Kernersville High School - Retrospect Yearbook (Kernersville, NC)

Page 32 text:

CLASS PROPHECY The wind blew sharply against my ears and nose. My eyes were smarting with cold and the near- est shelter that I saw had a big poster displaycd cutside: “Madam Zenda—Your Future Revealed in Her Magic Crystal Ball.” My cold, stiff fingers finally manag- ed to grasp the last quarter in my pocekt, so I paid the admis- sion and went in. The noise of the midway out- side became fainter in Madam Zenda’s tent, but there was still the constant noise of passing tootsteps. Inside the light was dim, and as { waited, my fingers and nose thawed gradually. Finally I was ushered into an even datker chamber, where Madam Zenda sat behind a table which held a large bright crystal ball. I looked closely at her; she seemed vaguely familiar. As I sat in front of her I immediately asked, “Where can I find a job?” (I was at the present unemployed). Madam Zenda’s face took on an expression that clearly said, “Well, this is a cinch.” But as she gazed into her ball she became very puzzled. The ball grew cloudy and muddled. However, it gradually cleared and I saw three young men walking in the business district of Futureville. They were all serious and intent on something. They came closer and I immediately recognized Jerry Smith, Larry Hayes, and Bobby Perdue. The years hadn’t changed them much —they looked like college boys. Madam Zenda said to me, “The crystal tells me that these men are searching for a job- too, but I can’t find you in the picture.” “That's all right. Let me see what happened to these boys,” I replied, interested in what had become of my former classmates in Kernersville High School. As they continued down the street, they passed an exclusive looking night club; whose billing outside showed the main feature to be Kay Stafford. Special attraction that day was “The one, the only, Queen of Hollywood, Miss Vivian Macy.” “Tell me about these people, Madam Zenda,” I requested. “Miss Stafford is one of America’s greatest “Hula” dancers. She studied technique and form ‘in Hawaii. Of course, they had to pay her outlandish wages, but Futureville is very for- tunate to get her because she is such a celebrity. “Miss Macy won a screen test in Hollywood and became a movie star overnight. Her profession is just being glamorous.” I recalled immediately that even in school Kay’s hobby was dancing and Vivian was elected queen in the Halloween Contest and Piedmont Bowl Queen. The vocations seemed to be running along with their former interest. Th boys stopped in a big art studio, where they waited on Jerry Smith, who has an interview with the head executive, Mr. Charles Ridgell, I noticed a sign outside saying that the famous Wesley Atkins was booked to paint portraits as soon as he arrived from Paris. Other artists who were employed by the top-flight studio in the country had some of their works on exhibit. Virginia Stone seemed to be the modern art specialist. All her pictures dealt with surrealism, with a touch of geometrical figures worked in. Gaylene Brown’s pictures were chiefly publicity prints for stars—opera stars, theater stars, and movie stars. She specialized in costume designing. Jerty came out shaking his head. I knew exactly why he didn’t meet the requirements because he couldn’t even write legibly. The boys left the studio and continued their search. Soon they ran into someone who resembled Jerry Shields. There were others with Shields: many others. I reconized Betty Jo Stafford, Henry Flynt, Arnold Pender, and Lucille Kirkman. After greeting each other fondly, the group carried on an excited conversation. Two girls in white joined, them, one a stunning red-haired nurse, who, I discove red, was Barbara West. The other girl I identified as Joyce Porter, and I concluded that she was a bacteriologist and that she and Barbara worked at the same hospital. “Please explain to me what is going on now.” I was very interested in this scene. “Mr. Shields started working with the New York Times and has now become editor. The others are his staff: Miss Stafford is the business manager, Mr. Flynt, a photographer, and Mr. Pender draws the advertisements. Miss Kirkman is a special feature writer for the | paper—she is certainly able to bring out hidden secrets in her interviews.” 28

Page 31 text:

SENIORS. GEORGE WYATT LEFEVER F. F. A. 1, 2, 3, 4, Secretary 3, President 4; F. F. A. Federation Reporter 4. RICHARD DEAN LARRIMORE Glee Club 2, 3, 4; Athletic Club 1; Booster Club 4, Secretary 4; Key Club 4; Annual Staff 3; Bus Driver 3, 4. VIVIAN IRENE MACY F. H. A. 1; Library Club 1; Glee Club 4; Booster Club 4; Athletic Club 1; Piedmont Bowl Attendant 4. MARY RUTH MARSHALL F. H. A. 1; Library Club 1; Glee Club 1, 2, 4: Booster Club 4; Softball 1. LaRUE MALOIS McGEE Class Officer 4; Student Organization 2, 3; Glee Club 1, 2, 3, 4; Junior Marshal 3; Superla- tive 4; Testators 4; Beta Club 3, 4; Monogram Club 2, 4; F. H. A. 1, 2; Basketball 1, 2; Library Club 1, 2; Mixed Chorus 4; Girls State 3; His- tory Award 3. BETTY LOU MOTSINGER Athletic Club 1, Treasurer 1; Beta Club 2, 3, 4; Cheerleader 1; BEEHIVE Staff 2; Student Organ- ization 2, 3; Treasurer 3; May Court 3; Glee Club 2, 3.

