Jefferson Union High School - Jeffaurean Yearbook (Richmond, OH)

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THE SECRET LIFE OF MISS KEMPY OR ' ' SEN ORISM-' ' Miss Kempy was a teacher. Miss Kempy was an unusual teacher, She was a teacher with a smile, a sense of humor that peeped through the iron curtain of re- strain that ordinarily drapes a teacher's face. Miss Kempy was a happy teacher, even carefree was a correct adjective. Perhaps you, readers, have noticed I speak in the past tense, Miss Kempy was a happy and carefree teacher! That was Miss Kempy before the school year 1947-1948. Nowadays, Miss Kempy remembers that year more vividly than any other date in history---and she knows them all. I shall tell you why she remembers. You see, she can't forget it because of dreams. Yes, dreams that began to plague her sleepless nights shortly after September, YI947, and then gradually ceased after May, 1948. It was then that the class of '48' grad- uated from that southwest room. Oh! She remembers that class, but in an odd, strange way--the way dreams drift into sight, startle you, then fade away and leave you face to face with the question, How could I've stood it? There was that first dream, for instance. Blue walls, a white bookcase, aneat teacher's desk and Miss Kempy standing on the globe of the world. Stretched out before her were the members of the class of '48'. King Kemper was watching Dicky Boy Nelson count a stack of gold coins. Yep, we have 'noughf Let's buy something for dear 'ole jefferson that will help us be' heard everywhere. , Oh, I'd rather buy a television system--we could be seen too g this coming from Blonde Miriam slowly stroking the comb through her hair as she gazes a- cross the room. Be sure and - Q a long pause here while he yawnsl - have punch-buttons put on it. I'd hate to have to - Qanother yawnj - work using the thing, Sleepy Rob- erts blinks his eyes as he finishes and is out again. About this time the world turned, and Miss Kempy rolled down the hall to the office. Thus, the Public Address System was ordered. So the first dream ended and Miss Kempy began to realize that Senorism ala' class '48' had set in. That was in November. From then on, dreams were plen- tiful and swirling activities of the class haunted her throughout the nights, as well as the days. To be truthful, it was difficult to distinguish between actual happenings and dream sequences. Confusing as it seems, here is Miss Kempy's memory of the class of '48'. lDreamly speaking, that is.l It was in December when a nightmarish dream presented itself several times. There gliding about the southwest room was stately Betty Lou, her quiet being and .demure smile camouflaged by a terrified look as she mumbled things like Is this a dagger I see before me--or is it Mr. Allen? Tomorrow and tomorrow and to- morrow , or in a hawkish voice question-mark Delk would say, The raven him- self is hoarse that croaks! Allie Smithy fthe delight of Zanny Zur of the South roomj brightly yelled out Who wou1dn't be hoarse with all these lines to remember? And he wants them in order, too! So life was reflected to Miss Kempy when the class of '48' was learning Macbeth. 18

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Senorism - Continued. As the year bumped along, certain dreams became familiar, even tiresome after the third or fourth time. Such a drearn. first staged its debut in january some- time. The triangle dream it was--in one corner of the thundering hall between pe- riods stands Dicky Boy and Donny jean --in the second corner of the second period stands Quiet Wesler and Donny Jean --and in the third corner fxgmemher it's a triangle, of the third period stands, you guessed it, Donny jean intently murmuring they love me-they love me not-they love me-- then the bell rings- for whom the bell tolls poor Donny never knows! - Then there was the Hall Dream, starring the ever-present Senior Stand-bys. Stationed along the west wall Hughes and johnson, Inc. , usually did a thriving business. Near the water fountain fin case things became too hot, no doubtj were the one o'clock jumpers, Convertible Bud , Tin-Flute Hornsby pleasantly corner- ed by certain Soft-mores. Wandering up and down, obviously thinking the hall was a basketball floor, strolled Shorty Arnett, everyone's idol. After enticing these cha- racters into the room Miss Kempy might even have a government class. Even that was usually more a thing of dreams than reality. As if these daily dreams weren't enough, Miss Kempy experienced during tnc months of Spring a colossal super-production of a dream. lt was a review or pre- views of things not done and done! And the cast was all three rings of the class circus. The Eldorado favorites Melvin and Big john rode bicycles to their land of gold , Tardy Owens broke every key on the typewriter for dear 'ole Crite- rion deadlineg then, there was Bansby Culbertson squirting fuzz water over Thompson's bar at junior, and the songsters-- Westy, Mully, and Gunny --sounding like the Driving Car in low gear. In the middle of the fantastic sights-- - Flash Pickett dropped his camera on Brownie's head and she wins the title, Most Bumped Into Person of '48' . For the thriller finish there was Tractor Speed-Demon Ray almost running over Dozing Frech, my, but he was sleepy this year! So Miss Kempy lived and tried to sleep--those last few, months. 'But then, praise be, she noticed a definite decrease in dreams and after the seniors left on that last day in May, Miss Kempy slept soundly that first night. Little did she know that Beautiful DeBoo had been picked as the heir to the memories--typin', to publish and write a little old Criterion is the perfect qualification to be the person of strong'nerve, sleepless nights and the never say--well, never say it spirit. Thus, we leave and bring to a close this strange, secret life of a Senior Class sponsor. lt's really amazing nowadays what some people will do for a living! More amazing is what some people will do..! Good-night, sweet dreams . Signed Mr, X. Z0