Lane Technical High School - Lane Tech Prep Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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The Lane Tech Annual for June, 1935 Page 19 I' him. The two Laneites were brought to school every morning by Billy's father in his automobile. Perhaps this was the reason why Harris should have been on time every day. Still, there was the visit to any of Sloppy Joe's establishments, where one could lose his pennies by putting them in slot ma- chines. It took some time before a student could lose all the odd cents he had in his pocket- Besides, there were others ahead of him. Naturally, time would fly and the bell would ring. T hen it was all up to whether Billy was in a mood to be on time that certain morning. He usually was not. Another frequent visitor to the hangout was Tom- my Cook. He was, at one time, in the same scout troop as Harris. Cook had worked hard and was now an Eagle Scout while Billy was still second class. When Tommy came to Lane he signed up for the R. O. T. C. Military work had always interest- ed him. He and Bill were together in several classes. One morning the two were in their daily rendezvous when Eric came in. Billy made a fairly good try at introduction. When he finished he questioned johnson. The library was always busy. What brings you here? From the looks of you I thought you just got through running the mile. 'fNo, Bill, l just wanted to ask you if you are go- ing out for the baseball team? f'You know I can't do that. I haven't a G aver- age. I don't mean the school team. I mean the divi- sion room team We just started to organize and we need a good hitter and you're it. As you may know, we play all our games in Lincoln Park. Near- ly every room is represented. During these games the coach of the regular nine keeps a sharp look- out for new material which he can use for his team. Will you play? Okay, it's a go. Harris's division won their hrst two games. The third game was a tough one with the opposition coming out on top. Thus ended the interroom base- ball for Will and Eric for that semester. The official baseball season for the regular squad began sometime later. A series of pep meetings to L. ' v Aki Students play Santa Claus. encourage students to attend games were held. To Bill it meant getting out of classes, The get-togeth- ers were quite informal. The meetings usually open- ed with a few songs played by the Lane band. Al- ways there were cries of. . . More! More! Then the cheer of HSeven rahs and a yeah band! All right? It's a . . - . one .... two .... three! The assembly hall simply shook with the re-echoing of the loud rahs. Speeches and pep talks were next in line. The introduction of a few star performers on the nine followed. Maybe they would say two and sometimes as many as three words. Of course the customary cheers led by some contortionist had to follow every speech. Maybe a little more music and then the adjournment. One of the puzzles en- countered after each session was: How could that bass horn player carry his instrument in and around the many turns of the lighthouse steps to the right of the stage? The drum player had the same trouble. They never told anyone how they did it. A professional secret, no doubt. It was these pep meetings which made Harris re- alize that he was a small yet very important factor in the school. The freshman class was just as nec- essary as the seniors. In his mind's eye Billy could see how the cooperation of all was needed to make the school a success. Whenever a project had to be put over the entire student body was asked to do its part in helping. Billy began to recognize the fact that it was not just a matter of getting out of a few classes that the meetings were held. They were called for a purpose. As Bill looked about him he could see boys of all types, scholars, toughs, athletes and others. They surely must be coming to school for some reason. Then he got to thinking about himself. Had he given his best? Oh, well, there goes the bell. What a relief. No school work until Monday. Then he remembered the science lesson. Oh, let it ride. He could tell the teacher he did not have the page,

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Page 18 The Lane Tech Annual for J une. 1935 L There goes the bell I bet you could get first place without half trying. Besides, you might be able to get in good with our English teacher. When she sees you a contest win- ner she is sure to give you an EH or HSM. 