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

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S PRI NG THOUGHTS Down by the spring where I get water Everyday it grows hotter and hotter. ' hr tyq , . T b,.p,'f 3 if Down by the pond I saw a frog. if f, ff A. And every day I fell in a bog. Down by the lake so clean and clear. I sit down and listen to the froggies cheer. 53' :v- I ,Y ' Down in the grass that grows so high Q 1 1 I sit down and watch the birds go by. ' I I ' X Barbie Leach, Grade 3. ' 11211 .,. A V .x 4 .4 , r , '. A 1 ' Ji .1 ' - 3 I f-ah! H HAPPINESS IS... Happiness is watching the crabapple tree bloom, and the plum tree bloom, going swimming, going in a rowboat among the trees over lapping water. Happiness is walking among the trees and being surrounded by violets and weeping willows. Catherine Helen Osler, Grade 6 Happiness is friendship. Sharing secrets, holding hands, and being able to trust a friend is happiness. Happiness is playing in a fort at school together. Walking hand in hand smiling from ear to ear knowing that this person shares secrets and will never let you down and you will always be her best friend, forever. Wendy Wharton, Grade 6 Happiness is being alive, a beautiful little blue forget-me-not. Happiness is a warm gentle nudge, brushing my horse off, petting my dog. Happiness is having friends, letting the sun shine down on you. Happiness is reading a book, an exciting book. Happiness is walking through mud, letting it ooze through your toes. Happiness is a nice feeling. Leslie Konantz, Grade 6 Happiness is being with your friend who cares, when no one else cares. Happiness is being with your best friend alone in the wilderness. Happiness is being close to nature and picking forget-me-nots while the birds sing softly. Happiness is running free through waving golden fields. Happiness is watching a baby bloom to maturity. Happiness is climbing an apple tree in bloom. Bev Geddes, Grade 6 Happiness is looking through the trees at the sun. Happiness is lying in a patch of clover. Happiness is sitting by a quiet pond tossing pebbles. Happiness is to have the wind in your hair. Happiness is to go barefoot in the mud. Happiness is just plain nature. Agnes Borbely, Grade 6

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THE FIRST DAY I stood at the entrance of that enormous gymnasium, desperately trying to look nonchalant and self- consciously grinding the well-polished toe of my brand new black patent shoes into the tough wax shine of the never-yellow gym- nasium floor. Someone brimming with self-assurance bustled past, and I looked down to find a Hello My Name ls Jane sticker haphazardly stuck on the starchiness of my new white blouse. I-li Jane . Voices swarmed in and out of my ears and seven million people, whose blouses were a lot more faded than mine, grouped themselves around me, slapping each other's backs and discussing unforgettable summers with long lost friends. Then they moved away, before I had time to tell them that my name was really Andrea. I gulped and swallowed, nonchalantly, and wondered whether or not my father had paid the entrance fees yet. Now - When I dash through the open doors of the gym that has room for only two badminton courts, leave my dirty fingerprints entwined with others on the light switches and make black scuff marks on the tired gym floor with worn-out loafers, I sometimes stop, remembering the lonely individual who stood nonchalantly right here and I wonder if she was ever really me or ifl was ever really her. Anonymous

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Tl-IE COURTSHIP OF BLUE MOON Once upon a very very long time ago in a land that never was, but might have been, there lived a wise old king and his pretty queen. King Henry the Handsome that was the King's name, and Queen Gertrude the Great, that was the Queen's name, had a lovely daughter of nineteen. She was the loveliest girl in the world and she was called Blue Moon , because her beauty was as rare as a Blue Moon and she was as glorious to see. .slwfi 'I its One day King Henry the Handsome said promptly to Queen Gertrude the Great, I really do feel that Blue Moon should marryg after all she is almost twenty. The Queen sniffed. Yes, I suppose so, but I only want the best for her. After all, she is not only a princess, not only the most beautiful girl in the world, but she is also my daughter! So, during the next few days men by the million from all over the country came and tried to win the hand of Blue Moon. The third day of all this confusion, a handsome man of about twenty-three came all the way from Strogmesteel to propose to Blue Moon. The sight of him made you feel that he was very rich. His sharp looking white horse stood proudly by the palace door and the prince's clothes were made of the strongest velvet and finest satin. He walked up slowly to Blue Moon noticing her in her fine white lacy dress. Carefully he picked up her slim delicate hand and kissed it quickly. Blue Moon, he said slowly but firmly. You are the most beautiful girl in the world. I have seen many a girl but none has more beauty than you. Please will you marry me'? Blue Moon, although being very very lovely, was quite conceited. We1l, she whined. B1ue Moon, please I can give you riches that no other can give you. Please marry me, the prince cried out. She sighed heavily. All of the men, the hundreds, the thousands, the millions of men who have come from all over the world, I have turned down. You are very nice, perhaps the nicest yet, but still I must turn you down as I have done the others. Why? Why? With all the men who have proposed to you, why must you turn every one of them down? he questioned. Because, as you say, I am the most beautiful girl in the world, and I know it. And I know that I am too beautiful for just any ordinary prince or king such as you! The prince had no more to say. He walked away slowly, ashamed, knowing that he would never receive the love of Blue Moon. He was not only hurt, but quite mad. A guard by the palace doors mumbled to himself, Ha! There goes another reject! just made the prince furious. The prince turned around in a rage. Who are you that dares to talk to a prince in that manner? And with this, the prince turned the guard into a mute parrot. That shall teach you who to talk back to! the prince snickered as he walked away. Six months, eight months, ten months went by, but no one had won the hand of Blue Moon. One fine day, twelve months later a man came to the palace door. He wore a crown made of solid gold which had diamonds, emeralds, and rubies placed on it. His face was strong and handsome and wisps of silver hair fell from his