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

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IT WAS a well known fact at Grover High School that the entire football team was built around Dick Pope. All of the local newspapers praised Pope as the greatest quarterback the school had ever had. Without a player of his caliber the Grover Greyhounds would not have been tied for first place as they were in the Inter-School League. Dick Pope fully realized this fact and never failed to impress it upon every- one else. A As was his usual practice, one Fri- day moming before section, Dick was roaming around school accepting con- tributions to a score pool for the next big game. Although he fully realized that it was frowned upon by the fac- ulty, he depended upon his popularity to bolster him in case certain inquiries were made into his methods. Not only did his particular system prove to be a means of providing him with much- wanted spending money, but it was also comforting to his ego to flaunt his influence about the school grounds. But Dick was unaware that this col- lection moming was to be his last. for he did not know that one of his forgot- ten investors had decided to put a stop to the pool by notifying the coach. Ar- rogant, as usual, when summoned from class by Coach DeLuca, he fancied himself to be the typical football hero- broad shoulders, short-cropped hair, squared jaw. He slouched, waiting for the coach to begin. But it was a rather stunned and deiected young man who left that office, crushed by the decision that Dick Pope, star quar- terback for the Greyhounds, would sit it out on the bench throughout the cru- cial game with Burbank, the all-im- portant game that meant the difference between first place and glory and sec- ond place mediocrity. Coach DeLuca had made it clear that Dick would not be permitted to play in the last game of his career at Grover High School. During the day, however, he had time to analyze the various angles of his predicament. With his usual self- esteem he became convinced that his school would lose without his brilliant leadership. The longer he thought about it the more he was certain that a great injustice had been done to him and that he should be revenged. A lin- gering plot began to crystallize, and by noon he had completed his plan. By game time excitement reigned, and crowds of students poured into the stadium, setting it ablaze with their happy faces and bright colors. The cheer leaders were limbering up, as Dick, contrary to his usual practice, ar- rived on time and sat quietly on the bench, scarcely showing interest in the proceedings. The game started and it was soon evident with the new quarter- back, that steady, hard--driving team play only could assure victory. At the half. Grover trailed 13 to 7. Suddenly. Dick's successor broke loose from the Burbank tacklers, and with desperation driving him, ran forty yards for the tying touchdown, and then converted into a 14 to 13 victory for Grover in the last minute of play. The stands went wild, surged on the field heading for the goal posts, as the victorious team ran for the showers, carrying their new quarterback with them. But through the crowd you could see cr lone figure sitting on the bench, star- ing silently over the gridiron. Dick Pope was realizing the costly lesson taught him in such startling fashion, for he must now face his fellow students with- out the pool money, all of which he had bet on the other team. 9 EIOH CIEIHJINIAA E I S H- Q 5 Q 9. Wh

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g .Siu Wulf 164 CONSTANCE BENTIVEGNA THE HEAVY sleet lashed mercilessly at my face as I walked down the quiet country road. Once or twice. I winced and quickened my pace. Soon, a small cabin appeared in view, my destination. When I reached the door, I paused, fumbled in my pocket for the keys, and nervously released the lock. I paused again. There was still time for me to run away. But I couldn't. A burning curiosity forced me to open the door and enter. The one-room cabin was still the same. A large, well-wom sofa stood against the wall by the door. Two equally worn chairs filled the opposite corners. The only other piece of fumi- ture was a badly scratched, ma- hogany veneer coffee table in the center of the room. How I had hoped that I would be wrong, that the room would be differ- ent. But although I had wished to prove myself mistaken about the room, I had known inside that I couldn't be. Now the real test was to come. I walked over to the closet which stood between the two chairs. I touched my fingers to the knob. My whole body trembled. In that moment before I opened the door, the whole 8 terrible nightmare flashed before my eyes. It happened just a week ago today. Having had a hard day at work, I decided to retire early. The clock in the square chimed ten o'clock. Soon, I was awake again. Unconsciously I began to dress myself. Fate works mysteriously, for I was acting through no will of my own. Soon I had found myself walking down the same country road I had iust travelled. I found myself in the same room I was in now. The only difference was that then the room was crowded with many people who were enioying a party. A man, who seemed to be the host, invited me to join the festivities. I did. I danced and drank and had a won- derful time. I seemed to forget that I was the tired person who had been awakened from my sleep. Then, suddenly. all the guests, ex- cept one man, the man who was my host. disappeared. I turned my head in amazement and sought to satisfy my curiosity through my host. He just stood before me and laughed at my anxious questions. I became very annoyed at him. It was then that I saw the knife which lay on the table. An unseen force, stronger than my will, caused me to reach for the knife. My host anticipated my move. There was a struggle for it and then-victory for one. Slowly, the blade rose. and equally as slowly, it found rest in the heart of its victim. The body was put in the closet. not an original hiding place, but the best that could be afforded. Now Imust see what I knew I could not avoid. something I must know before my soul could seek sanctuary. I opened the closet door and looked at the body. It was mine.

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Skorf- olive alalainefm SELMA GERMAN THE SHADES were drawn. From a tear in one of them, a thin speck of light crossed the small room. Iim sat motionless in the darkened room, hunched over the table, his hands pressed hard at his temples. lust two months before, he had sat on that same chair, beaming with happiness at the fact that he had finally saved enough money to take Maria and him- self back to Maria's native land, Aus- tria, for a vacation. Iim could remem- ber the look on her face when he told her that their dream was turning into a reality. Her eyes sparkled with ioy as she tried unsuccessfully to hold back the tears that began trickling down her cheek. A broad grin came over her face at the thought of seeing her family and friends again after so many years. She put her arms around Iim's neck and kissed him for being such a wonderful husband to her. Although she deeply loved the United States and cherished her newly acquired American citizenship, she longed to go back to visit Austria. During the war, lim and Maria had met in Europe. lim, at the time, was weary of all the blood that he had seen shed on the battlefields and of the tragic scenes that wars must in- evitably bring. When he was shipped to Austria, Maria and Iim met, fell 10 V , ,im .I em 2 32? , t,,..,- -:g . N 55 f- Ze . 3 N hifi? : 1' 5 4 1--.e 3:55 -, 4' ff 3.3.3 1 t 35,3 ...salt I I 'VI ,Q-ifgiffif .-lil V257 lrfixw J IIT I v w X. N .jr t:-x ' s i I itciniz-'? .,.x,:e., -X. I in love, and married. Maria came from a small village that was not even on the map. She knew what it was like to be ill and miserable because she suffered from a heart ailment. After peace was declared, Maria had to remain in Austria until lim was able to send for her. They knew it wouldn't be too long before she would be able to come to the United States. He had resumed his old iob. Finally the day came when he was to meet his bride at the station. Evansville may not seem a big town or a nice town to some people, but when Maria stepped down from the train, she knew she would love this place, for it would their home. She had heard a lot about this country. Now that she was here. she knew that this would be the happiest day in her life. Maria was heartily welcomed by Iim's family, and the high spot of the day occurred when lim showed her the apartment where they would live. It did not matter any way to Maria that it was not the best. A few months later, lim got the idea of saving some money each week so that some day in the future, Maria could see her village again. At the end of every week they would count their savings. Some weeks they were surprised by how much they had