Balmoral Hall School - Optima Anni Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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I5 The theme was taken from Dragnet with the ap- propriate background music. The play was a take- off on the mysterious disappearance, at the begin- ning of the year, of the school's hand bell and one could recognize such familiar happenings as the climb to Miss Lucas' old office. The final round of applause was well deserved. No party is complete without refreshments, Hot dogs, doughnuts and cold drinks were soon consumed before the evening concluded with a sing-song. Oh, honourable prefect, we thy humble ser- vants do bow down before thee in deepest rever- ence saying: Allah, Allah, be praised that initia- tion is over and that it comes but once in a new girl's life! P. Brodie, Grade X. An Adventure Adventure-please, what is adventure? I am sure that as Hillary and his small party of men planted firmly a little flag in a mound of glaring snow, they felt exhilarated, triumphant. They had their reward for all the sacrifices and dangers through which they had passed. This small group had conquered the towering giant- man over nature-conquering the elements! . . . Is this adventure? As an unknown lion hunter stealthily stalks through dense jungle growth, he must feel a grow- ing tension, a tightening of all his muscles. This feeling, this experience-ah, we have touched on it finally, but wait, when at last the whining mis- sile furrows into that fine, glossy forefront, then the thrill is even greater. He also has conquered . . . Is this adventure? Calmly to sail or tumultuously to ride the waves, to feel the sharp sting of salty water, to taste the 'tang of brine on one's lips, to know the waters of the earth as a mother knows her child . . . Ah! thinks the sailor, surely this is adventure. But I -beg to be different. To me it is a great adventure to waken early, to gaze out of my frost- patterned pane and to see a glistening new world. The trees, overnight have become lacy with a fluffy haze and over there the stream, still run- ning, shivers through its heaping banks. The sun sprinkles the snow with gold dust. All is serene. To me it is a great adventure to find some- thing new to like in a close friend, some little quality that lets itself be known only occasionally but is remembered frequently. And, oh, the thrill of delving into the works of some literary mind! How small the world of a person unacquainted with Steinbeck, Leacock, Hemingway, Cronin and other fine authors. I love to walk, alone, on a cool evening, gaz- ing at the velvet-black sky, studded with occasion- al stars. The eerie feeling of awe creeps up my spine when I hear the soft soughing of the neigh- bouring trees. What made that tree there, so grotesque and deformed? Why, in the night, does it look so like a huge monster? What made me? Why is it so dark, now? The answers are in the moisture of the dewy grass, in the chirping of distant frogs, in the gloriously arrayed heavens around us! This realiza- tion of the presence and power of God is the greatest of adventures. Anthea Dykes, Grade XI. The Lucky Charm There was a very mysterious, broken-down hut sitting in the centre of the bayou which always was surrounded by a green mist. The village people said it was where a witch lived but most thought it was a legend. Gran'ma jones, the town's oldest citizen, found a baby she adopted there. Now, the baby was a young lady with long, blond hair and blue eyes. She was named Lou Anne. Though Gran'ma denies it, she looked very much like Molly Peters, the woman who disappeared into the swamp many years ago. Lou Anne loved to go paddling, by herself, through the bayou, so since this was a day too hot for working she took the dugout and headed towards the swamp's interior. Everyone in town was afraid to enter this part but it strangely attract- ed Lou, as if someone she knew dwelled there. As she skimmed over the water listening to the birds sing, she noticed the mist surrounding the hut had cleared, and to her surprise a woman was standing in front of it. She was in her early forties, a little on the plump side and had a kindly face. Despite her age, Lou noticed that her hair was very blond and her eyes truly blue. just then, the woman noticed Lou and entered her hut before the young girl had an opportunity to speak. When Lou got home, she was punished for going into the bayou instead of doing her work. Gran'ma often punished Lou Anne because, it seemed, she wanted a servant not a daughter. Alone in her room, Lou had time to think but she continually caught herself staring at the lucky charm she found in the bayou. She jumped up! That doll had blond hair and blue eyes too. Why did it resemble her so much? Why did the witch she saw in the bayou today look so much like a normal person? There was only one way to find the answers to those questions: wait till dark and go to the marsh.

