Broad Ripple High School - Riparian Yearbook (Indianapolis, IN)

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Skort Slow THE CAT FROM OKLAHOMA As Johnny Stone and I walked to Jeanne ' s that night I told him of the problem the girls were facing, in the arrival of Jeanne ' s cousin from Oklahoma. At the last meeting, they say she had hair like straw and her teeth in braces. That was only two years ago so there is little hope of change. You see what a drag she ' s going to be on us, particularly with the Annual Sweater Hop approaching. Just then we turned up the walk to Jeanne ' s and I saw through the open door a girl standing at the library window, and when she turned, I gasped. I must have looked dread- fully silly, but it was a terrible shock, for she was absolutely pretty, with silky blonde hair, and brown eyes and a smile that simply floored me. Jeanne introduced us and I said hello in a weak voice. Then Jeanne said, Lennie, may I present Johnny Stone? Johnny, this is Lennie Mathews, my cousin. Lennie smiled at Johnny, and when I saw an interested look in his eyes, I knew I was sunk. This Lennie Mathews was going to be a source of trouble in Jeanne and my lives. Not the kind we had looked for, either. Jim Hallings, Jeanne ' s O.A.O., was a sucker for blondes, too. A little later, Jeanne drew me into the hall, and when I looked at her, I saw murder in her eyes. Kattie , she said solemnly, will you stick with me in this crisis? Sure, I answered. I ' ve thought of a plan, she continued. She doesn ' t like swing; we can take her to the hop, and — And make her look like a fool in front of everybody! I cried happily. Right, drip! We ' ll play a game in which she ' ll have to give a definition of swing, or for a forfeit, she ' ll have to get up in front of everybody and demonstrate a dance step. Just as we shook hands, I noticed a small shape dart down the hall. I dashed after it and caught it. It was my little brother, Bobs, better known as The Imp . What are you doing here? How much have you heard? I asked, through clenched teeth. Playing with Mat Kingston, an ' I heard enough. Hey, leggo, he yelled, as I shook him by the arm. He jerked out of my grasp, and fled. I looked at Jeanne, and she shrugged and said, All we can do is hope. When Wednesday rolled around, I was so nervous that I forgot all my dates (his- torical), and flunked a history test. When school finally let out, I put on my face, and went down to the gym, where the kids had started to pour in. I waited at the refreshment table for John to appear. Jeanne joined me, and together we cooled our heels. At last Jeanne jabbed me with her elbow, and whispered, There they are. There they were indeed; Lennie with John, and Jim dancing attendance. The gym was about filled, so Jeanne announced that the games would begin. She explained the game and said, Lennie Mathews, you may be the first with the definition of swing. Lennie walked to the front of the room and said, You all know what swing has been like up to the present. I don ' t know what comes next; if I did, I ' d already be waxing it. Not being a paper man or using Memphis stuff, on account of I ' m strictly New Orleans at heart, I just let the gate swing wide. The ' ickeys ' had their measure, and now the cats ' like it wacky. The Barrel House Jam; that ' s got a rug cutting groove. Something on the Floy-Floy side. A stick man carrying the alligators, who always wants to go out of the world, can ' t be sizzling about tomorrow. Once that hide beater starts going away, you get swamp fever too, getting off the sucker stick and slip- horn. Only me, being a sender from a way back, I just hang it in the clouds and every- body ' s happy. At first there was an incredulous silence, and then all the studes broke into thunderous applause. To make a long story short, Lennie was made at Melhew High. Jeanne and I left as soon as we decently could and went home. Jeanne decided that it would be best to face Lennie there while I went home and wormed a confession out of Bobs. He admitted having told Lennie all about our plans, and said that she had merely stood still after he told her, and looked sort of queer and sad. I began to feel pangs of regret at that, and when Jeanne told me later what Lennie had done, I felt lower than the bottom button on a snake ' s vest. Jim had told Jeanne all about it. He said that Lennie had read several books on swing, and had given excerpts from these at the hop. But, as I have mentioned before, Jeanne has a peculiar knack of getting along with people, and she confessed all to Lennie, and Lennie forgave us both. So the bunch of us ambled down to the drugstore and had sodas. Adrienne Robinson.

