Battin High School - Red and White Yearbook (Elizabeth, NJ)

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Yes, yes, Ma, hurry now! came the chorus of the kids' voices. The car had two folding-chairs in the back, still it was quite a prob- lem to seat fourteen people. We must have looked a lot like the family in Cheaper by the Dozen, only more absurd riding down the streets in our bathing suits. I think I have the seating right. Let's see: Daddy up front, with Momma holding Marc, and Iudy in the middle. The back seat was always a more serious problem. The big girls would not sit on the folding-chairs and the little ones objected because they had sat on them the last time. Lee said grumpily, Daddy, you said we could sit on the big seats this time. Let Estelle and Lucille sit there. It became bedlam with the screaming and yelling until a superior voice rang out: Be quiet, or I'll send all of you back into the house! I'll have my head examined if I take you anywhere again! Momma said, Please, Abe, sh, don't get excited. I'm not excited, he cried indignantly. We younger ones would be subdued for a while, angrily taking our assigned seats while the four haughty older girls looked on. As the saying might go, In summer a child's fancy turns to food. Iudy was eating a plum and Diane grappled with her for a bite. Lee was bothering a bee and a moment later it stung him. Marc was climbing back and forth, undecided as to whether to stay up front or go in the back, being coaxed from both sides. It was like a three-ring circus. Finally, we got started, with some of us crying, others laughing, some contented, some angry, but all going swimming at Lake Hopatcong. LEONA GOLDBLATT, '50

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Jade .J47Ql96lfC0l'Lg, efe 0 GW!! ! It ,was an impossibility for a family of our size ftwelve childrenj to be ready for a trip any earlier than ten-thirty in the morning, but inevit- ably Marc and David, my younger brothers, would shake me at eight, whispering, Hurry and put on our bathing suits. We'll be late. Oh, but kids, it's so early! We're not going swimming for a long time yet, would come my annoyed reply. But they always had their way and with their bathing suits on, they would keep crying, Momma, aren't you ready yet? The preparations for our trip to Lake Hopatcong were varied. I really dreaded walking into the kitchen. It was in such turmoil, with Momma running everywhere at once. She told Lee to wash the jug for lemonade, but when she was finally ready for it, we discovered he had gonewith Daddy. One could hardly blame Mom for being upset. Leona, where are the lemons? There are not enough ice cubes. Where is the wax paper? I had it here just a minute ago. ' lt's under the funnies, Ma. Why can't you have things ready for me when I need them? Soon the time came to awaken the three sleeping beauties, my older sisters. This was not so easy as it sounds! The kids would do almost everything but throw cold water into their faces. Finally, the three would stumble down' the steps, half-asleep, complaining about those bad kids: They were getting up right away and there was no need to rush them. When we heard the chugging of the big Buick, we knewthat the rest of the food had arrived. It wouldn't be too long now. Then we heard that dreaded sound just as Marc, David, Diane, Iudy, and Lee were emerging from the car: S-s-s-s-s-s-s-s! A FLAT! Amid the Ohs and Goshes came the calm statement of Daddy: It's better that we have it now than when we get started. Then we had to listen for live minutes to Carole's dramatics as she insisted she wouldn't go swimming if she had to wear that ugly suit. fAt eight Carole wants to be a bathing beautyj. A large family must economize and new bathing suits cannot be bought each year for every- one. The suits were handed down and were often far from being a perfect fit. Last-minute orders were being given by Momma. Diane was carry- ing a bag of food out to the car when she stopped, aghast. uludy! My pants fell! We had our embarrassing moments. Now all that was left for Momma to do was check the kids and miscellaneous items. I Is the food in the trunk? Bring the papers for me to read. Abe, did all the children use the bathroom? I'm not going to stop on the way.

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XJQJ ll I I M W1 I N l A531 hsffmg ntl? IT X5 It was ultra, ultra, ultra! It was gorgeous, it was fine. It was Clara Bow in ermine, It was Swanson sipping wine, I t was llappers, It was fringes, It was pearls and furs and hinges, It was college tunes and coats of coon, and shingled bobs and gangster mobs. It was fabulous, glorious, stupendous and dee-vine. I t came fast and it lived fast- - It passed away in time! . ' ANGELA VERLENGERI, 'go No more I 'll dance from man to man. I-Ie's mine to keep . . . hm-m-m . . . if I can. CLARE KALLIO, '51 Now comes the time for the Senior Hop. Now to End someone who's got a jalop. CONNIE Wrucmay, 'go 16 Umar Hearts . . . I wish I was a Happer With a 1920 air, Then I could wear a frizzled mop, And hats that hide my hair. I 'd wear my stocking to my lcnee And tie it in a knot. My face would be all painted, With a heart-shaped beauty dot. Around my hips there'd be a belt , Of bright fringed orange satin. At night I'd study how to woo, And never learn my Latin. I 'd smolce ten packs of cigs a day And live on whisky sours- Dancing to a Charleston tune, I 'd while away the hours. She must be crazy, you may say, And wonder why I act this way. lt's 'cause I've gone to see today The play, Our Hearts Were Young and Gay. CONNIE WRIGLEY, 'go GROWING PAINS or YOUNG GIRLS' LAMENT We heard the sound of dancing feet, We felt the rhythm of their beat. The flashing whirl of sillcs and lace, The breathless, fascinating pace. Our eyes reflected many hues, Enchanted pictures loathe to lose. . In later days will come our chance, Then we will join the carefree dance. JUDY F ELDMAN, '50 L ut, l