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

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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

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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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ladel and start taking that stuff off. the mirror continued. Reluctantly and still not fully realiz- ing why she was doing it, Ada reached for the box of tissues and started to work. When the task was completed she shot a quick glance at the trium- phant fiend who was responsible for it. Although she declined to admit it aloud she thought to herself. I do sort of like it better this way but still . .A . That will do, don't even think of it. But how did you . . .? Never mind I just knew and that's all there is to it. You're very sure of your- self aren't you? Why, with as difficult an assignment as you I can afford to be a bit boastful. We're really making progress. Next on the list comes personality. although right now yours should be pronounced poison- ality. if-X - 1, rw, A V., IQ 1 f ,,., n A f r f ' is K I A' ll Il ' 1 X, I f i 70 f f vi - k- J ' fm-jlw ,tj X w ,f fwfff fa Z B W' ,f I .I Q ff 5 fl WWW Wffffffff' N f KKK f W f,, A W, f EX xx yy f , x , ,.,, ,, 1 , , , 6 5 ffl? y J 'Ill W 5 4 V, 'lf' fp , CL' ld ,, 1 1 V fy Il ll a t ts tw ' V 1 Y Wifi? V x X I ' x Illustration by Alma Kelly Really, answered the prim young girl resuming every bit of her former haughtiness. Perhapglu expect me to act like that-:that Iane person dowxn the street. That's the most sensible thing you've said so far. the voice continued. Oh it is. is it. and now maybe you're going to tell me I should actually run after the bus as she does. lane is a sweet girl and she doesn't run after buses. She just walks fast. It's her nylons that do all the run- ning. And Ada darling. the little mirror defiantly continued with a dis- tinct note of irony in its speech. do you remember last year when your brother in college bought a second- hand ieep and you went around say- ing it was everything from a helicopter to a jet-propelled rocket plane. I guess I didn't realize how silly it was then. Ada admitted humbly. And so the conversation went on. It was a wonderful evening. wonder- ful for everyone who took part in it but especially for Ada. and when it had ended and she had returned home. she thought to herself. She thought about a lot of things. about all that had hap- pened that evening. about the things that she had done, about the freckles on her nose. and then about her mir- ror. She looked at it now and won- dered, but then things like that iust don't happen. do they? 23