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

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10 darling all the timeg doesn't mean a word of it. She's determined to get even with me, and she thinks this is the way to do it. I'll fix her. I'll accuse her right now. The maid came in and spoke quietly to Flora. Glena,j' Flora said, telephone for you. Glena was irritated by the interruption, but she had no choice but to go. Hello, she said sharply. Mrs. Drummond, this is Mary. You left in such a hurry that you forgot one of your ear' rings . . MARGARET GILLBSPIB Grade XII b... . . A Royal Occasion Having planned an exciting Thanskgiving weekfend at Virden with a friend, I was not al' together pleased to learn that I was going to Ottawa instead. It seems odd now to remember my gloom at the thought of the tedious hours in the train, and even stranger, my regrets for the algebra and geography tests I should miss. However, as soon as I arrived in Ottawa and felt the excitement everywhere, I was glad, for once, that the decision had not rested with me. Countless impressions crowd my mind as I recall that weekfend, but, above them all, stands the Monday morning when we waited near the Parliament Buildings to watch the Queen drive past on her way to open the Canadian Parliament. There was so much to see that the hours passed quickly until the moment when the Army, Navy, and Air Force guards of honour came smartly to attention, and we knew that the Royal coach was near. It was a warm, sunny day, so the Queen rode in an open coach, with scarletfcoated mounties trotting gaily before her on bluefblack horses. She wore her Coronation gown and a diamond tiara, and on the blue ribbon of the Order of the Garter were the diamond maple leaf brooch, and the fleur de lis pin given her by the people of Quebec. As the sun glinted on the diamonds, and her Majesty waved regally, a hush fell on the crowd, but in a moment the warmth and friendliness of her smile brought forth wild cheers. Children jumped up and down with delight, and a Frenchman called, Hello, Elizabeth! Comment ca va? I saw the Queen four times during that hectic weekend, at the Cenotaph, at Government House, and on the lovely Driveway, and each time at very close range, but this was the most thrilling moment of all, and I shall never forget it. PAMELA MACCHARLES, Grade X Le Printemps C'est le printemps! Le ciel est bleu, l'herbe est verte, et les fleurs s'epanouissent. Dans le parc les oiseaux chantent, et les amoureux se promettent d'etre toujours fideles. Tout est tranquille. Mais, qu'estfce qui arrive? fentends le tonnerre. je vois le foudre. La pluie com' mence a tomber. C'est un orage! Les amoureux quittent rapidement le parc. Les oiseaux cherchent l'abri. Les enfants courent a la maison. Le parc est desert. Maintenant l'orage est termine. Le soleil brille encore. Les oiseaux recommencent a chanter. Les enfants jouent joyeusement et les amoureux se baisent. Oui, le printemps est la plus belle seaison de l'annee. BRENDA HOWAT, Grade IX The Deer Over the hill and through the trees, I saw them run with graceful ease 'Til all but one of them disappeared. He raised his head and at me peered With soft brown eyes. He lingered there, And then for a moment he sniffed the air. He nipped the flowers around his feet, And then with joy, relinquished his treat. He stood very still, but then with a bound Crossed the hill, after glancing around, He came my way and stopped at my side. I raised my hand and smoothed his hideg I felt his ears and his cold damp nose, He nuzzled my hand and nuzzled my toes. I heard a rustling in the trees, I looked at him and saw him freeze, I saw his muscles tense and harden, And with a leap he left our garden. But before he reached the top of the hill, A shot rang out. He leaped and lay still. My heart felt sick, before I knew It, I was beside him. I knelt in the dew Of the flowers, he did not stir. I buried my face in the soft, white fur Of his neck, now stained with blood. In a minute or so beside me stood Two men whose rifles were fresh with smoke, Together they stood, but neither spoke. I stood and faced them, my eyes were grim, And my face questioned, Why killed you him? But without an answer, I left the scene, Where, a short while before, we two had been Happy together under the trees, Now crying sadly in the breeze. DONNA DAY WASHINGTON, Grade X Senior Literary Competition Prize Poem

