Lowe High School - Towers Yearbook (Windsor, Ontario Canada)

Page 75 text:

“THE TOWERS I 9 4 S — 19 4 9 PAGE SEVENTY-TWO FIRST PRIZE— A SHORT STORY— By HENRY HAZEL, T4B A heavy dense fog descended upon the little town of Puce and 1 was at a loss as to my sense of direction. I glanced at my watch—3:00 a.m., and still, as far as 1 knew. I was no where near home. After walking several minutes I came to what looked like “Home Sweet Home . AH was dark and silent in the house. Slow¬ ly I turned the door knob, but, to no avail; the door was locked. I shuddered to think what might happen if Paw should awake and find me out so late. To avoid any trouble. I decided to go in through the bedroom window. Slowly 1 lifted up the bedroom window and crawled in head ■first. No sooner did I enter, then the window came down with a resounding and thunderous crash. My heart skipped five beats during that seemingly everlasting five seconds that I waited. But no one came. I was then sure everyone was dead asleep. Seating myself on a chair, I took off my shoes. I took a deep breath and felt eased at the thought that I was safely in the house without a care or worry in the world. Finding the chair very hard. I decided to tiptoe over to the bed. For years I had taken those few steps to the bed. but tonight of all nights. I had taken six steps resoundly right into the wall. With five more pounds force I would have walked through the wall. My brain began to function and I knew then that if the bed was not on this side it was on the other. With an about-face anil out¬ stretched band 1 passed slowly forward. — — Crash. 1 then drove my clumsy bony knee directly into a dresser bureau. Again 1 tried to search for the bed. With two painful paces I found the bed. Slowly 1 slid my hand along the bed rail: my hand then went over an oddly- shaped bedpole. That ' s funny . since when did we own a lied with such a peculiar-shaped head¬ piece ?” A million thoughts ran through my head. The chair in the room, never do I recall having a chair in nty room: the five paces to the wall, the lied, the ease with which the window alien¬ ed. ”1 was in the wrong house! A wave of panic surged through me as 1 heard the low muffling sound of an automobile and saw the light flash by as a car drove up the driveway. I then heard the voices of people and the slam of a car door. What was I to do? Where did I leave my shoes? Groping about the floor on hands and knees. I searched intensively. “Ah. 1 found them. At the instant that l heard the key in the door 1 flung open the window and raced limpingly down the street. The fog had lifted. As 1 walked home. 1 rejoiced that I had escaped from the neighbour ' s house safely. My next problem was to gain entrance into mv own bedroom without distur¬ bing the family.’ I lifted the latch of the hack door, entered the kitchen, turned the knob of the living room door and climbed the stairway. Creek, creek — tho e unfriendly stairs. Paw heard a noise but knowing that occasionally 1 walked in my sleep, he said: Joe. go hack to lied, ii is too early to get up — go to sleep. These were the kindest words to my ears — my fears were gone. 1 uttered a sleepy response, and finally reached my own lied in safety. SECOND PRIZE- SECRET FEELINGS REVEALED By JANE BALLANTYNE Oh Diary: I don ' t know how much longer I can keep this pretense up. The longer it is. the more hate there is in my heart for him: and the one thing I ' don ' t want to happen is that my love for Mother is starting to turn, too. only because of her love for him. and her willingness to be or¬ dered. and pushed around in her own house. Before there was always Carol. Mom. and I. and of course. Uncle Joe. Dad died when we were very young. But we were always hap¬ py. We lived in a pretty little house which Dad had bought before he died. Carol and 1 had a cheerful little room where the sun peeped into our window in the morning, which made every¬ thing look bright and fresh. I ' ll always remem¬ ber that little room, and hope I ' ll have another like it some day. When we were old enough to take care of ourselves, coming from and going to school. Mom got a job. She wanted to help buy some things for the house, and a little extra spending money. She liked working and enjoyed the people she met. Then all at once we noticed a great change in her. She seemed as if she was in a daze or dream all the time she was home. She said crazy, silly little things which didn ' t mean much, but which were enough to tell my uncle she was in love. Uncle Joe was always good to us and 1 could tell him some things 1 couldn ' t even tell Mom. He was good to us like a father, and now I often wonder why Mom never married him. because I knew he was always in love with her. Maybe, if he had lived, things wouldn ' t be like this now. Mam star ted to go out frequently at night and to leave us at home more than ever. She