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I4 the gunnel, she reached with the other to loosen the snap on the turn buckle which would release the jib. I thought her hand would never make it . . . The first one was off, and slowly but surely she loosened each snap from the forestay. The ji'b was down! Relief . . . Having observed Kathy's courage in the face of danger, we all set about to lower the main and mizzen sails. Unsure of our footing on the slippery decks, we crawled along to the bow. Kathy went below to find some buckets with which to bale out the cockpit. Caroline crept to the stern to loosen the mizzen sail as soon as I had lowered the main. I had forgotten about jaye, but presumed her helping Kathy. I uncoiled the main sheet, then removed the peg from the eye bolt. One by one the slides slipped off the track. The sail had swung far over to the port side. Then without any warning, a dazzling flash of lightning zigzagged across the sky. It was followed by a second. The boom-the mast-I could see the crack beginning in the middle of the mast. Slowly it grew. Where were the others? Suddenly, I glanced to the starboard -there! clearly silhoueted by another flash of lightning was jaye, slowly creeping along the deck. No doubt she was coming to help me. I screamed, jaye--the boom! It was too late. The boom began swinging toward her. There was no escape. I twinged as I heard the dull thud of the boom strike her head and felt nauseated at the sight of her toppling overboard. Unconsciously and with no thought of fear, I lunged for ,laye and will be everlastingly thankful for the un- known strength that comes in a moment of crisis. With a firm grasp about her waist, I hauled her back into the cockpit and with the help of Kathy, we took her down to the hold. jaye was uncon- scious and badly bruised about the face, but we made her as comfortable as possible. Meanwhile Caroline had managed to free the mizzen sail, and it seemed that we were out of immediate danger. The storm was abating. We decided to set off flares to show our position in the hope that the eight o'clock watch would come to our assistance. What seemed like an eternity was but only a few hours until help arrived. Tears welled in my eyes as the rescue boat loomed into view, its bright light focused on our stricken craft. It was then that I knew Jaye would be in safe hands. As famil- iar faces greeted us and embracing arms enfolded us, we knew despite our harrowing experience, a new day would dawn again. Look back and give thanks. Look forward and take courage. joy McDiarmid, Grade XI. PREQCCT l saith 9 -.. EV V5 S.K. Initiation Oh, most honourable prefect! I, thy most humble servant, do bow down before thee in deep- est reverence, saying: Allah, Allah . October 28th was set aside in the life of Balmoral for the initiating of new girls into this worthy institution . New girls could be found everywhere, often on their knees before an old girl, exercising the dying art of shoe polishing. Equally numerous, so it seemed to the new girls, and seemingly everywhere, were these honourable, upright, worthy citizens, The Prefects. Down we would go on our bruised knees . . . Allah, Allah. As the day wore away, so did our knees and shoe polish. The highlight, however, came at 8:00 p.m. when new girls assembled in the lower cor- ridor in the required costumes for this occasion. Rabbits, gypsies, devils and the strangest characters with swash-buckling boots, long skirts and mous- taches, fell into line. Thus arrayed we paraded before a critical, gloating audience of old girls assembled in the gymnasium and finally arrived in two long lines, and chanted these our carefully learned phrases:- Oh honourable prefects and venerable old girls, we, thy humble new girls do bow down before thee and crave admittance to this worthy institution. There followed a greeting from the Head Girl, Diane Smith, in which she welcomed us to Balmoral Hall. Top entertainment was enjoyed from that mo- ment on amid much laughter and flashing of cameras. Grade Seven acted familiar nursery rhymes. Cleverly presented by Grade Eight was a series of scenes in which they made us guess the titles of some well-known books An amusing skit followed with Grade Nine portraying Mr. Thorsen and a beginners' gymnastic class. Grade Ten excelled in a short but very entertaining melodrama - The Lamp Went Out . Highlighting the evening was an original com- edy lby the prefects Who Stole The Ding-Dong?