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9 fingers, then looked up at the clear sky. He threw the remainder of the dirt distastefully to the ground, banged his heavy dustfcovered boots against the side of the steps, and went into the house muttering softly. His wife sat in the kitchen, her head in her hands, crying. As soon as she heard her husband, she hastily wiped her tears away on her dress. We're finished, she said. We can't stay here! The tub sprang a leak during the night and all the water's gone . . . not a drop left, not even for breakfast! Oh, God! That's the last straw . . . the last straw . . The sun sank slowly behind the deserted farm' house. Its rays cast ominous, eery shadows across the dusty plain, and the wind blew gently around the corner, bearing the drifting soil before it. SHBLAGH KELSBY, Grade XII Senior Literary Competition Prize Story One Diamond Earring Oh! There's the door hell, Andy! Willyou go down and see who it is? I'll be down in one minute. Andy and Flora Robertson were having a dinner party, and, as usual, Flora was not ready. Andy meekly went downstairs and greeted Murray Paxton. After twentyffive years of living with Flora, Andy did everything meekly when he was at home. Murray was a selffcentered individual who thought life had been cruel to him. He had divorced his wife the year before and had been regretting it ever since from the financial point of view. He was a writer and had sold a hundred copies of one of his eight books. Hello, Murray! So sorry I'm late, the usual last minute details, you know. Quite all right, Flora, we expect that now, don't we? Murray returned with a feeble laugh. just then the door bell announced Gladys Seyton, middlefaged, unmarried, and successful in the business world, She always made certain that everyone knew she was happy and had all she wanted from life. The last to arrive were the Drummonds. Charles was sensible and funfloving, but one had to be very careful with Glena. She was easily offended and if you stood on one foot instead of two, it irritated her. She readily jumped to conclusions, and this often caused her a great deal of trouble and embarrassment. Would you like a drink, Glena? Andy asked, and seemed surprised that it had actually come from him. Please, Andy, I'll have a Scotch and soda. How are you, Gladys? Haven't seen you for ages. Got to keep right to the grindstone, you know. How have you been keeping? Oh, just fair, nerves, you know. They're beginning to act up again. That's too bad, dear. It'lI clear up soon, though. It always has, anyway. Flora quickly turned the conversation to the children, and Murray settled down to expound his views on the election. When dinner was an' nounced, Glena ran upstairs to 'freshen up. She got her comb and lipstick from her handbag and went to the mirror. With a gasp of horror, she realized that one diamond earring was missing. They were family heirlooms and, she claimed, almost priceless. If her nerves had ever suffered, they suffered now. What was she to do? Her first thought was Charles. Why was he not here when she wanted him? She took a nerve pill, and then she hit on a wonderful plan. She would observe everyone at the dinner table, and, without arousing suspicion, find out which one had stolen her earring. She began her observations as soon as she sat down, starting with Murray. He was in the library with me. He could have seen it drop. What have I done to him to deserve this? Wait! . . . Would he remember? Twenty years isalong time to hold a grudge . . . still, knowing Murray . . . I know just what he's thinking now. 'I've fixed her. Serves her rightf What a perfectly dreadful thing to do! He's so nervous, look how he plays with his glass and spoon. Gladys next caught her attention. Gladys doesn't believe these gems are real. I'll bet that she stole one to check and see if it is genuine. It would be just like her. I can tell from the way she watches me that she has something on her mind. Poor Glena hardly heard the conversation going on around her, and she ate practically nothing. Perhaps it was Andy, she thought. He gambles a lotg I wonder if he lost last night? How can I tell if it was Andy? He wouldn't have enough sense to take the earring, but he had the best chance. Oh! Andy, why do you always have to look so stupid and blank? You make me so angry, do something that will give you away, please. Then it dawned on her. Of course' Flora. Why didn't I think of her before? She's jealous of me. Those looks she always gives meg calls me

