Glenville High School - Olympiad Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

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THE REFLECTOR “You’d tear the clothes—and besides, you might break your neck.” Not disheartened, I proceeded. “Then, since the key won't turn in the lock, why not use that stick in the corner as a lever?” This plan proved very disastrous for the key broke off in the lock, and we were in a worse plight than ever. “You are a nice one,” Mother contributed. I tried to rid myself of surplus wrath by kicking and banging on the door which I had recently so revered. Suddenly light dawned. The door had been stuck with dampness and would probably now open if we had only not broken the key. “I’ll bet there's a key in that purse of yours that’ll fit this lock.” At last this proved the “Open Sesame and once more we were free to roam at large. As Patsie purred contentedly we were not afraid to go below stairs. ‘‘Ha! Ha! That’s a funny pickle we got ourselves into! “We!” snorted Mother, “Who started this scare anyhow?” “It’s funny just the same.” And so it is, as I now look at it. although my self-esteem has suffered in that I have been proven a base coward in the face of imaginary danger. Frances Bath rick. THE ELOPEMENT J IMMY, aged seven years, three months and two days, was worried, terribly worried over his brother Bob. Xow it seems strange that one so young would be troubled over an adult member of his family. Bob was almost eighteen; but it is very noticeable when one’s big brother, usually so ready to tease, just sits around looking glum, and flies right up in the air, so to speak, when one addresses him. And this is the way Jimmy’s big brother had been acting for two whole days. Surely there was something the matter. And that “matter” was what Jimmy was trying to figure out. This small innocent brother had just asked some trifling question of Bob, who was busily engaged with pen and paper, and had been sent off with a Darn it! Get out o' here! Can't you see I’m busy?” Jimmy, dumb-founded at his brother’s attitude toward him, took himself meekly off to reflect on Bob’s condition. What was the matter? he asked himself over and over. Surely Bob had gotten into some dreadful scrape—perhaps he had been turned down by his girl. Jimmy knew what that was like from experience and could imagine no more serious trouble—except perhaps having to keep dressed up on Sunday or hav- ing to study arithmetic in place of playing ball. But what would he be so busy writing for if this were the trouble? He had seen no occasion for writing when the saucy little Miss Jean had snubbed him. He wandered aimlessly through the house trying to solve the mystery. He went to the library where his brother had been writing. Bob was gone, but a sheet of writing paper lay unfolded on the desk. He drew closer. Surely there would be no harm in reading what was on it. Jimmy was no sneak and would not have thought of prying into his brother’s private affairs just to satisfy his own curiosity; but he felt certain that paper had something to do with the thing that was troubling Bob. Then it was Jimmy’s duty, he reasoned, to read the note—whatever it might be—and stand ready to help his brother if the occasion required his assistance. He picked up the sheet of note paper in a trembling hand and read: Dear Frank:- I have done everything in my power to persuade the pater to allow me to have Elizabeth. He absolutely refuses—says I'm too young and all that sort of thing. I must have her right away! I can’t possibly get along without her. I’m desperate. So, my dear fellow, I am going 27

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THE REFLECTOR eyes, I began to feel foolish over my unreasonable agitation. “Well,” I repeated indignantly, “she was growling at something ! Still inwardly shivering, I followed mother upstairs, when I heard more remarks from the irate Patsie below. “Patsie,” I summoned, sternly, “come here at once! She, interested, obeyed not. Scraping up all the courage I possessed, I dashed wildly down the stairs and up again with the recreant animal. If you growl again. I'll spank you, you naughty thing! One unacquainted with cat nature might think this terrible threat sufficient, but Patsie promptly emitted another stirring yowl into the dark area below stairs. “Mother,” I said in firm tones, we must put something over the stairway so that the person can’t get up. I must here pause long enough to advise the abandonment of this narrative in case you have never experienced the terrors which the imagination is capable of calling forth. Otherwise you are not sympathetic with my state of mind. After we had fastened a window shutter over the trap, we heaved a sigh of relief. At any rate, if the villain should attempt to climb the stairs in the dark he would whack his head soundly on the shutter, thus giving loud warning of approach. In spite of this barrier, we felt safer in the next room which could be securely locked from the inside. How very securely, we did not as yet comprehend. With many stumblings and awkward shin bumpings, we carried a small cot into this room, which heretofore had not been used for sleeping. With great perseverance we coaxed our reluctant pet from the attractive stairway into our harbor of refuge, whereupon we securely locked the door. The room was small with sloping roof and unfinished rafters, but it seemed beautiful to me because it offered comparative safety; and I never remember holding greater admiration for a door than that one which closed us in, for it was a very strong, substantial appearing door, truly a noble door, thought I. Like a true martyr I lay on the floor, with mother on the cot next me. Her hand in mine seemed the only link between myself and safety, as we lay listening to those peculiar night noises which are most noticeable when one especially wishes not to hear them. How the wind sighed in the rain-laden trees; how drearily the waves washed upon the beach! Thud! My common sense counseled, “Merely the screen door banging.” My fear suggested, “An unwary footstep! Gradually, however, drowsiness possessed me, and away I slid into the realm of unconsciousness. In total disregard of our topsy-turvy world, the sun punctually rose in his usual splendor and wakened us early. The fear of the night seemed a nightmare, yet a remnant of it haunted me. Accordingly I waited for Mother to suggest the opening of the door. “Of course,” I assented, while she proceeded confidently. (A few seconds of fumbling with the key). “It won’t open!” “Won't open?” I cried in disgust, “Well just let me try my hand at it. After many vain attempts 1 gave up. “We are locked in! I remarked brightly, revealing a great truth. “Indeed, Mother replied dryly. “We must get out, I added in explanation. “True.” “In the first place, I said, thinking of a recent movie, “is there a rope in this room? I could tie it to the bed post and slide out the window.” In the first place there is no rope, and again, in the second place, there being only a cot in the room, how can there be a bedpost ?” Although I hated to give up this daring plan, I reluctantly agreed with her argument. However.' I was ready with another proposition: “Why not tie the bed clothes together and fasten them to the doorknob ?’’ “Nothing of the sort. retorted Mother. 26