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19 4 9 “TH E TOW ER S ” I 9 4 8 - ♦ PAGE SEVENTY-ONE ♦ ylLUMMI M tW§ DID YOU KNOW . . . That Frank Bowden, Jr., is the manager of Canadian Chalmers Co., located in Calgary. Alberta. Bill Brockenshire is estimator tor the Allan Construction Co., locally. Fred Brookbanks is office manager for Aulcraft Paints Ltd.. Toronto, and is a member of the School Board for North York Township. Albert Carley. a basketball star of ' 28 and ' 29. is Assistant Master Mechanic of the Chrys¬ ler Corporation. That hard-hitting hockey defenceman Ro¬ ger Protilx is in charge of the Employment Of¬ fice at Chrysler . Other former hockey players holding down responsible positions at Chryslers are Emerald Awad (the gent with the ever growing family) and Tom Tobin. Norman Cushman who -till holds the 100 yard dash record locally, i- the chief Engineer of Reliance ircraft and Tool Co.. Belleville. Ontario. Clancy Fisher, a former pupil and teacher at Lowe Vocational School, is now Shop Direc¬ tor at Vocational School in Sault Ste. Marie. Ontario. Julius Goldman is Professor of Mathema¬ tics at Detroit Institute of Technology. George Jacquemain. a star lineman on our first Rugby team, is Vice-President and General Manager of DeVilbiss Co.. Windsor. Maurice Kelk is Production Engineer of Turnbull Elevator Co.. Toronto. John Kelton is an engineer at the Ford Motor Company. Gord Kirkwood is a Designer in the En¬ gineering Office at Canadian Bridge Co. Ken Libby is proprietor of Universal Tools Limited. Canada Building. Windsor. Alex Odevseff is Designing Engineer with Beech Aircraft Co.. Wichita. Kansas. Allan Padget is manager of Phillips Oil Company. Atlanta. Georgia. George Rogers is an instructor in Sheet Metal work at Niagara Falls Vocational School. Frank Pengally is instructing in the same subject at Cornwall Vocational School. Mr. Herbert Stott, the electrical instructor is a former student of this school. Murray Smith is proprietor of S. K. D. Tool Co.. Amherstburg. Bob Thompson is Superintendent of Motor Products Corporation. Frank Hull is purchasing agent for the same firm. Charles Weese is Assistant Director of Map Division for Department of Transport. Ottawa. Roger Lauzon is proprietor of Interna¬ tional Tool Company. John Tingle is proprietor of Border Too! and Die Company. Wesley Wade is a printer at the Ford Mo¬ tor Company. DID YOU KNOW . . John Sieber is Engineer in charge of Quali¬ ty Control of Canadian Industries Paint Divi¬ sion. Toronto. Harry Heyden was elected president of one oi Windsor ' s must active fraternities, A.K.O. Norm Hull is on the Editorial staff of Windsor ' s best newspaper. Patrick Lauzon is First Vice-President of Ford local 200. Mike Patrick is a city alderman represen¬ ting Ward 1. Joe Lefaive was elected to the Riverside Counsel. Incidentally, the manager of Empire and Tivoli Theatres are Ed Lamoureux and Joe Le¬ faive. two of Miss Green’s best pupils. We have about twenty-five former students on the police force and also a number of fire fighters. If you have any difficulties at the City Hall, consult Eugene Langlois, Donald New¬ man or Isabel Barron who arc employed there. Vaughan Courier master mechanic at the Timken Roller Bearing. St. Thomas, and on Sunday takes up the collection for Rev. Frank Swackhammer, who is rector of Centre Street Baptist Church. Rev. Arthur Meloche, who attended here in 1934. is located at St. Alphonsus Church. Joe Burns is on the editorial staff of the Dayton Herald. Ernie Milne. Chairman of our 25th Anni¬ versary. has been appointed Chief of the Inspec¬ tion Dept, of Ford ' s. Alfred Hardie is manager of the Real Es¬ tate Department of Toronto General Trusts, lo¬ cated in Ottawa. Wm. P. Fazackcrley is manager of Peat Business Service locally. Wilfred Cada is Manager of Salt Division C.I.L.. London. Stan Thompson is Ford and Monarch dea¬ ler located in Chatham. Clarence Lee is Salary Roll Paymaster at Chryslers. Cliff Riley is Parts Pricing Supervisor at Chrysler ' s. Geo. Vandooren, Harry Lazar, William Benca and He ' en Darocy are in their final year at Wayne University. Detroit. Geo. Rowland is in his final year in Politi- tical Economy at Western. Frank Hutnik was married recently. June Rosaasen married Allan Smith. Norine Noble won the coveted honors of Miss Western On¬ tario last fall. Mr . C. G. Ru-scll (Stella Kre- cul ) has a new secretary at Monterey Park. California. Murray Smith of Amherstburg won the prize for catching the largest speckled trout in the Bruce Peninsula in 1948 season, a three- and-one-half pound beauty. Peter J. Bates is a Lieutenant in R.C.N.. serving on H.M.C.S. Magnificent. He married Gwen Knapp and lives at 21 Vernon St.. Halifax

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19 4 8 19 4 9 PAGE SEVENTY-THREE ■THE T OtERS ' acted as a young girl and looked nicer and hap¬ pier than ever before. Before his death. Uncle loe came to see us more than ever, because he knew we were unhappy and lonely. It was on one of his visits, that Mother came home a little eirlier than usual. She asked if he would come to dinner the following night mentioning that she was bringing a guest. That night when we were in bed. Mom came in. She asked. How would you like me to stay home all the time and not to work any¬ more? Carol and f were very happy over this new plan and went to sleep more happily than we had for a long time. Next night Mom arrived home earlier than usual, loaded down with parcels, laughing and talking to a man we hail never seen before. Dinner was all ready when Uncle