Clifton High School - Rotunda Yearbook (Clifton, NJ)

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THE REFLECTOR l , falling business. Since that chain store opened 'cross the way, I've lost a tol'ble lot o' customers, said Eb. Certainly is a shame, Slim observed. I still can't see, though, why you didn't sell out to them, 'stead o' lettin' them take away yore business. Nothin' doin', came back Stiles. If I can't buy and sell as I please, I don't want to do it at all. And then, most likely they'd shift me to some strange town where I'd know nobody or be known-an' I couldn't take part in the community affairs. No, sirree! I stay right here. Here's your groceries, Slim, and your change. Keep it-the change, I mean. 'Twon't do me as much good as 'twill you. The two shuffled over to the door and went out on the porch. Eb sat down on the bench there and pulled out his pipe. Then he produced his tobacco wallet. Um, he mused, peering into it, not much left. Guess I'11 have to get some inside. Well, I'll be toddlin' along now, Eb, said Slim. Be seein' yuh later- at the rest'rant. So long, Slim. Well, Eben got his tobacco. It was the last he had in the store. But Eb figured it was all right, no one would be likely to buy it anyway. Since the new chain place started business across the way, his own business had sagged, even as a clothesline sags with Monday's wash. Its prices were, nat- urally, much lower than his. Now, no one was going to pay a high price for an article when the same thing could be obtained elsewhere for a few cents less. Every penny counted, and so the Streamline Grocery Sales stuck its fangs into Stiles' business. I'm on my last legs, thought the man. Don't know how much longer I can keep on. If that store pulls its prices down any further, I'm lost. Only enough left to keep this place open. Look at all the people over there buyin' the place out. What a break some people get! Nearly all my savin's gone now. He brushed a suspicious drop from his cheek. Thought I'd be able to give Sylvia a good education and a happy life, but I guess that's just another dream gone forever. And thus his thoughts ran on. For nearly an hour and a half he sat there with his pipe, having nothing to do. Once, someone stopped in for a broom and a tin of Epsom Salts. That was all for the morning. At noon he locked up his dingy establishment and walked over to the lunch room. Entering the place he went to the rear, where he found Perkins munching a ham on rye. Hello, greeted Slim. 'Lo, Slim, he returned, but his words were hardly audible. Saay, what's the matter with you, anyhow? came from Slim, after he gulped the last of the sandwich. Would you be very glad if your life savin's was gone, your business 17

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THE REFLECTOR l g GRO V C? ax X- I It 4 H f - we 'il ' h- Q f, 1 ,W Deshny's Road V X 1' ia 1.12. f xx i By Richard H. Young, june '37 ' K 1 W K T l.f1.vs if l- 'if N I - fi'-lll l fe : The time-worn Four-wheels and T p ' - Goes rolled to a stop in front of the ar g:-D Colinsville General Store-rolled to f 'W T f 'So 7 a stop because that was all it could do. Long ago its brakes had been consumed on the daily trip from Ebenezer Stiles' home to his store, a distance of about a mile. The road running out that way was little used because of its danger spots. Chief among these was the Devils Slide. Leading from town the road at one point made a sharp right turn, dipped down at a terrific angle, and a thousand feet down the hill swerved left around a rock wall. Straight ahead lay the Slide. A thin board fence was the only protection from a perpendicular drop to the rocks below. Thus had the brakes been used up, and lately Stiles had used another road. So much by way of explanation-and back to town. Eb Stiles detached himself from the steering'wheel, climbed down to the dust, and ambled over to his store. . 'Mawnin', drawled a bystander. Eb looked up and beheld the person of Slim Perkins, Eb's oldest friend and best customer. 'Mawnin', returned Eb, as he drew out his jangling keys and opened the store. Bin waitin' here 'bout half hour, said Slim. But I don't mind, so long as it helps you. Thanks, returned Stiles. A friend in need is a friend indeed, he thought. With that, he walked over behind the counter to serve his friend. What'1l it be this mawnin'P he asked. Quart 'uh milk, roll 'uh Hypaper, some apples-and a fryin' pan. Need a new fryin' pan, eh? Well, I've just one left. Dollar and a half. But I'll let you have it for a dollar. Nothing doing! ejaculated the customer. You charge me full price and fergit it. Ed added up the amount, and as he did so, a slight haze came into his eyes. Here, he rel-lected, was one who had stood with him through thick and thin. Long years ago they had had many good times together. Eb had got him- self a wife, but Slim remained unmarried. Then, fifteen years later, when his wife died, Slim had helped Eb in every way that he could. Only Eb's daugh- ter, Sylvia, was left, and Eb devoted all his attentions to her. just now Slim was again lending him the helping hand in supporting Ebenezer's rapidly 16

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THE RFFLECTOR , -. l- ruined, and no prospects for the future? Shore now, don't you worry. You'll come through all right. Won't he, Doc? said Slim, turning his head to the waiter at this last. Why sure, Eben. Everything's going to be just fine, was the reply. Eb was silent, except for ordering his 1neal, which was none too big. Already owe Doc eleven-forty, was Ebenezer's explanation. And next week's rent week. That ole store! And that manager! He fairly sobbed those last words. At that particular point in walked-none other than the new chain store manager. Speak of the Devil, and there he is, commented Slim under his breath. Eb jumped off the stool and started for the door. Slim grabbed him. Hey! You ain't leavin', are yuh? 'Course, 'course, I'm goin'-- Where to? Corsica? sallied Phil, the manager. Lissen here, young feller, none o' your lip. You've made me enough trouble already. With that he hurst out the door and made for his store. All afternoon Eben brooded over his misfortunes, so that when evening came he was glad to put his CLOSED FOR THE NIGHT sign in the win- dow and start for home. 1 II At home Sylvia Stiles was left to herself most of the time. This she did not mind, for she had become used to it during the five years after her mother's death, and, at twenty-three, she was capable of caring for herself. In the morning she did the housework, the afternoon was hers. Recently she had been having a visitor. A man visitor. At first he came only occasionally, but now had grown to be as regular as clockwork. His name was Philip Beeche. His occupation-manager of the Slreamline Groceries Sales in Colinsville. Phil worked on a morning shift, and therefore he con- veniently had his P. M.'s free, too. Sometimes he just came and visited. At other times he took Sylvia for a ride. Of all this her father knew nothing. On this particular afternoon: Honk, honk! O Sylvia! Coming, Phil. A slim Hgure ran from house to car. What'll it be this afternoon? A ride, I think. The door slammed, the motor whined, and a cloud of dust curled as the powerful car moved off and quickly gathered momentum. They talked on that ride. Talked a lot. About the scenery, about people, and in particular about themselves. They talked of love-and even of mar- riage. It was Phil who opened up this topic. Sylvia, YesP Why don't you and I get married? Out of a clear sky, mind you. Wha-wha-why, Phil, you're joking! No, I mean every word I say. I love you and you-- he paused, you do love me, don't you? 18