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THE REE LECTOR to run away with her tonight. The pater and mater are to l;e out late tonight, so all’s well in that direction. I know you’ll stand by me, old man, so I asked you to please meet me at our garage tonight at 9:45 sharp, to talk matters over. I will Lc there waiting for you. Yours in confidence, Bob ' Jimmy's eyes wandered over this note several times before the awful truth dawned upon him. So this was what Boh had been pondering for the last two days! The terrible meaning of the words stunned him. Bob was going to elope that night with Elizabeth Somebody! Jimmy knew all about eloping for he had read one of Bob’s books that dealt with this very subject. The hero and heroine had stolen away in the dead of night and were never seen again. And this was what Bob, his big brave brother was going to do! It was terrible! A pang went through his heart at the remembrance of all the mean things he had ever said or done to Bob. Why had he torn a leaf out of Bob’s history book last Tuesday so what Bob couldn’t get his lesson, just because Jimmy had wanted to “get even with him” for not helping him with his arithmetic the day before? Oh, why had he done it! A big tear oozed out of one eye and splashed onto the desk. He realized now that he had the best brother in the world. And he was going to leave that night! Those awful words loomed up in his mind again and again. “I am going to run away with her tonight.” Jimmy lay in bed, to all appearance sleeping. but he was really listening for the clock to strike nine-thirty. The contents of that dreadful note had filled his mind all afternoon. When Bob had asked him if he would take a little note over to Frank’s house for him (Frank was Bob’s best friend), Jimmy’s voice fairly trembled as he answered in the affirmative, and he had to run out of the room before his brother would see the tears that the sight of him brought, for although Jimmy was not usually very emotional, any trouble with Bob always seemed to bring tears to the surface. He had been tempted to tear the note up and not give it to Frank at all. But he thought there would be little use in that.and. besides, Jimmy was an honest fellow and was bound to keep a promise. So he had delivered the dreadful message. But in the course of the afternoon he had decided to follow his brother as far as he could. He could at least go to the garage and hear what Bob’s plans were. So now he was only waiting for the clock to warn him that it was time to steal from the house into the dark night. Finally, out of the stillness, came one short stroke of the clock. A tiny shiver crept down Jimmy’s spine. His room was in the back of the house, with a window just over the porch. Jimmy, silent as a cat. stepped out on the porch roof, slid down a post to the porch, gave one leap and landed in the back yard. It was early June and the night was perfect. The moon was shining almost too brightly for Jimmy’s comfort. He crept along in the shadows to a window of the garage. He had broken the glass a few days ago when he batted a ball through it. He had felt dreadful about it then, for his father had said that he would have to pay for having new glass put in with his own money; but now he felt rather thankful that the accident had occurred, for that solved the mystery of getting inside. He crawled in and looked around. He barely had time to get his eyes accustomed to the darkness when he heard a step outside. It was Bob’s. He scrambled into the back of his father’s little Ford car, and crouched down on the floor, just as Bob carefully pushed open the door. Jimmy wanted to erv out when he saw Bob, and implore him not to run away, but he choked back the words and waited in silence. In a few moments he saw Frank’s tall form glide up to the door. Bob stepped outside at Frank’s low whistle, and much to Jimmy’s disappointment the two fellows stood outside just where the door hid them from view. All that came to Jimmy was a low murmur of voices. He strained his 28