Lord Selkirk School - Maroon and Grey Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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LITERARY IContinuedJ new cleansing fluid. He set his books down on the dining-room table with a firm thud. Let’s see, there was quite a lot of work to be done. Where should he start? That History essay had to be turned in next week—but that gave him plenty of time. Maybe he’d better get at his Algebra. He rummaged through the stack of books on the table, and came up with a somewhat battered-looking volume. He propped the tome of learning up in front of him, and turned to a fresh page in his notebook. Now to begin: x over xy minus twenty, divided by—Jeepers! That pen nib was ter¬ rible! He’d better get a new one. There should be some somewhere—Oh, yes! the desk drawer! He vanished into the living-room and re¬ appeared some minutes later, carrying the box of pen-nibs and munching noisily at an apple. There, that was much better. Now, let’s see—x over xy minus twenty—This was pretty tricky stuff. Funny, his answer didn’t agree with the one in the back of the book. He was sure he’d done it the right way. Oh, well, if at first you don’t succeed . . . It was ten to eight. He’d been at it for over twenty minutes now. Well, that was the last question. He wondered if Tom knew about the football practice before school tomorrow. Charles went to the phone and dialed his friend’s number. “Hello, Mrs. Stevens? This is Charlie. Is Tom in? He isn’t? Yes, you could tell him there’s a football practice tomorrow at eight-thirty. That’s right. Oh, yes, we’re all fine, thank you. No, I don’t know whether Mom’s going to the meeting to¬ morrow. Sure, I’ll tell her to call you. Yes— yes. Good-bye, Mrs. Stevens. Gosh, what a talkative woman! He’d better make a note to tell Mom about the phone call. Remember the last time he’d forgotten to let her know about a telephone message. He scribbled a note on a scrap of paper and propped it up by the phone where she’d be sure to see it. He picked up a new magazine from the hall table and leafed idly through it. Hmph! Nothing but fashions! How Mother and Pegs could sit by the hour absorbed in such stuff was more than he could comprehend. He wandered into the kitchen, rifled the cookie jar, and returned to the dining¬ room. His copy of “Henry V” lay on the top of the pile of books. He picked it up and thumbed distastefully through it. Where was he, anyway? It was such a long time since he’d read any. He crossed into the living-room and sank deep into his father’s favorite after-dinner chair. He leaned back, feet comfortably planted on a footstool, and, with a mar¬ tyred air, prepared to give his full attention to the task at hand. The clock chimed the quarter hour. Charles sighed and looked up. Nine fifteen. Good gravy! He’d been studying for prac¬ tically two hours! Well, that was enough for any one evening. With a relieved sigh Charles reached out and switched on the ' radio. —Edith Close, Room X-17. Second Prize in Essay Contest. New Neighbors Jhe conductor called Aylesbury as the next stop, and Mr. Mc- Tavish picked up his briefcase and adjusted his hat. He was a tired-looking man, with watery blue eyes, gold-rimmed spectacles and wisps of gray hair that protruded from beneath his gray fedora. His tweed suit was rumpled and sagged sadly at the knees. Mr. McTavish was going home, and he thought happily of the two weeks vacation that awaited him. He would spend those weeks puttering in the garden, the place he loved best. The train chugged and sputtered into the station. Mr. MacTavish alighted. A smile of delight, as if in meeting an old friend, crossed his features, as he gazed upon the town. For three generations the McTavishes had been part of the Aylesbury population, and this generation was very proud of it. He walked slowly down the main street, examining the displays in the shop windows and looking for a familiar face among the early shoppers. It was a beautiful morning, and Mr. McTavish’s spirit seemed to lighten and sing along with the birds who perched in the shady trees that overhung the walk. In the residential district his pace quick¬ ened as he neared Wellington Street. He knew Sara, his wife, would be ex- • 25

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LITERARY IContinued Sn Sorry! Jhe telephone rang just as she had finished bathing Diane. Wrapping the baby hurriedly in a towel, Marjorie rushed to answer the ring, auto¬ matically avoiding, the tacky paipt. Avoid¬ ing the tacky substance had become a habit during the painting of the newly-renovated house. Picking up the receiver she heard: “Mrs. Stuart? I have a telegram for you, Madam. Shall I read it?” “Yes, this is Mrs. Stuart; please read it.” “Arriving 10 p.m. train Tuesday, July 3, Love, Sara.” “Thank you.” Dazed, Marjorie turned from the phone. “Arriving Tuesday. But they can’t! The paint won’t be dry!” Diane started to whimper and she sud¬ denly remembered the baby. (Later she vaguely recollected drying, dressing and feeding Diane and putting her out to play). Overcome with consternation, Marjorie could clearly see Tommy’s dirty finger¬ prints on the fresh ivory and red kitchen, the cream and black bathroom, the sun- yellow bedroom called Diane’s. Perhaps they could come next month. She could wire them. But it wouldn’t reach them in time. No, she’d have to plan sleep¬ ing accommodations, menus and entertain¬ ment for her husband’s brother, his wife and their son. Through all this, the cheerful slap-slap of the painters’ brushes came to her ears. Marjorie’s harrassed brain began to do some down-to-earth thinking, however, and she quickly decided that Tommy could sleep on the couch in the verandah. Sara and Ben would have to forget their phobia about twin beds unless one of them wished to sleep on the floor. At this she smiled, her first pleasant thought since the arrival of the catastrophic message. “Now, as to menus,” she thought, men¬ tally ticking them off on her fingers, “Sara likes ‘sensible food’ with none of ‘those outlandish spices’. Ben was easy to please, since his only dislike was bread pudding. Tommy, a very active youngster, liked food anytime, anywhere. Marjorie was thankful for this, because it meant