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

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I HAD just finished putting some new magazines in the rack when I heard a child's voice. Hello. I turned to see a small boy with a mass of blonde ringlets and a broad smile standing in back of me. Hello, I answered won- dering where his parents or compan- ions were. Watcha doin'? . he said curiously staring at the books in the rack behind me. Fixing the magazines. Want one to look at? , I said. He smiled and then became serious as he said, Yes, Tom Mix, please. Did you find my mommy? She got lost. I went to see the big planes and Mommy got lost. Did you see her? No, I didn't, Curly, but if you want I'll try to help you find her, I said, pic- turing in my mind some w-orried moth- er rushing around looking for her little lost darling. Where was the last place you saw your mother before she was er . . . lost? Do you want to take a walk and we will have a soda, after I see a man who might be able to find your mom? What's your name, Curly? , I said. not letting the little dear know that he was the one who was lost. Thomas A. Carter, Ir., he said in a very sing-song voice, and in the same breath said, I bet you listen to the Lone Ranger and 1et's take a walk and I want a chocolate soda. Can I go in a big plane after I find my Mommy? Taking Thomas A. Carter, Ir's. right hand, the other was clutching a comic book and cr lolly-pop he had spied on the counter, I steered our course to- ward the lost and found office. On the way Thomas or Curly, as it was now agreed I would call him, had con- sumed two sodas and looked very happy although his mommy had gotten lost. As we neared the' lost and 'found office, I saw a trim tailored woman who was frantically questioning the clerk as to the where-abouts of her little boy. When Curly spotted his mommy, he said to me, Look, there's mommy, I found her, and broke away, leaving clasped in my hand a rather sticky lolly-pop. LOST . . . ONE MOTHER BARBARA CAMPBELL He ran up to the woman and started to try and say everything at once. Mommy you were lost. The magazine lady gave me Tom Mix and candy and soda and I found you! Hurry up. I want to go on the big plane. He turned to me and said, Good-bye lady, thank you for helping me to find my mommy. He started to pull at his mother's jacket. The woman threw me a glance that said, Thank you so much for watch- ing him, as she hurried out to the plane with Curly. I went back to put some newspapers on the stand and I felt pretty good as I heard the plane flying over-head. Curly finally got his ride. 21

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STRANGE, how much different a room looked in darkness than in light. Hmm, too different, thought little Peter as he put out the light. He snuggled his head into the soft pillow cmd shut his eyes gladly. His covers lay at the foot of the bed where he had kicked them, after deciding it was too hot. But a distracted fly perched on his ear and buzzed and buzzed until he moved his 4 GLEANINGS hand around in hopes of scaring it away. He did, but only onto his nose. He opened his eyes and tried looking at his nose in order to get perfect aim. lust before he struck, the fly buzzed away. Peter kept his eyes open, try- ing to make out the tiny insect flying around the room. But as he looked toward the window, he saw a lean. gray Wolf whose eyes were steadily glaring at him. It ain't, it ain't, he assured himself as he quickly shut his eyes. Cautiously opening them again he tumed over and looked at the open closet door in his room. The sleeve of his Sunday suit was visible to him but no, it was the arm of a robber hiding in there waiting until he fell asleep so he could come out and take away the 53.93 he had saved for a cowboy suit. He turned again, this time on his back and stared at the ceiling. There he saw a hole and piercing the dark- ness, two enormous eyes and a huge 20 body. Oh, he knew it. A great gorilla and it was probably very hungry. He shut his eyes tightly and crawled down and got his covers and pulled them over his head. Boy, he whispered to himself, it certainly is cold. RITA REINHEIMER THE SHORT distance from the cheer- leaders bench to position on the foot- ball field or basketball court, seems endless to the new frightened cheer- leader. You are constantly aware of the critical eyes that seem to detect every flaw. Running out quickly and gracefully into position is not as easy as it had seemed from the stands. How- ever, after the first game is over, self- consciousness moves out and self-con- fidence moves in. You begin to con- centrate on cheering your team to vic- tory, and gradually forget about your- self. The position of captain is a coveted one. The responsibility however, is an entirely different matter. Practice time is not provided in school except for one or two periods a week, which is far from sufficient. Meetings must be called evenings or, whenever possible, after school. Cheering is not all fun. It is tire- some and hard on the muscles. Never- theless, you realize that hard work and cooperation are necessary to keep Adams cheerleaders a squad of which you are proud to be a member. MARGARET BRYANT

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Under The Pahtake GLORIA COSGROVE ONCE UPON U time, thatls the way most of these tales begin, not that this is a fairy tale. Oh no, not at all, it's just a story about a girl who had a problem and her incredible mirror that had a unique way of disposing with the difficulty. Ada was a sweet girl and pleasant too, that is, she had been, before con- ceit had changed her so. She was an attractive high school student in her senior term, but her extreme haughti- ness was fast causing her to lose her friends and popularity. In short she was considered to be and was formally dubbed the perennial snob of the neighborhood. However, this was the night of the prom and to dispense with all needless descriptions she was just plain happy. She was attending the affair with an equally attractive young escort. He was new in the neighbor- hood and many a time it was said, that was the reason why he had asked her. He doesn't know Ada yet, just give him time, was the common saying whenever the subject was discussed. Ada apparently was perfectly oblivi- ous of such idiotic chatter, as she call- ed it. I-lt any rate she seemed to be. There was only one exasperatingly long hour left before it was time to 22 leave for the big event and upstairs Ada pompously paraded before her mirror. Mirror, mirror on the wall whose the fairest of them all? She mused. You're a pretty fair bore if that's what you mean, a somewhat saucy voice that seemed to come from the general -direction of the mirror inter- rupted her fanciful soliloquy. Ada's calm but haughty complacency trans- fommed to utter amazement and a sin- gle syllable formed on her lips, Huh, then who? what is it? Me, came the nonchalant answer. I just happen to be a faithful old mirror that has the unbearable task of putting up with a ridiculous specimen like you. Of all the nerve. Any mirror should be proud to reflect my image, said Ada. It's about time somebody took you down a peg or two. I don't sup- pose you've ever lived up to those cute little freckles on your nose, was the snappy answer. I-I mean-so what! They 'don't show on the surface, she replied indignantly. Hmm! who's talk- ing about the surface, goodness knows your freckles are at least two inches under. If you are referring to my pan-cake make-up I'll have you know it is both fashionable and expensive. Pan-cake. Well all you have to do is -drop a lump of butter on your forehead and your mother won't have to cook any breakfast in the moming, the voice asserted coyly. Oh, Ada wailed. You little idiot, go get your- self the coal shovel or at least a soup