VVhy should I mind? I'll bet you're new here, arenlt you P 'fThis is my first year at this school, if that's what you mean. You can't mean youlve been going here since September and I'm just meeting you now? Oh, that reminds me. We havenit met. My name is Alfred Gerrick. Now you tell me yoursf' Glad to know you, Alfred. My nameis Jane. That sure tells me a lot. Jane what ? Oh, I'm sorry. Jane I-Iowardfl She bit her lip. Vlfhy had she told him that? He would find out the very next day that she was Jane Martin, and then he would treat her the same as everyone else did. Maybe he already knew! I-Iadn't she known his name before he told her? But then, everyone knew Alfred. No, she was sure he didn't know the difference yet, he was still smiling and talking. She was glad now she had acted on impulse. H Ki For one afternoon, at least, she could be someone. Their voices trailed off as they disappeared down the street, but still they lingered in my thoughts. I wondered about them, and I Wanted to know that which had been impossible for me to see or hear. I was certain that I would find out sooner or later, though, and I did. By the time they had reached Jane's block, Jane knew that Alfred loved tennis, and dancing, and springtime, and football, and that alge- bra was his weak subject, and Alfred knew that Jane loved tennis but needed a little coaching, and that she loved dancing, and springtime, and football games, too, and that she made her best grades in algebra and would be glad to explain anything any time. They reached Jane's house all too soon for Jane. 'AThis is where I livef' she announced as she stopped at her gate. Don't you want to come in for a few minutes and warm your hands F No, thanks just the same, but I really cant Well, thanks for carrying my books. It's been nice knowing you. I-Iey, what do you mean? You still know me, don't you F I guess I meant to tell you that I'm glad I met you. Thanks again for carrying my books. Shucks, I didn't mind. It helped develop my muscles. Well, I'1l see you, Jane. And watch that scarf so it doesn't blow off any- more-unless I'm behind you to catch it. I'll try. So long, Alfred. . He was gone. Jane turned and went into the house. She couldn't 127