'tYeah, and then every time I would come into the room I would hear half of the fellows saying, teachers pet! No, not for me. Iive seen it hap- pen too many times. So, you're yellow, huh? Got a streak down your back. You can't take it- Eric knew that this would bring Harris around to see his point of view. Bill was the type who would do anything on a dare. In a moment this kind of taunting brought the desired result. UAH right, wise guy, I'll show you. I'll write a story that will knock you off your feet. I won't care what they say in the English class. When does the contest end? How many words? Does it have to be in ink?7l Wait a second, Edgar Wallace, I haven't all the details but if you go to the Tech Prep Office they'll give you all of the rules. So Harris was officially entered in the contest, several days and a week-end were conscientiously spent in his effort to write a prize-winning story. He was helped by his English teacher and at one time he was allowed to read it to the class. The ap- plause he received for his effort was deafening. If this meant anything toward coming events, he was sure to cop one of the prizes offered. Harris anxiously awaited the issue of the Tech Prep for the following month. It was in that issue that the winning stories were to appear. However, Bill was informed that his story was one of the prize winners even before the issue was put out. He was even more flattered when a Daily reporter sought him out one day to give him a write-up in the school paper. His name in the Daily while still a freshman. The write-up is one of Harrisls most treasured mementos. When the magazine did come out Harris was the envy of his entire class. Even the teacher congratulated him. Though the hero worship did not last forever it made Bill take a greater interest in his work. It certainly made a fellow feel good to see some of his classmates point him out as, t'That's Harris, the fellow who won the short story contest. Nevertheless, in the spring a young freshman's fancy turns to staying out of school as much as he can. The young author and his friend were no ex- ception. A walk to the lake front in the morning hours of a warm school day was a lot better than staying in a hot portable. Or else they might take in a show in an air-conditioned theatre. The matter of signing one anotherls notes from 'fhomell was a small detail which could be accomplished with a little practice. Friday, the last school day was e- specially suitable for taking the well-earned rest from school activities. Harris could not see why some boys would stay in a hot school room trying to do their work when the out-of-doors was such a beautiful place to play hookey. However, there was always the return to studies on Monday. Then the hustling to make up back Our first Indian chief---Mr. Beebe work. Drawing boards to be taken home and plates to be drawn. Though Epstein's company was not exactly pleas- ing to Billy he still kept up an acquaintance with

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Page 20 The Lane Tech Annual for June, 1935 that is, after he tore it out. Why hadn't he thought of it before? But wait, . . . wouldn't the second quarter marks go in next week? Yes, he would have to take his science home together with his English, too. The day for handing out report cards came on the following Monday. Eric and Bill were com- paring their marks. What did she give you in English, Bill? I got an Ff' 'fShe gave me an F, too, and after doing all that work. I thought she would give me at least a G. I wonder what you have to do to get and E or an S in her room. Maybe I ought to bring her an apple every day. Donlt get mad, Bill. It's possible to get an S. Look at Anderson there. He has four of them. Four Sis and an EV' ffTo tell you the truth, Harris, I think you monkey around too much while you're in class. You also came in tardy a couple of times. In the long run that all counts up against you. 'fSure . . . sure, I suppose so. Hey, Eric, let's go to the corner. I have a few odds to play on the machinef' Naturally, when Bill brought his card home and showed it to his mother she was not very pleased with it. Seeing this, Harris decided to try to remedy the situation and bring up his marks. He tried Anderson's plan for doing homework during the study periods. However, those forty-five min-- utes would just fly. Before he knew it the period would be over and the work only half done. Still, when the third quarter marks went in, Billy and system, Eric, who had also been using Anderson's received slightly higher marks than before. From Drawing was a part of their jirst serncsterlv work Harris could hardly believe it. He sought out Anderson and asked to look at his card. Yes, there they were . . . four S's and an E. f'Say, Bud, how do you do it? 'fOh, I don't know. The stuff is awful easy for me. I just do it naturally. Most of the work I do in study hall. How did you make out this quar- ter, Harris? f'Not so good. In fact I didn't even get one S. Some guys get all the breaks, I guess. Take science, for instance, he didn't call on me once. How can I expect to get any good marks if he now on it was a matter of keeping the grades up until the fourth and last quarter. Harris and the rest soon found out that they could not rest on the laurels of the third quarter marks. About this time Bill had another run-in with Kurt Otto. That student had kept out of the pic- ture for a while but now he was back again, tortur- ing the members of his Class anew. Due to the scheming bully, Harris received an awful bump on the head during a gym period. The chums put doesn't give me a chance to answer any of the ques-their heads together to figure out some way to get tions? even. Try as they might they could not think of