Edina West Upper Division - Windigo Yearbook (Edina, MN)

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This is a short talc which follows the changing life style of a preppy Edina boy who is thrown out of his normal habitat and forced to survive in the fictional town of R . Skip Topsidcr vs. Deadhead Boot Skip Topsider woke with a feeling of anticipation. He just knew Mummy and Pops were up to something. After thoroughly searching his closet. Skip decided to wear his nice new argyle sweater along with the coordinating slacks. When through dressing, he was chic down to the last stitch on mono-grammed boxers. After shining his spiffy black penny loafers one last time, he was ready for breakfast. Bouncing down the stairs, he heard the blubbering sobs of his disconsolate father. His first reaction was, “Mummy is pregnant!” However, on entering the kitchen he sensed a worse situation awaiting him. Daddy’s business, he found, had gone kaputt. Daddy was immersed in a sea of debt that swallowed the family fortune and flooded not only their emotions but their bank account, as well, with a tidal wave of grief. The absence of caviar, fine wine, and top choice sirloin would soon become apparent. To make matters worse, Skippy’s spanking new Mercedes would have to be sold along with the mansion and private golf course. The thought made him feverish. Dark, luminous clouds announced the day Skippy and his family moved into their lovely new R home. The duplex pro- vided adquate living space (for the dog), as Edina Withdrawal Skip Topsider rests his shiny lofcrs on his shiny Mercedes as he contemplates what he is sure will be a shiny future. well as a nice modern outdoor toilet. After attending the R High School for a short period of time, Skippy noticed that his style of dress was far from acceptable. He found himself being teased and ridiculed by the other guys because of his preppy paraphenalia. He decided a change was in order and resolved to empty his piggy bank and go on a big shopping spree. The next day he rode his Huffy up to Target for some heavy-duty school shopping. He found some good deals and walked away with thirteen articles of clothing, all for the small price of $12.99. Skip looks for a tic to match his shirt. Skip learns against his aging station wagon, in front of his new house and wonders what he will do that afternoon. 20 LEAVING EDINA

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Who do they think we are? “1 think they arc all Barbie Dolls and trendies “They’re usually not as open minded because they’re not used to the diversity that we have.’’ They're sort of stuck-up because they think they arc in a high class- in terms of money.” These quotes, taken from surveys sent to the students of Washburn and Richfield, give a general idea of the attitude other schools have dcvclopc towards Edina. Like all other schools. Edina earned (justly or unjustly) a reputation of its own- one of being “snobbish” and “closed-minded . Perhaps, the reason Edina has gained this snobbish” repute is due to other schools being envious of the school’s academic system and the standard of living our city has. Of course, some Edina students have contributed to Edina's reputation. As one Edina student (who wished to remain anonymous) put it, “Most of the people are stuck-up and fake- like the jocks, for example. Another student. Kel- ly Cathcart (10), had a different view. “I don’t think we’re all Barbie Dolls- but there are a few people who make us look that way. Besides the stuck-up reputation, we’re thought of as racist, uncultured, and protected from the real world by the shelter of our parent’s money. On the whole, most students surveyed did think of Edina in a derogatory way. However, a small percentage did give credit to the school for its athletic abilities, scholastic achievements, and a few even ventured to say that we arc “okay people and unfairly judged. The results of this survey, although critical, should not be taken too scriously-they’rc very similar to what we would say about other schools. This just about proved the statement that Edina and “Edina people were the same as people anywhere else. What is your general opinion of people who attend Edina? Good 25% Bad 46% Both 29% “They’re pretty much the same as people who attend other schools. Some arc pretty cool and some are real jerks - Washburn “Snobs” - Richfield “The girls all look like Madonna. The guys look kind of wimpy. -Richfield Do you feel Edina has a good or bad reputation? Good 30% Bad 53% Both 17% As far as schooling goes they arc good, but the people arc all so ’me’ oriented - they don’t seem to care about others” - Washburn “Bad. because everyone is rich and stuck up. - Richfield Do vou know someone from Edina? Yes 72% No 28% W'as your opinion of the school changed after vou met them? Yes 31% No 69% “Yes, I actually liked someone from Edina. I never thought I would. Washburn W'ould vou move to Edina? Yes 23% No 77% “No! No! No! Never!” - Washburn EDINA MINI-MAG 19

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 Deadhead smiles malavcnlly as he find his very fa-voritc record by Twisted Sister . On wearing his new clothes to school, he found that his bargain shopping trip had paid off. His new outfits had put him right on the bull's-eye with Richfield fashion. All the Motley girls ran their fingers over his lush velour shirt and across his body-huggin’ Wrangler boot cuts. He soon dis-covcrd the need for a gigantic pink plastic comb to protrude from his back pocket. A Richfield man never goes without life’s basic necessities, you know. With his new, long, feathery doo, the comb often came in handy, although it was mostly a status symbol. Day after day, Skip regressed more and more deeply into the styles and social habits of R culture. Breakdancing and Motley Cruc Became major influences on his mental state. Skippy Topsider changed his name to Deadhead Boot to better accomodate his new lifestyle. The sad saga of Edina withdrawal has hopefully not brought on a flood of tears, but a more mature understanding of the wide, but unfortunately, crossablc gap between Edina and Richfield. Skip and his two newest friends strut their stuff. LEAVING EDINA 21