Fryeburg Academy - Academy Bell Yearbook (Fryeburg, ME)

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The Academy Bell 27 SIMPLY RAVISHINGI ALDADDY, dear, don't you think I look sophisticated Pi, What now?n I groaned impatiently, and turned wearily toward the door in answer to my young daughter's startling inquiry. Ye Gods! I gasped, turning rather pale and grabbing at the mantle-piece for support. 'KWhat on earth did you do to yourself? Were you in an accident? Are you sick, Marty? Is it catching?', Why, daddy dear, fof late she had taken to calling me daddy dear, usually spoken in the tone one uses when speaking to half-wits and idiotsj I simply asked you a question. Don't you think I look simply ravishing? Iohnny's coming over tonight, daddy dear, and I wanted to look simply devastatingf' She twirled around on tiptoe several times for my inspection, and stopped her whirling-dervish act only when the phone rang. Oh, there's the phone. Don't bother, daddy. I'll get it. As she tripped mincingly across the room to the phone, I sat down heavily and meditated on the problems of having a 'teen-age daughter. My head was whirl- ing and my brain was in a muddle. So that was what Marty considered sophistica- tion, was it? And, what was worse, she evidently thought Iohnny would agree with her- hook, line, and sinkerf' What next? Two weeks ago she had imagined herself a Southern belle, and had gone around saying in heart-melting tones, How are you-all? and Ah simply adore the smell of magnolia blossoms, and anything else that she con- sidered to sound typically Southern. Last week her idol had been Ingrid Bergman, and she had gone Hall out', for that healthy, outdoor lookfl At least it was a change, though, and we all ac- cepted it loyally, and remained silent every time we saw her dash from the house, her just-scrubbed face shining like a headlight, unpainted lips looking strangely pale in contrast to her usual abundance of make-up, and her auburn hair definite proof that the comb hadn't even had a look at it. This latest quirk was too much for even me, though. Sophistication! 'LSimply devastating! she had said. Well, I could, in all honesty, agree that she was devas- tating, but more in the way ofa bazookagun than a potential I-ledy Lamarr. I was still puzzling over the strange and unexplainable fads and fancies of the younger generation, when Marty hung up the receiver and advanced towards me, mincing uncertainly along on her three-inch heels. Her hair was piled high on her head and fastened insecurely with several jeweled combs--the whole thing gave the curious effect of a leaning tower of Pisa. Her eyebrows had been plucked nearly to the non-existent state, and she had on enough mascara and eye-shadow to outdo Theda Bara herself. She had evi- dently had an argument with herself as to whether her lips would look more devastating painted in a Cupid,s bowu or left en naturalef' The result was Gene Tierney on one side and Marty Iohnson on the other. To lend the final unique touch, Marty was wearing a most peculiar get-up. At

