Holbrook High School - Echo Yearbook (Holbrook, MA)

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10 THE ECHO INFLUENCE I HE clock struck three. Both Mr. and Mrs. - Hayden sat up in their armchairs, yawn- ing’. The father was the first to speak. “Three! And he isn’t home yet!” “He’ll be here soon, though, George,” Mrs. Hayden answered soothingly. “Yes, soon! I’ve sat up night after night for the past two weeks, waiting for that boy, and he has never come in once before three o’clock. I’m so worn out that I can’t do my work at the office. I simply yawn all day ! I work all day while my son plays all night! I won’t stand for it!” “Fred is young, George. Don’t forget that,” the mother stated. “I realize he is young, and I do try to treat him as a grown person, but if this sort of thing keeps up, I shall treat him as a child!” “Hush, George, I think I hear his key in the lock,” Mrs. Hayden whispered. “Yes? Well, it’s about time!” “Sh here he comes.” A tall young man, rather good-looking, entered the room. “Good evening, folks,” he greeted them. “Still up? Oh, gee, Mom, you ought to be in bed. You, too, Dad.” “Yes?” his father said sarcastically. “Maybe if you would come home early for a change, we could get to bed!” “Gee, Dad, I just went over to the club. There were a few of the boys there, and, well er, someone suggested a game of cards and, er — I didn’t want to ” “Be a wet blanket, eh?” his father answered. “Right. Well, we kept playing, and I didn ' t notice the time.” “Well, Fred, your mother and I want you to be home before twelve after this. Do you understand?” Mr. Hayden questioned. “Sure, Dad. I promise it won’t happen again.” He started toward the stairs. “Good night, folks,” he said. “Good night, Fred,” his parents replied in unison. Fred went to his room and closed the door. He walked over to his chiffonier and looked at the newspaper picture that he had framed. It was a portrait of a very pretty young girl, dressed in riding togs. Under- neath was written, “Miss Betty Boyd — Pic- ture taken at her Summer home in San Diego”. “Gee,” he murmured, “if only — if only we could move to San Diego!” Fred couldn’t explain to his father that most of the time he spent outside was used in looking up information about San Diego. Fred could tell you what kind of city it was, the population, the different methods of transit, the important industries, the sights worth seeing, etc. He had it all down pat. He undressed slowly and went to bed and suddenly thought that he hadn’t found out anything about the important families of San Diego. “Oh, well, I’ll find out tomorrow night,” he said sleepily. The next night, or rather that night, Fred calmly stated that he was going to a lecture with the boys. “With whom?” asked his father, with emphasis on the whom. “A few of the boys, Dad,” Fred replied. “Where?” “Gordon’s Hall.” “Another lecture?” “Yes. The subject is ‘The Rights of an Airplane Owner’.” “Airplane? You don’t own an airplane.” Mr. Hayden stated. “Er — well, er — that doesn’t matter. Be- sides, I might own one some day.” “I suppose you might as well go,” his father answered. “What time are you ex- pecting to be home?” “Oh, about ten. The lecture will be over at nine-thirty.” “That’s fine, Fred,” said his mother. “Oh, I’ll be home early tonight, mother. Don’t worry about that,” he answered, kiss- ing her. Fred did not come home until after three in the morning. He came down to breakfast to face an irate father. “Don’t tell me that you went over to the club and met a few of the boys. That one is old,” his father interrupted ironically. “Of course I didn’t go to the club. I told you and mother that I was going to a lecture, and I did. When I was coming home, though,

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THE ECHO 9 HERBERT WATERS (Herbie) East Division Street “ we could see ourselves as others see us ” Hobby: Chewing Gum Activities: Glee Club, 1, 2; Baseball, 1. Herbie tries to be a sophisticated Senior, but he is unable to fulfill his desires. JOHN WATKINS (Johnnie) South Franklin Street “He will laugh thee to scorn ” Hobby: Laughing at other people’s mistakes Activities: Senior Drama, 4; Baseball, 3, 4; Glee Club, 1, 2; Lunch Room, 4. Johnnie played the part of a big engineer in the Senior Play, and what a lover he turned out to be! RANSOM WHITCOMB (Ranny) Adams Street “Saying and doing are two different things ' ’ Hobby: Bragging Activities: Glee Club, 1, 2. Ransom has a habit of talking too much. Miss Megley and Miss Damon have given him some valuable suggestions for the use of his voice but it is of no avail. ERNEST WIGGINS (Wiggie) Linfield Street “Miss not discourse of the elders ” Hobby: Arguing Activities: Basketball Manager, 4; Baseball Manager, 4; Echo, 3, 4; Reporter, 4; Class Treasurer, 4; Treasurer South- eastern League of School Publications, 4; Movie Operator, 3, 4. Ernest has a very influential power of speech. You should see him arguing in Latin and French classes. Ernest is going to Dartmouth too. GOOD LUCK! LUCY WOODMAN South Franklin Street “Let me interrupt my story — where were you last night? Hobby: Talking about last night Activities: Glee Club, 1, 2, 3; Track, 1; Apparatus, 4; Li- brarian, 3. Lucy amuses us with detailed descriptions of her escapades the night before. We’ll miss her tales. All those midnight frolics were interesting. Remember some of those wee small hours of the morn, Lucy?

