Cumnock School - Chronicle Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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4' L I T E R A T U R E SQUARI NG THE TRIANGLE By Bill Pearson I. The beach was quite placid and undisturbed that summer's evening until a powerful red roadster ripped the silence into bits and wreaked havoc with the peaceful scene. A neat little bit of havoc was trying to get itself wreaked in the passenger seat of the roadster. There was a mathematician and a girl and, in the rumble seat behind them, a dog. To be more correct, there was a mathematician and a girl and Lionel, for we can't be quite inaccurate enough to call Lionel just a dog. True, he possessed many canine attributes, the usual shaggy coat, the long tail, the four legs. But Lionel had soul. He had dignity. He had character. In fact, he is perhaps the only individual in our story worth considering. At the moment, however, his brow was creased from the weight of a perplexing problem. The man in the driver's seat, one in whom he had not only a kindly and protective interest but also a feeling bordering on friendship, was getting himself in a most compromising position, indeed. The mathe- matical fellow was, quite unwittingly, allowing a girl to place him in the situation where he would, in the natural sequence of events, propose to her. This, Lionel felt, would be disastrous, and it was one of Lionel's petty con- ceits that he could always avert disaster. However, his bodily limitations were such that he was somewhat handi- capped. Naturally, it was impossible for him to speak to the man just before him, in order to turn the conversation diplomatically into other channels. Of course, there were numerous radical courses which he could pursue, but he dismissed them all as not being in keeping with a dignified and intelligent behavior. Nice moon, she cooed. Of, rather, yes. Rather a nice moon. You're quite right. You know there is a definite attraction between the moon and the water- Not really? A definite attraction between the moon and the water? How romantic! Tell me about it. Well, he hedged, not precisely romanticg more or less mathe- matical- Not really? she welled up and vibrated. I just adore mathematics, don't you? Why, yes, he yessed, I just adore- 76

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L I T E R A T U R E 4' the lines are the thoughts of some middle-aged man, hard, set features, with furrows between his eyes and the corners of his mouth drawn down toward his chin. The gay, drily humorous remarks are from the hand of a plump, pink and white, old lady. She has spar-kling blue eyes and a round, rosy mouth that pursed up into a rose bud instead of daring to smile for fear one, if not all, of her companions would rush up to her with a big hug and kiss. These old, musty books are the books that are put away on shelves, but instead of being forgotten, they are taken down again and again, if not to be read, just to be fondled, to be skimmed through, and the favorite pas- sages read. The more worn and handled they are, the dearer they become. Who knows, some day, if the crisp, clean, new, books are handled enough, they too will become endeared to one. We hope they are worth it, anyway, for there is no truer, more constant friend than a book. HAPPY TOWN Kay Calkins Great hills surround the little town, The sunset adds enchantment And far below one sees To the beauty of the place, The little homes of simple folk, And the sunbeans are reflected Along the winding leas. In the joy on every face. Green trees and sweet wildflowers And should the weary traveler linger, Are in every garden there. His time would be well spent. And happiness is plenty, He at last would find the meaning And sorrow very rare. Of peace and sweet content. CLOUDS OVER CUIVINOCK Bill Pearson No calcuation is so big And brave Dean Winans does not seek That it could faze Professor Trigg, A compromise with ancient Greek, Mrs. Woody tames and cripples Nor Mrs. Hovey hesitate Those monstrous passive participles, On questions highly intricate. Mr. Craig, On Guard, m'sieurl Can fence with French and still endure, But who among them bravely sees And lvlrs. Briggs-she never sees That A's exist as well as B's? The terror of Empedoclesg 75

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L l T E R A T U R E 4' Adore what, Herbert? You don't mean- Why, mathematics. Well, if you don't mean mathematics, Herbert, what DO you mean? You said you adore something. Let me guess what it is. Do let me guess, Herbert? I'd rather not, he confused himself a little more. Why, you bashful boy! Then l'll just have to tell you myself. He looked a little helpless. The harpoon was poised, but the blow was not driven home. lt was halted by a sharp sound from the rumble seat. Lionel had sneezed. When we say that Lionel sneezed, we mean some- thing historic like Socrates drank the hemlockf' or the famous words of Nathan Hale. There was so much of the fine, so much of the dignified in Lionel that the very thought of a sneeze in public disgusted his finer sensi- bilities. Nevertheless, Linoel sneezed, blasting his dignity to bits in order to save a friend. Noble. Did you hear that? The drowning man clutched at the sneeze. Hear what? That sneeze. Lionel sneezed. He sneezed, Lydia. Oh, the dogf' Her back hair flew up ever so slightly. Hope he isn't is catching cold or anything. Now, l was-- Coldl Oh, dear, maybe he is. He has such a delicate constitution. We don't get much exercise, we both have delicate constitutions. Surely not a cold! lt might be fatal, Lydia. Think of it, fatal. Oh, my poor Lionel! Now, don't distress yourself, dear. Lionel will be all right. If he gets sick, l'll take care of him. Tell me, did Lionel ever have a mother? Why-er-no, he looked troubled. I don't think he did. That's just what you need, Herbert. Both you and Lionel need the care of a fine woman. Why, yes, he began to agree. 'l see what you mean. l think we need a governess of something. Oh, not a governess, silly boy. She made the point delicately. Not only someone to take care of you, but someone to care for you l Yes, yes, of course. l think so. Not so much for me, really, as for Lionel. I must think of Lionel, you know. But who would want to care for us? Did you ask me that? she smiled. Of course l asked you. 77