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p, oerns PROCRASTINATION The curse of mankind, To my great sorrow — I should do it right now, But I ' ll do it tomorrow! Merton Brooks. REGRET My lips tremble as I speak your name, Though I ' ve tried so hard to forget; In time I ' ll speak it as others do, But oh, not yet, not yet. Perhaps some day I ' ll think of you Without this deep regret, And remember you as others do; But oh, not yet, not yet. Dorothy Minor. LAST YEAR ' S SONATA Adagio, melancholy prelude — a suspension delaying disaster, Allegretto, sweet assurance made by summer ' s languor — Peace, Agitato, wild crashing dissonance — War. Kathryn Westphal. FALLING LEAVES Dry leaves float down with every gust Because old autumn says they must! Mary Huffman. LIKES AND DISLIKES I like good clean fun. I like movies, not the long prosaic ones but the ones of action and romance. I like to drive on cool summer evenings or just after the rain. I like to travel — to see America first. I like to eat — to visit swanky restaurants and clubs. I like girls — the quiet and reserved type. I like money. I like bowling — I delight in seeing the ball spin down the alley toward the funny looking pins. I like tennis and ping pong. I like to go to church. I like church socials occasionally. I love God. I hate loud and boisterous people, the ones that curse and swear. I despise drunkeness. I hate conceit and high-hattedness. I hate aggressive girls, with painted lips. I hate laziness. I hate golf, the game that calls for extensive walking after nothing but a ball. I despise hypocrites. Herman Rugenstein. KALEIDOSCOPE Of smiling eyes And laughing lips, Of gay hellos And ready quips; A gaunt, grave, man With greying hair, And students fain To meet his dare; A friendly teacher — A cheer-filled bleacher- A rippling river — A chugging flivver — A white book-page, A bell just rung; Eager hall crowds, A song, half-sung; Green campus peace, So far from strife; A silhouette Of youth on life — This is Broad Ripple. Jeanne Gass.

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future Jjroav Jvipple WHAT WE ARE TO BE, WE ARE NOW BECOMING . . . This is the motto of the Broad Ripple Senior Class of 1940, but it may well be passed on as a timely reminder to the guardians of Ripple ' s future, the under classmen. We are proud of Ripple ' s past. It is colored with honorable tradi- tions, glorious victories, and worthy achievements. But, in spite of our pride, we must not rest on past laurels. We are more proud of Ripple ' s present. Never have higher goals been attained. New records are established each year. The school has doubled and redoubled many times in size, honor, and reputa- tion. It is on this, the living present, that the school ' s future is based. It does not take an astrologer, a seer, or a prophet, to realize some of the many possibilities of this future: The spacious campus, bordered by a picturesque flowing river, may become a particular beauty spot of Indianapolis . . . New wings may be added to the school, or may replace older buildings . . . Tennis courts, archers ' galleries, soccer grounds, golf driving ranges, and even a swimming pool or skating rink may be developed on our generous athletic fields ... A modern parking lot, or internal courtyard may be made . . . White River may supply endless pleasures with boat- ing and other water sports . . . New rooms, new facilities, new courses of study, may be offered in addition to those we now have. More important than any of these material gains, are the retaining and increasing of the spirits of loyalty and comradeship so char- acteristic of Broad Ripple High School. May the torch of Broad Ripple tradition burn higher as it passes into other hands in the coming years. May it be tended with care, and brightened with fires of enthusiasm and zealous endeavor. The foundation for a glorious future must be laid within the heart of every Ripplite. The structure builded upon that foundation must be constructed, not of idle talk and empty purposes, but of definite action, performed with a goal of achievement always before the builders — a goal of Broader, Richer, Human Service.