Dominican College of San Rafael - Firebrand Yearbook (San Rafael, CA)

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Revolutionary War on. If you are very careful and promise not to crease the pages— I simply cannot tol- erate creased pages— I ' ll lend it to you. Mike: Thanks, Mr. Kline, ah . . . but ... I was never too good at history and, well . . . ah . . . Harry: Ya know. Prof, what I read in the noospaper the other day? It was about this professor, see? And he kept givin ' his students homework, homework, and all the time more homework, see? He kept forcin ' more and more on them all the time, see? Ya know what happened? One day they found him down by the crick (he looks menacingly at Henry) all in little tiny pieces. See? Mike: Golly ... Henry: Well really, absurd. (He shrinks down in his blankets after a quick glance at Harry, and re- sumes his reading.) Harry: You cut, Mike. (He picks up his cards.) Ya know, I really can ' t place no blame on them kids. I couldn ' t stand homework either. I always had a mind for the business world. Boy, I let ' em know too, and walked out of school and left ' em flat in the second grade. Henry: (Looks up from his book.) I might be bold enough to add that, for once, your story is not hard to believe. 104

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the fourth bed is in darkness. Harry Blain, the occu- pant of the first bed, is speaking. Harry: Hey, Mike, how about a game, huh? Mike: Ah gee, Harry, you took practically my last cent last night. I ' m getting out of here pretty soon and I ' ve gotta save up. Harry: So what? (He shuffles the cards enticingly.) Besides, it ' s all in the cards, and you might win you know. Why I won a thousand bucks in a few weeks over there, and boy, oh boy, that ain ' t hay. Just think what you could buy with that, and I got it to lose too. Mike: Trouble is Harry, I ' m new at the game, and I don ' t want to take the chance. H-arry: What ' s that, son? I was new at it too when I started. Henry: (Looking up from his book) New at it thirty years ago you mean, don ' t you old chap? Harry: Shut up, Kline, you ' re ruining my good honest business. (He looks winningly at Mike.) Come on kid, just a few hands before we turn in. It ' s good for the brain, makes you think. Henry: May I give you a word of advice, Michael? Cards are a definite hindrance to the mind. They not only hinder it, but they actually degrade it. Here, (he offers a large book) I have a wonderful history on the diplomatic affairs of the American people from the 103

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(As Harry is about to answer, a muffled groan is heard from the fourth bed.) Harry: (Whispering) Hey Mike, what ' s wrong with the kid? He ain ' t said a word since we got here. I guess he ' s taking it kinda hard. Sure wish we could get him interested in some cards or somethin ' . Mike: (In a sad, slow voice) He wants to die. (Kline puts down his book and looks at the huddled figure. He passes his hands across his eyes, leans back on the pillows, and stares at the ceiling, on his face the sad look of knowledge of what the boy is going through. The door on the left opens, and a stern look- ing middle-aged nurse comes in. She goes directly to Harry ' s bed and takes his pidse.) Nurse: (With dry humor) What ' s the matter with you, Mr. Blain, lose at cards? You look like you ' re ready to be buried. And what about these pills? You should have been out of here ten days ago. You ' re using up the taxpayers ' money and taking up space. Why, you should be out there now, running one of those night clubs, and keeping poor men ' s minds di- verted from these times. Here, (she shoves a ther- mometer in his mouth) and keep still while you ' ve got it in there. Harry: (Muttering) Hard hearted female if I ever saw one. 105