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26 The Academy Bell EEK-A MOUSE! IT was Valentine's Day and Sandy and I were hurrying back from downtown so that we might make Alumni I-Iouse's 5:30 dead-line just on the dot, per usual. As we trudged along, laboriously picking up and laying down our heavy storm boots, one of us suddenly stopped short and uttered a stifled cry, Look, it's a mouseln Now, don't let me give the impression that we two girls were frightened by a mouse. Oh, no, nothing like that! It was just that the little gray animal running around in circles on the ice-covered sidewalk before us startled us for a moment. We were perfectly all right after we had disentangled our arms from about each other, and I had let go the strangle hold I had acquired on Sandra's neck. Indeed, Sandra, the braver of us two, even leaned over and picked our little friend up by the tail. As we stood there, gazing doubtfully down at him, the clever thing gave a leap and plunged into the snowbank. Not wanting him to escape so easily, we dived after him and a minute later our friend mouse was safely tucked away in- side Sandy's mitten. Sandrais face lighted up as she exclaimed, I've a brilliant idea! On Valentine's Day you're supposed to give gifts to those you like, aren't you? Which teacher's on duty today?', I, immediately conceiving Sandra,s idea, answered, Miss Moore's on dutyf' Then I echoed, somewhat less heartily, 'AThat is a brilliant idea. About three minutes later Miss Moore opened her door in answer to a timid knock and greeted two slightly hesitant, but mischievous-looking girls. After a few preliminary words and motions, I managed to extricate the mouse from in- side folds of the mitten and thrust it toward our startled teacher. Miss Moore glanced once at the poor little innocent thing and, with a scream, jumped up on the bed. The scream pierced the room so loudly that it shocked to a standstill the entire third Hoof except the mouse. He shot from my hands and darted under a chair. Then followed such a racket as Alumni House never hopes to hear again. Such a slamming of doors, scraping of chairs, creaking of mattresses, thumping of wastebaskets, and squealing of fright and laughter that came from inside that room! When Miss Moore emerged from her room about fifteen minutes later, she was bearing both a triumphant smile on her face and the mouse in a kleenex box. She glanced at Sandra and me, who, panting wearily, were straggling out be- hind her. Incidentally, Miss Watson said that her cat enjoyed his supper very much that night. Too, the doctor said that the gash in Sandrais finger where the mouse bit her would heal up soon, in fact, it would scarcely be noticeable in a week or two. MARILY'N Gnans, '46

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28 The Academy Bc!! first glance it appeared to be a masquerade costume of one sort or another, but upon closer examination, it proved to be a slinky black dinner dress of about 1930 vintage, slit to the knee, and fitting her slender form as if she'd been poured into it. My dear Marty,', I began. I wondered how to go about the delicate task of telling my young daughter that she looked devastating in the worst sense of the word. Taking a deep breath, I began again. Marty, you certainly don't intend to show yourself to Iohnny in that state, do you? Not that you don't look- uh-'simply devastatingf, as you put it. I has- tened to add, But donit you think - -F Before I could continue, the doorbell rang insistently, and glancing in the mir- ror and assuming an aloof and nonchalant countenance, Marty glided gracefully through the hall and Hung open the door. K'I'm so glad you could come, Iohnny dear. Won't you come inP', From my Hringside seatn in the study I could hear everything that was said in the next room, and couldn't resist the temptation of eavesdropping when my be- wildering daughter, suddenly dropping her newest role as 'Kwoman of the world, exclaimed: Oh, we almost missed the Hit Parade! Don't you think Frankie has a simply devastating voice, Iohnny? Naw, I think he stinks!,' came the uncomplimentary, but descriptive reply. I don't see what you dames see in that 1 18-pound, anemic vitamin peddlerf' He is not, Iohnny Towers! He's-he's-a dream! That's what he is! I cer- tainly hope you didnit come over here just to run down Frankie! If you did, I never want to see you again. Maybe that's a good idea, you-you-chameleon. Why don'tcha make up your mind whether youire a Southern belle or an outdoor girl or-or -. By the way, what are you trying to be today, anyway? I thought you looked funny when I came in tonight, now I know why. You forgot to remove the mudpackf' Although the two weren't in my line of vision, I had seen Marty go into one of her tantrums many times before, and I knew what was coming. I waited with bated breath for the inevitable outburst. It came. Iohnny Towers, you get right out of my house! I hate you! I don,t know why I ever had anything to do with a child like you, anyway! Get out of here and grow up-before I throw something! She flung open the front door and pointed dramatically toward the street. But Iohnny remained long enough to have the last word. He grinned broadly and said, O. K. Hedy, you win the first round, but don't plan on seeing me very soon, because if I have to wait until I grow up before darkening your door again, then I'l1 still have to wait a few years for you to gain some common sense. Or have you forgotten that you're exactly three years, two months, and eight days younger than I am? With this parting thrust he was off down the street. I hastened into the hall, thinking to console Marty and assure her that he'd be back, just like the other six times sheid ordered him out of her life forever. But my amazing daughter had again changed personalities. From the gleam in her eye