Page 33 text:

“Gossip editor for the Beehive,” I reflected. Madam Zenda continued. “Miss ,West is a young nurse engaged to a doctor she met while nursing in the army. Miss Porter works at the same hospital and is engaged: too, but she chose an exciting young professor she met at Wake Forest.” The group broke up and most of them went to lunch while Jerry, Larry, and Bobby continued their search. They passed a large hotel, in front of which I saw a milling mass of people. It looked like a Convention. An enormous car was waiting in front with a chauffeur inside. Nelson Angell passed, as did Betty Barrow and her husband and twin boys. Then Bill Brown came out of the hotel and was just ready to get into the car when he saw Larry, Jerry, and Bobby. They talked a long time together while Madam Zenda explained to me what was going on. “This is a Farmet’s National Convention and Mr. Nelson Angell is the national president. He is really a Southern farmer—traising tobacco in North Carolina, cotton in South Carolina and sugar cane in Georgia. His largest plantation is on the outskirts of Kernersville, North Carolina. “Miss Barrow’s husband raises cattle in Virginia while she has become famous for the fine silk-worms she raises. I understand there is a regular grove of mulberry trees on their farm. “Then the millionaire is, of course, Mr. Bill Brown.” “How did Bill make all that money?” I asked. “He was voted most studious in the class, but how can you make money by studying?” “Oh, he doesn’t study. He had a bright idea soon after graduating from high school and it proved so profitable that he hasn’t bothered to think since then—he just sits back and reaps his profits. He raises fishing worms, then ships them to the eastern coast to sell.” “How interesting,” I thought. Jerry, Larry and Bobby waved good-bye to the “conventioners” to continue their search for a job. They looked as if they were becoming tired and worried, and must have been con- sidering going to seek their fortunes in a large metropolis, as they turned in the Continental Airway’s Office. Inside they were greeted by the receptionist, and while Bobby was inquiring about the schedules, the others waited. People were constantly passing through the halls into the private offices. The boss spoke to a trim voung hostess going in one of the offices, and also to two young men passing through the hall. Then I saw them speak to a very fashionable young woman who marched into the president's office. Their eyes followed her as she went through the door, then they turned their attention to Bobby, who was telling them something and shaking his head, and all three left the office. “What does all this mean?” I asked Madam Zenda. She consulted her ctystal for a while, then gave me the facts on these people. “Bobby was considering going to New York to see about getting a iob as a baseball player. The people Larry and Jerry spoke to were some you might know. The airline hostess was Shirleen Stafford, who was just return ing from a trip on the New York Times special plane which brought the reporters here. The gentlemen were Mr. Ralph Warren and Mr. Deleno Fulp, who are pilots employed by that company. Mr. Warren tests jet planes and has won recognition from our government for his fine work. Mr. Fulp is a regular pilot and makes two round trips across the continent each week.” “Who on earth was the young lady the boys thought so- interesting?” “Oh that was the former Miss Maxine Joyner. She was a secretary in this airlines office and worked her way up in a hurry. She is now the boss’ wife.” “Maxine had the eligible bachelors falling at her feet the minute she moved from Harmony,” I recalled. The action in the crystal hadn’t ceased. The boy’s next stop was a restaurant. As they were waiting on the food, many people came in and it seemed to me that every other person who entered knew them. The first couple in was Harold West and Frances Beeson. They spent quite a while talking with the boys, who kept looking happily surprised. After several other people entered, I recognized a threesome—Shirley Faye Corder, her husband, and Jim Bob Winfree, who immediately began talking to Larry, Jerry, and Bobby, too. As soon as they left another couple came in. I knew the late couple at once, too, because they hadn’t changed a bit since I was in high school. It was Mrs. King Grogan—our Freshman English teacher, Junior history teacher, and Senior Sponsor, with her husband. She seemed very happy to see “her boys” and to talk to them. It was time for me to interrupt—too much was happening. “Madam Zenda, before any- thing else goes on, tell me what is happening now.” And this is what I learned: “The first couple, Mr. and Mrs. Harold West, work at the radio station.” 7)