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THE ECHO 11 I did meet Al, and he just dragged me over to his rooms,” he explained. “And I suppose you went to sleep and when you woke up it was after three ! Alice in Wonderland!” “Ah, dad, you don’t understand. I have something on my mind to think about.” “Can’t you stay home and think about it?” his father asked, grinning at Mrs. Hayden. Fred caught the grin and answered : “You two don’t think it’s serious, but it is.” “Well, son, try to do the thinking before three o’clock, will you?” “The way you talk, dad, you’d think three o’clock was late. You should hear the fellows laugh when I tell them that!” “Oh, they do! Well, let them. But you’re going to get in here before three!” “Oh, if only ,” Fred stopped quickly. “What?” asked his father. “Oh, nothing.” “Say, dad.” “Yes?” “Did you er were you ever in San Diego?” “San Diego! What would I, a man living in Boston, want to be in San Diego for?” his father replied, very much puzzled. “Oh, I don’t know. I thought perhaps you might have gone there on business.” “Well, I haven’t.” “It must be a nice place. Don’t you think?” Fred asked. “How do I know?” “Well, er — just the name, er — makes you think it must be nice.” “Does it?” After breakfast, Fred’s mother took him aside and asked him if he was going out that night. “You know, Fred, it’s Christmas Eve,” she said. “Well, mother. I have to go out for about an hour, but,” he added, seeing the disap- pointed look come into her face, “I’ll be back in time to help you trim the tree.” “You will?” “Absolutely,” he replied and meant it. Fred went off to school, but his mind wasn’t there. He was in San Diego. When the professor asked him for the result of an experiment, Fred gave the population of that city. That evening he rushed home to find that his mother had company. A girl was stand- ing in the living room, her back toward him. She was alone and looking at a photograph of Fred. His parents had taken it while they were vacationing in the South. It showed Fred off to advantage on horseback, making a superb leap over the barriers. “Well, do you think I made it?” he asked, breaking the silence. The girl turned. Fred stared. “You!” “Yes,” she answered his question, “I know you made it by the way you’re gripping the reins.” “You!” he repeated. “Is there anything wrong?” the girl asked politely. “I know I am in riding togs, but I was riding past, and your mother asked me in to dinner,” she explained. “Oh — er — no — there is nothing wrong. I’m sorry,” he stammered. At that moment Fred’s parents entered the room. Both seemed to be in a good mood. Mrs. Hayden came forward to introduce them. During dinner Fred didn’t utter a word. They had coffee in the drawing room. Fred didn’t say a word. “My son is very much interested in your city of San Diego, Miss Boyd,” Mr. Hayden stated. “He is?” her eyes widened. “Well, I shall be delighted to give him information about the city,” she said, looking at Fred with interest. At this, Fred found his power of speech. “You mean it? You’ll really tell me some- thing about your — er — your city?” “Certainly.” “My son is also interested in lectures. Aren’t you, Fred?” asked Mr. Hayden. “Er — yes — er — yes, very much.” “You said you had to go out tonight, Fred,” reminded his mother. “Have you for- gotten?” “Er — no — er mother, I thought, though, that as long as Miss Boyd is here, I might as well take advantage of her kindness and, er — well — after all, it is Christmas Eve. ’ “Yes, it is, but wasn’t the lecture im- portant?” asked his father. “No, not so very.” “Well, George,” said Mrs. Hayden after a while, “let’s leave Miss Boyd and Fred so that she can instruct him as to how to man- age business in San Diego.” “Don’t bother disturbing yourselves,” Miss Boyd replied. “I can teach him with you present.” “Oh, Miss Boyd,” replied Fred, “I am afraid that I can t quite grasp the facts with more than two present!” “Oh, in that case ” “Come on, George, ” “Good night, children.” “Good night.” The clock struck three. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hayden sat up in their armchairs, yawn- ing. Both looked at the clock and then at each other. The father was the first to speak. “Three! and he is home!” “Yes, and we have Miss Boyd to thank for that.” “She’s a nice girl.” “I think that the thing that made Fred stay home tonight more than anything else, was our influence,” said Mrs. Hayden. “Our influence?” asked Mr. Hayden. “I rather think it was the San Diego influence.” Ruth P. Smith, ’32. Sully: “Ought we to take this road to Bridgewater?” Mac: “It isn’t necessary. They’ve got one there now.”