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low The canoe skimmed softly over the water as Lou paddled. The moon gave a cold hard light to the surroundings but a strange force urged her on. As she approached the hut, the moon slipped under a cloud plunging the scene into darkness. Lou Anne stepped out of the canoe, walked towards the house and pushed the door open. Creak! the hinges needed oiling. In the hut, there was a single candle burning which filled the room with an eerie light. The shelves on the walls were filled with dolls exactly like Lou's lucky charm. A door across the room opened and a startling voice said, What are you doing here? N-n-nothing, shuddered Lou. She could see the woman's face clearly now. It was a kind face with loving eyes. I just came to see if you could help me. Help you? With what? Do you want a doll? the woman asked. No, I want some answers, You see, I came here this afternoon and saw you. Lou told the woman the story and as she did the woman's face lit up. She chuckled to herself and then said, Lou Anne, I am your mother. My name is Molly Peters. I abandoned you in the marsh when you were a year old hoping someone nice would find you, but I see Gran'ma jones is cruel, The doll, I made as an image of you, when I saw you paddling through the bayou. You must keep that! It is the luckiest charm you could ever own! By bringing you to me it has shown that it will lead you through life. Where is my father? asked Lou. He died many years ago, That's why I moved here, answered her mother. Mother, can't I stay here with you? pleaded Lou. No, it's better the way it is but you must always remember the secret of the charm, she answered and then added briskly, but now you must go. It will soon be dawn. Elizabeth Kilgour, Grade IX. And the Clock Struck Twelve Last night I woke up just as the hrst stroke of twelve echoed through the house. I sat up, dazed, but when all that remained of yesterday were memories I became aware of a low murmur. It seemed to come from my sister's room so I tiptoed down the hall, I paused at her door and looked in. It was as if she had never left on that fateful holiday. It seemed as if she would come dashing up the stairs in a minute or two, her hair flying and her eyes shining, begging me to run down and play a set of tennis with her. No, I reminded myself, Cindy was dead. Cindy would never again come gaily in, twenty minutes late for dinner, hurriedly apologize, and then tell us breathlessly of a hamburger fry or of a new record. She would never again come into my room early in the morn- ing to tell wide-eyed me all about the dance or the party at Pat's. The sight that greeted my eyes was a pleasant one. Qlt was a room which evidently belonged to a girl.j As I gazed, my eyes roaming over all the familiar objects, I became conscious of voices. They seemed to be arguing about something. I listened. If you think you were important to Cindy, then what do you think she thought of me? just because she read you a little more often . . I glanced over to the bookcase to see two well-worn books fairly vibrating. The one on the left spoke: Maybe so, but if it comes to that neither one of us was really that important to her. She didn't take us with her on the trip. Here the voice grew sad and wistful. Instead she took those new novelsf, She left us here in her shoe bag, but we don't mind, chorused two voices, very much alike. Remember the time we sneaked out and slept on the terrace and it started to rain? Oh, we've had some wonderful times together, we have! and the voices broke into gales of laughter. It was Cindy's old slippers, the ones Aunt Helene gave her the Christmas she was twelve. The last night she was home she 'broke my back, sobbed a loafer all doubled up in one cor- ner. We've had fun together too, but she threw me at her vanity, yelling something about how childish her room looked. I couldn't help i-t. Why did she take it out on me? That's all I'd like to know. And now I've started this Imight as well finish it. I think maybe it is best that she died. I gasped but he continued. She was running around with entirely the wrong kind of people and her parents would have been horrified if they had known. No one movecl for maybe a minute or so then a muffled voice came from under the bed. 'I don't think you're being very fair and anyway, let's let bygones be bygones. Besides, you should talk about being unlucky. I've been under this bed for nearly a year now. I haven't seen daylight since the day she left. I got down on my knees, curious as to who had stood up for Cindy. It was the pink floppy dog she always kept on her bed. And me, cried a shrill unmusical voice, I wish somebody would hurry up and use me. High priced perfume should be used, not just left here to evaporate. I still think it was mean of her not to take me, sniffed a haughty voice from the wardrobe.