John Adams High School - Clipper Yearbook (Ozone Park, NY)

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HIS is an excerpt from the nefar- ious career of a member of a certain clan which goes under the name of the High Order of Lunch- room Pests, the extermination of which would be a most welcome plank in the platform of some alert G. O. presidential candidate. Most high school students await patiently the moment when the bell rings, and they can skip down the hall to the hum- ming lunchroom. Can you imagine the happiness of a student who has settled comfortably at a table and has had his sandwiches unwrapped and ready for vanishing when suddenly a group of gallant friends swoops down unmercifully upon him? When the smoke of battle clears, the poor, depraved young man sits dejected, disgustedly peering into space and, where a few minutes ago his luscious repast rested, now all that he can see to satisfy that gnawing feelingwlin his stomach is the wax wrapping of what once was . . . lunch! Alas!-seems his friends were a bit hungry too. Not long ago, we trailed one of these clan-members to the scene of his daily atrocities and observed him as he sidled up to and opened fire on his blissful, unsuspecting victim who had just deposited a food-laden tray. XY1hy, hello jimmy, old pal! That's LUNCHROOM SAGA by CHARLES RABUSE a fine looking special you have . . . What's that you say? Nobody's my pal during lunch hour? Well, now, I must admit that I have noticed the existence of a certain amount of cool- ness toward me during this time. But I just can't understand. Say, what an unusually large slice of chocolate layer cake! Do you mind if I-OW! My hand! Well you could at least have said 'no' in a more gentle manner. If I'd known you felt that way, I wouldn't have--- Why, that's a mighty fine stack of bread you have there. At least five slices. Do you mind if I-Ha! Beat you that time. Mm-m-m-Good bread. It is rather dry though. Would you consider it a breach of etiquette for one to dunk his bread in cocoa in order to moisten it a bit? You don't? Oh-if he has his own cocoa. Why, look! There's johnny Green behind you. My mis- take. That wasn't johnny. Now what's that? Are you sure of what you're saying? Of course I didn't dunk my-er-your bread in your cocoa while you turned around to see johnny. Well-maybe I did a little bit. But only ever so slightly. You say, did my lingers go into your Cocoa while I was dunking? Well- er now, yes, they did. But they're clean. Oh, a little inky I'll admit, but what's a little ink among-say isn't that a salmon sandwich you have there? Do you mind if-Say! Wl1at's that strange gleam in your eyes? What are you looking at me like that for? Stay away-4help, monitor, guard-

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JEAN: fsinging and playingj. The Maiden's eyes were young and gaYv With ease they stole my heart away. Alas, where is she this sad day But wed ro the Duke of Brittany! L.A.: fopening latticej. Sing to me of Sir Denis. fshe sighsj. J.: Would'st thou not rather hear of something pleasant? L.A.: Welli J.: Oh, all right, I have just thought of a song about my patron, Sir Denis. Listen. fHe strums a live- ly airj. Because of his many boasts they say Sir Dennis surely comes from Gascony And his walk couldn't be more clumsy If he drank two barrels of Burgundy tHe gets no further for an arrow pierces him in the shoulder, and an infuriated Sir Denis springs up from behind the sun-dialJ. S.D.: fTo jean who lies woundedj. I've heard that thou goest about in- sulting meg therefore thou hast found me prepared. - L.A.: fclimbs down the unbroken part of the uinej. Thou'st killed him. Thou are a beast, thou art a brute, thou art a- S.D.: What, thou hast pity for a common troubador? I fear thou art quite mad, Lady Antoinette. L.A.: Pity? I give him more than pity, I give him my love. floohing down at jean whose shoulder is bleed- ing a littlej. Behold what thou hast done, Sir Denis. He's dying. fShe criesj. S.D.: Bah! The world is rid of a weakling. But had I known, Lady Antoinette, that thy feelings had taken another path, I would have shot him really dead. J.: ffaintlyj. Oh, pity the life of a troubador. Paid to make love and sing of it, but 'tis another who reaps the reward. L.A.: fkneels down beside Jean and kisses his pale cheehj. Does thou think thou art going to die? J.: Ah, Lady Antoinette, thou hast but to tell me to live and I will. L.A.: fdramaticallyj. I command thee! SCENE THREE Time-Early morning three days later. Scene and place-The same. Lady Antoin- ette and jean are standing near the .run- dial hand in hand. J.: Alas, today is the day that Sir Denis comes to draw up the marriage contract with the witnesses. L.A.: How I dread it! QA lot of emotion is used in saying thisJ. J.: We could elope to Picardy. L.A.: I will go pack at once. fshe scratches her cheek meditatiuelyj. What makes my cheek so itchy all the time? And what are these wretched little spots that cover my whole face? J.: ffllarnzedj. Little spots? Let me see. Mercy thou hast the small pox. QI-Ie turns quickly and runs of stageJ. fL.A. hrzeels down near the sun-dial and cries. Enter Sir Denis by the stage -right entrancej. S.D.: fgloatinglyj. Ah, so he has left thee. Methinks thou wast ready to elope. L.A.: Sir Denis, pray don't come near me. I have the Smallpox! S.D.: Ah, my Lady Antoinette, did'st not guess he told me that. I met him as he took to his heels in haste, but smallpox do not stop me. fHe steps forward and embraces her where she stands near the sun-dialj. Besides my love, I do fear thou hast been alarmed for naught. 'Tis only the measles! Q C urtainj

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Water Front Night spirals above the water Like fog, above the ferry whistles Which sigh along the harbor streets. Grab that rope -scraping on the boat's side, The dock trembles at the impact. Wind changeg faint noise of far auto horns Sounding across from the Palisades Through the grayish sea-weedy water. I walk alone and watch the lights Distort themselves before my eyes. H arold Silverxtein