they could still enjoy their favorite dishes. Entertainment would have to be pro¬ vided. Ben and Sara enjoyed going to the races, and while they were there Marjorie could get a girl to take Tommy to the p; rk- playground and to wheel Diane until tup- per time. Tommy loved the circus, so she and David could take him to one while Sara and Ben caught the latest matinee, or did some shopping. Then for the weekend, they could motor out to the beach. The men would enjoy the golf tournament and din¬ ner at the club, while she and Sara must not miss the Swank Store fashion show, after which they could go to Julia’s for dinner and bridge. Heaving a sigh of relief after completing her plans, she was about to take Diane with her down to the corner grocery store, when the phone rang. It was David. “Hello, darling; I’ve found a client for that piece of real estate I was telling you about. I think I can close the deal if I take the 2.15 ’plane. So pack a bag for me will you, and send it to the airport by taxi?” “Yes, dear, but ...” “Oh, I should be back in a few days. Good-bye.” He had hung up. She’d tried to tell him about Sara’s impending visit, but he’d hung up. She was about to burst into tears when the ’phone rang again. “Mrs. Stuart? I have another telegram for you. Shall I read it?” “Yes,” she sighed, resignedly. “Quarantined for measles. So sorry we can’t come. Love, Sara.” —Donalda Barber, Room 10-17. Second Prize, Short Story Contest. An Evening nf Cnncentrated Study harles put down his copy of “True Detective Stories” with an air of resolution. With mid-term exams looming up in the near future, he was de¬ termined to catch up with his back home¬ work. Tonight was ideal. The family was out, and a peaceful tranquility reigned, in place of the usual hubbub of radio, conversation, dog, and younger brothers. Charles coldly cut off the announcer’s enthusiastic voice right in the middle of his recital of the merits of that miraculous • 24

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LITERARY lContinued pecting him, as he had telegraphed her. Sara was a wonderful woman. She never complained and she never nagged. They had been married for twenty-seven years and he had never remembered anniversar¬ ies nor birthdays, yet Sara always seemed to understand. Mr. McTavish rounded the corner and walked up Wellington Street. The sun was shining brightly, and seemed to lend a special glow to his home street. The houses were all set neatly back, with lawns and hedges that were spic and span, and flowers that blazed forth their brilliant colors. Mr. McTavish was especially proud of his own home of white stucco with quaintly de¬ signed shutters, its neat lawn, blossoming cherry trees and beautiful flowers. He always walked on the other side of the street to get a better look at it. Next door to Mr. McTavish’s home was another house exactly like it. Perhaps not as carefully kept, for it had been uninhabit¬ ed for some time. New neighbours had been expected, but the house had been empty the last time that Mr. McTavish had been home. As the little man came opposite his home, his glance strayed to the supposedly vacant house. It was then he caught his first glimpse of new neighbours. A plump lady with fading yellow locks was sweep¬ ing the walk. A hefty man was sitting in a rocker on the porch, reading the newspaper. Mr. McTavish crossed and went into his own yard. He was met at the door by Sara, who fussed over him and exclaimed how tired he looked. He inquired about the new neighbours, and was told that their name was Mahoney, and that they had arrived a week ago from Willowbrook. He was also informed that his lawn mower, hose and rake had been borrowed a week ago. Mr. McTavish was not in the habit of lending his implements, and this did not exactly please him. In the afternoon, he went to the shed and took out his trowel and gloves. He went to loosen the earth about the roots of his favorite Begonias. To his dismay the heads were gone! Yes, the blossoms of his most cherished flowers were gone. He called for Sara. He pointed to his flowers and stam¬ mered incoherently. Sara did her best to soothe him. She told him that Mr. Mahoney kept rabbits, and the dear little things, after escaping from their hutches, had tak¬ en a fancy to the prize Begonias. Mr. McTavish was seething. Flowers were not all; lettuce, cabbage, and the bark about one of the cherry trees had gone to make up the meal of these furry rodents. Gone were Mr. McTavish’s ideas of friendship. He marched over to the Mahoney residence, determined to give them a piece of his mind. He pounded on the door, and the man he had seen earlier in the day filled the doorway. Mr. McTavish wasted no time nor words, and Mr. Mahoney, in defence of his pets, put up his fists. The tempers of both were up. They slowly advanced and circled to the back of the Mahoney house. There Mr. McTavish saw his lawn mower lying carelessly in the grass covered with an even coating of rust. Beside it lay the rake, and the hose was cut in an intricate pattern, made, no doubt, by sharp gnawing teeth. Mr. McTavish set up a howl of rage, and a hot argument followed, Mr. Mahoney waving his arms, and Mr. McTavish hop¬ ping up and down like a wet hen. Sara watched from the window. She had never seen her husband so excited before. Remembering the doctor’s precautions con¬ cerning her husband’s blood pressure, she quickly ran to the phone. The doctor was out, so she called the police. In about fifteen minutes, the patrol car came and the two peace-disturbers were taken away. In the morning Sara went to the jail where the two culprits were set free. They were indignant at first, but by the time they reached home, the ice was broken, and they agreed to bury the hatchet. Today the excitement has all blown over, and Aylesbury has forgotten the in¬ cident. The Begonias have budded anew, and the large white doe has had a new litter of rabbits, but the good neighbour policy between the two steadfast friends has not faded. Let us hope that it never will. —Frances Shastky, Room X-17. Third Prize in Short Story Contest. t had been force¬ fully cast out of their lives. They had been trained to despise It. In their childhood they had watched It being ridiculed and • 26