Clifton High School - Rotunda Yearbook (Clifton, NJ)

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but he had made his letter at last. He sprinted on so fast that his momentum carried him right on past the umpire. He stood before the official like a man in a dream, and almost shouted that beautiful phrase: johnson for Serrinilu As Buck trotted off the field, he looked at the tense faces of the squad on the bench and shook his head wonderingly. And while the substitutes were praying for a chance to get into this game before it was over, he was hoping fervently that he would not be forced to play football in college. For Buck, you see, still hated the game. The gun went for the end of the game and another victory for Wood- cliff. jeff Miller moved out of the stands with the exuberant crowd, and chuckled softly as he thought of the one hundred crisp, new, dollar bills which were waiting for him in the pocket of Old Man Bartlett. He was still laughing as he said to himself, I know somebody who's agoin' to be awful mad when they finds out I bet their money on Woodcliff, but they'll get over it, 'cause sometimes if'n a pusson ain't got enuff sense to take care of themselves you jist gotta use your own jedgementlu .- ,i- Puppy lLove B y fuck H u gher A Play in three acts. Characters: Bob Page, a senior. Phil Graham, his friend, another senior. Kay, Phil's sister, a junior. Peggy Nixon, a pretty newcomer. to Newton. ACT I. Scene: Corridor of a high school. Bob and Phil talking on the first day of school. Phil: Say, did you see that new girl in English class? Bob: I'll say. Gee, she's a peach. What's her name? I listened hard enough, but I couldn't catch it. Phil: It's Peggy, I think. She's sure nice looking. I'd like to take her out. Bob: Not if I get there first. I'll ask Kay if she knows her and man- age an introduction. Phil: I'll see what I can do along the same lines. By the way, where'll you take her if she accepts the date? Bob: I've a bid for that De Molay dance in Passaic Saturday night. I'll ask her there. Phil: I'm going, too, but I haven't found anyone to drag yet. I think I'll beat your time. The REFLECTOR 21

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V. The snow was swirling down harder now, and made with the dying grass a slippery covering for the now-frozen turf. The Lincoln quarterback called signals and there was the sudden, hysterical clash with its drumming of feet and dull thuds of bodies against bodies. Bop Starrett hit off guard for no gain, heads down and legs driving, his body almost parallel with the ground. It had been the same way all afternoon, Buck Serrini didnit seem to be able to open that hole over there. But on that play the Woodcliff right guard made his big mistake. In order to make the tackle he deliberately stepped on Buck's hand. Something happened to Buck as the cleats ground in. He came out of the pile with his hand bloody and the flesh torn, but only shook his head in answer to the captain's inquiry and said very quietly, Skip it! In the huddle he broke the silence rule. Try that play again, joe. The quarterback was desperate and had decided to buck XX-'oodcliff's strong arial defense again, but one look at Serrini's eyes was enough. All right, in tackle left, three play. Let's go! Starrett shifted into the fullback position. The ball was snapped. His legs drove like pistons and he braced himself for the shock as he hit the forward wall. But there was no shock! He charged through a hole you could have driven a wagon through and was stopped five yards further on by a XVoodcliff secondary. On the next play they carried the Wfoodcliff right guard off the field. li ' But Buck's anger was not appeased, and Lincoln gained consistantly through their left forward wall until the Wfoodcliff secondary came up. Then they passed. It was a long forward and Terry Ackerman pulled it down out of the blue. Then he ran. Ten, twenty, thirty, forty yards down field, then- smack! The Wfoodcliff safety man hit him in a tackle which carried them both over the sideline stripe. Terry got to his feet and laughed outright. He had done it! He had beaten Old Man Jinx and something deep inside told him that he would never again know that chilling fear. He played to the end of the game like a man possessed, and somewhere in the stands Dave Ransdale, sports writer extraordinary, pulled a little slip of paper from his pocket. At the top was printed, H1934 All-State Eleven. He crossed out a name opposite Left End and wrote in Terry Ackerman . VI. There were two minutes left to play and Lincoln was freezing the ball on their own twenty-five yard stripe. There was no chance to resurrect the game now and Lincoln's only chance to keep the score down was to hold the ball. On the sidelines Coach Wilson felt Little johnny's eyes boring into him. The appeal was too great to resist. He looked over at the boy and said, just a little wearily, All right, johnson. Go on in. johnny was off the bench like a shot out of a gun. He raced onto the lield as though his life depended upon it. Three years was a long time to wait

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Bob: You're not conceited, are you? just for fun I'll bet you the price of the bid that I, and not you, take her. Phil: Done, but on this condition: The one who wins is to leave a free field and no interference afterwards. Bob: Exactly. Oh, here's Kay. Kay, do you know that girl who- Here she comes, now, introduce me, will you? Kay: Surely. Hello, Peggy. Peggy, this is my brother, Bob. Peggy: How do you do? Bob: fBows very slightlyj. Kay: And this is Phil Graham. Peggy: How do you do. Phil: I'm glad to know you. Kay: QAsidej, Yes. QAloudj, What class are you going to? Bob: QAside to Kay, Take Phil for a walk, will you? Phil: French in 205. Going my way? Kay: Yes, see you later, Bob. Bye-bye, Peggy. Bob: So-long, Phil. 'Bye, Kay. Phil: Good-bye. Peggy: Bye-bye. Bob: Which way do you go? Peggy: Oh, I have Latin in 212. Whereis that? Bob: I'll show you: come along. By the way, will you be busy Satur- day night? 1've a bid to a De Molay dance in Passaic. Phil's going and I think Kay is, too. I'd be glad if yould come with me. Peggy: Really, I don't know. Saturday? Bob: Yes. Peggy: Thank you. I think I'1l be able to go. If anything happens to prevent it, I'll let you know. Bob: Thanks awfully. Here's 212. I'll see you around a lot, I hope. Peggy: Oh, yes, I think so. ACT II. Scene: Bob's house, one month later. A party is in progress. Discovered: Bob and Peggy talking. Bob: Gee, do you know it's over a month since I met you? Peggy: Not really! Bob: Yes. Gosh, it seems like no time. Peggy: I seem to have known you and Phil and Kay for years instead of only one month. Bob: Peggy, do you-Oh, hello, Phil. Hi, Kay. Phil: Hello, Peggy, Hiya, Bob. Kay: Hello, everyone. Phil: Gee, that music is swell. Care to dance, Peggy? Peggy: Surely, excuse me, Bob. Bob: Of course. Kay, what do you think of that Phil guy? Kay: Can't you see, Bobby, dear, that he's teasing you? Phil is per- fectly safe. Bob: Don't call me Bobby. I don't: see any reason why Phil's safe. The REFLECTOR --.l..--: 22