Bourne High School - Canal Currents Yearbook (Bourne, MA)

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Canal Currents, Bourne High School In The Doghouse One day Mr. Walter Kins came home with a long, long face. He dragged his feet one after the other up the long winding path to his palatial abode. Beth, his wife, and his little spoiled brat of u son, Pete, were waiting anxiously at the window. Run, run, Petie dear. Run like mad and get Papa’s slippers and new red bathrobe that you spilled indelible ink all over ’cause you can tell he’s awfully tired and worried tonight.” Okay, Maw, but 1 forgot to tell you that I stuck chewing gum all over Papa’s slippers.” It didn’t take long for Pete to arrange Pop’s things and by the time Walter opened the door, all was in harmony, at least temporarily. Walter gave Beth a misplaced wet smack on the nose and for the only time in five years, six months, and thirteen days he totally ignored little Petie, the poor dear. Well, Beth, I’ve sad news indeed, today. My draft board has finally caught up with me. You remember I tried claiming that I had heart trouble, but they say I can’t have heart trouble because I haven’t even got a heart.” Poor Beth! No wonder she could never tell if he really loved her or not. Hey, Pop! Pay some attention to me,” hollered Petie. Not now. Shut up for once, you model child.” Well, dear, to rush up matters a bit, I must leave tomorrow morning at six o’clock.” Oh, Walter, you can’t! I won’t let you go. How can Petie and I ever find enough to eat without you?” Oh, I have provided for you. There are plenty of bones buried in the garden. I w ' on’t need them in the W.A.G.S.” Catherine Handy, ’44 If It Were Only Real! It was a warm, sunny day. My mother asked me to go down to the grocery store to get something for supper. I was rather reluctant to go as I hadn’t finished an article on Walter Pidgeon that I was reading. However I went. ( What else could I do! ) It was a w’onderful day for walking so I decided to give my bike a rest. The store was two miles away but I had all afternoon so I could take my time. I sauntered along, and about half a mile from home I saw a group of men working on the road. They were all loudly singing. I had never heard such a wonderful medley of men’s voices before. As I came nearer to them, I stopped and stared open mouthed. For I recognized among them the voices of Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Nelson Eddy, Dick Haymes, and John Charles Thomas. I thought I was seeing things, but no, they all introduced them- selves and sure enough, that’s who they were. ( I kept staring at Frankie! ) They asked me what I’d like to have them sing. By this time I had regained Pa e Twenty- four

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Canal Currents, Bourne High School The Letter In the North African desert the temperature sometimes climbs as high as 120°. It gets so hot that one can almost see and taste the heat. The Lieutenant wiped the perspiration from his forehead and resumed his writing. Suddenly an alert signal was given and the paper was hastily stuffed into his pocket as he started for his post. The paper said . . . Dear Butch, It’s awfully hot here. How are Mom and Dad and Sis? What I wouldn’t do for one of those cokes we used to get. Look, Kid, I want to tell you something. It’s one of those things you can’t say — you just have to write it. You’ll be getting your draft papers very soon. I want you to know what will happen to you that night. You’ll come home and find a short letter on the hall table saying you have been inducted. You’ll feel like choking and feel all swelled up inside. You will struggle through supper and then go to your room. You become afraid and won’t be able to stand it; so first you’ll grab your coat and go out the back door. The hill will be your first stop. It was always your refuge. Then you’ll begin remembering things. Just snatches of them but dear to you. The time your dog was killed — when you were caught smoking behind the garage — Spencer Tracy in Captains Courageous” — The Big Apple” — your first pair of long pants The coach’s voice saying. Okay, you in 24;” your first big game, you were in! — Elmer’s Tune” — Harry ' James, and Superman — December 7 The gardenia you sent her lying against her dark hair — the day you got your driver’s license You’ll remember until it hurts way down deep; then the darkened room will be your refuge. You’ll fling yourself down and start sobbing. Don’t be embarrassed; you have a right to do that. A right, because after all, hasn’t a boy the right to cry for all these things he leaves behind — the cokes and dates and hours in the locker room and exams never passed? The minute you stop crying you’ll become a man. Then you will understand why we have to fight — fight for our country and these things so that our sons may grow up as we did except that they’ll have a few more years to play baseball on that corner lot. I hope I haven’t sounded soft; we here are having a ” The hand that held the blood-stained letter clenched it until it was a crumpled wad, and a curlv black head sank down upon it. Through the head, like a merry-go-rcund swirled these words: These were found in his possession at the time of his death . . . these were . . . Then the head lifted, proudly and fearlessly. Its eyes rested on an envelope on the hall table. Natalie Pope, ’45 Page P XV enty -three

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Canal Currents, Bourne High School my voice and said, People Will Say Were in Love.” They sang it, and how! 1 thanked them and shakily walked on. I finally reached the grocery and still in a trance, I went in and up to the counter. But instead of our grouchy old grocer standing there, there stood Helmut Dantine! I was supposed to get some liver, but who can talk about liver with Dantine around! I managed to gasp out the words, take my change and liver, to go stumbling out. As I passed the post-office, I went in to see if there was any main. There was, so I went over to the window and who should wait on me but the lovely red-headed Greer Garson. This was too much. I grabbed the mail, ran out, and started for home lickety split. I began to think I was crazy and my nerves were all shot. As I ran up the road, a car came up along side of me and slowed down. The door nearest me opened and a masculine voice inquired, Would you like a lift, young lady. ” 1 stopped. I knew that voice!! Hadn ' t 1 heard it hundreds of times before! I looked at the speaker — straight into the face of Walter Pidgeon! I thought, I really am crazy,” and let out a shriek. But no, it wasn’t my scream I heard, but the ringing of the bell, which meant that third period was over. No wonder I don’t know anything about Hamlet! Edith Haslam, ’45 TONIGHT FOR ALWAYS Tonight as I sit by my window And gaze at the stars far above I am basked with the silvery moonlight And o’erwhelmed by the beauty of love. I pray, as I watch with amazement The wonder of God’s glorious night. That He will grant me faith and courage. The strength to do that which is right. Waiting and working and dreaming For the future and all that it brings Of new service, deep love, and more guidance For those glorious, abiding things. Anna Gibbs, ’44 Page Twenty -five