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11 The Unexpected It had been a warm and bright summer day. A gentle breeze played over the lake sending ripples scurrying like a school of fish dispersed by the slightest hint of danger. The sun, the sea, the sky and the land all reflected the quiet beauty of the verdant months. As we slowly made our way over the still blue water, view after view of unparallelled beauty met our eyes. Tiny symmetrical islands surrounded by softlyflapping water, jagged weatherfbeaten boulf ders sharply outlined against the noon day sun, shimmering rainbowfcoloured fish gliding through the clear waters, and the bold contrast of brilliant white sails with the deep blue waters of the lake, all stirred us to the quick and were lastingly im' pressed upon our minds. Our day was spent in peace and contentment, fishing, swimming, and enjoying all nature. But as the sun slowly sank in the west, disaster fell. In our intent gazing, we had carelessly come too close to shore, and only when a rippling, splintering noise tore in our ears, did we see the water rushing into the stern of our craft. We frantically began to bail and row away from the danger zone. We were managing to maintain the water at ankle level, but we knew we could not keep this up for any great length of time. Then my quick' thinking companions suggested that they bail and I attempt to mend the hole, or at least temporarily plug it. Catching sight of a board and rag under one of the seats, I clapped them down over the hole, and pushed firmly, feeling like a poor counter' part of the brave little Dutch boy. The water at last ceased pouring in, and a steady but small stream of water took its place. With makeshift strappings, we fastened the plug into the hole so that it would not have to be constantly held. We were safe at last. We soon realized, however, that in our pref occupation we had drifted into unfamiliar waters. Anxiously we scanned the horizon for landmarks. Not a trace was to be seen. Oh, why had we not watched where we were going? What should we do now? It was getting dark, and before long we could barely see where land began and water ended. For over an hour we rowed in a direction we thought might lead us back, but without avail. Exhausted almost beyond caring, our food and clothes drenched, we decided to anchor and remain out for the night, and start again in daylight. It seemed best to pass the island immediately ahead and then pull in to shore. We all worked hard, and had just rounded the island and were about to look for a landing place, when lo, there stood our own boathouse and dock. Oh joy! Oh heaven' No wonder, though, that we had not recognized the surroundings, we had never before approached home from this particular direction. With choking breath we swiftly bridged the last distance to the dock, and climbing upon solid boards, could now laugh over what, moments before, we could hardly face. SIGNE SALZBERG Grade X Night Flight Airborne! The airplane took off from the runway, heading straight into the blazing inferno of an autumn sunset. As we gained altitude, pin' points of light began to appear below on the miniature landscape, and suddenly we were enveloped in darkness. The blackened landscape receded from view as we began climbing through a heavy cloud bank, higher and higher heavenwards. Like a flash we broke through the cloud, and there, stretched before us, lay a new, silent world, radiant with moonlight. A thin wisp of cloud drifted past the window-not an ordinary cloud, but gilded with moonbeams, as though it were a curious angel, peering questioningly at this noisy intruder. Soon, off in the distance, stars began twinkling, as the lights of heaven were illuminated by an invisible lamplighter. Soaring still higher, we seemed to ascend right into the midst of the starry host. It seemed there were stars all around us, and if one could extend a hand through the wellf sealed window, one could almost pluck a handful of glitter. The huge void without appeared to absorb the roaring of the plane, for it began to grow quiet, and most of the passengers dozed, lulled by the steady hum of the motors. In my seemingly drugged state, I began to wonder and to question. In our own world, far removed from this beauty, was war, hatred, poverty and unhappiness. Why, when through a few thousand feet of space this serenity could be attained, could not the same exist on earth? Was it because of man's mind? Yet if man's mind could produce such a wonderful machine as our silver bird, which enables us to leave our own marred planet, and to ascend into God's realm to glimpse how God must have meant our world to be, it could surely conceive a solution to these problems. Then light began to creep in through the window. Fists were rubbed in sleepy eyes, dreams and thoughts were forgotten. Even as we looked, the stars faded from our sight. The moon had disappeared but the last rays seemed to linger in the dark corners of the aircraft. Before