Joe arrived. We sat down to what 1 thought, was going to be a pleasant meal. The man. whom we were told to call Dave, was very pleasant to us. but he seemed to avoid Uncle Joe as much as pos¬ sible. They acted as if they had met before and weren ' t on friendly terms. We were almost finished when Mom said she had an announcement to make. It was so unexpected, that I didn ' t know whether to cry or laugh. She just simply said that Dave and she were getting married right away, and she had |iiit her job already. Sitting there. I look¬ ed about to sec the expressions on the other four faces. Mom. happy, blushing, with shining eyes; Dalvc. smug, superior, with smiling face. Was he a man that a girl could be proud to have as a father, and he aide to love? Carol didn ' t understand much, but all she cared about was that she was getting a new daddy. That ' s when I really started to dislike him. I didn ' t know him yet, but I knew 1 could never love him as a father, or as I love Uncle Joe. Uncle Joe smiled calmly, not his usual merry smile, but more forced. After the excitement of the news was over. Daive wanted to celebrate. He brought along some drinks to pep the night along, so he said. Right then I knew Mom had listened to her heart rather than her head. 1 couldn ' t understand how she had fallen in love with this man. It just wasn ' t like her. 1 noticed the disappointed look on Uncle Joe ' s face. He drank a toast with them, wishing them happiness together, excused himself, and left quite hurriedly. Dave was at rest now. Uncle Joe was gone. He kept on drinking, and talking to Carol. He was drawn to her at once, as s ' he was so like Mom. and Uarol made friends so easily. I was referred to as the old man ' s kid. which hurt me deeply. I was glad that Mom suggested that we go to bed, although Carol didn ' t come right away. This was a help. They came in to say good night. Carol kissed him. but I couldn ' t possibly do such a thing, when my heart was crying and 1 was on the verge of crying. I pre¬ tended to he -too sleepy to talk. I was still awake when Dave left for home and Mom came in to see if we were asleep. Carol was asleep, but sleep was impossible for me that night. When-she saw that I was awake she sat down to talk to me. She asked how I liked our new Daddy. Rather than hurt her feelings T told my biggest lie then. I told her I thought lie was rather loud, but that he should make a good father. This made her very hap¬ py. while fear and hope was rising in my heart. 1 hoped that some day I really would fed he was a good father. This all happened four years ago. hut much has happened to us since then. Only two months after mother was married, Dave lost his job. and never has had a steady job since. Usually every night he comes home at six-thirty, as do all the rest of the men in the neighbourhood, and expects supper to be ready for him. One would think that he has worked in a factory all day. But Dave has a professional job — a gambler. This is the man chosen as a husband, and father. Worst of all. I hate him for what is hap¬ pening to mother. From a lovely lady she has changed to an aging old woman. She never laughs and smiles with us anymore. She is getting to look like the rest of the women of the neighbourhood — old. worn and tired, al¬ though she dresses neatly. These women look like this, because of the cleaning they have to do. to keep these dirty slums cleaned. Carol still thinks the world of him. and Mom holds him lord of the manor; but my feel¬ ings will never change now. I know if things don ' t change soon. I ' m going to fly up at him as soon as he starts throwing slams at me. 1 know I ' ll spoil things for Mom, but 1 can ' t keep from saying these things much longer. It is almost supper-time now. and 1 can hear Mom pacing back and forth to the window and stove. She seems nervous and restless late- le. I think she is dissatisfied with Dave. He doesn ' t get home till late now. and he ' s jumpy, and is very rude to her. The only time 1 ever saw her that way before was the day we lost our little house two years ago. It seems Dave owed money out to everyone, for wines and cards. Then he thought his luck would change if he bet on the horses. He lost more money than ever. During one of his drinking spells, pressure was put on him for the money he owed. This frightened him badly. He signed the house over for part payment. This almost broke Mom ' s heart. She cried and told Dave she would never forgive him. but it didn ' t last long, because Dave won her over again. We sold most of our furniture, except what we needed. We kept moving to dirtier and poorer neighbourhoods, although Mom kept the house spotless. As soon as Dave ran up a bill, lie would want to move. Mom would tell him they would catch up to him sooner or later, but he didn ' t care, and said “He wouldn ' t do it again. He always has that smug, superior way of his. I ' d better go down now. as Dave doesn ' t like to be kept waiting and especially by me. He thinks there couldn ' t be a youngster worse than I. I guess he knows 1 will never accept him. Mom doesn ' t know how things are be¬ tween us. and I don ' t want her to know either. We ' ve always had our words out when she was not home. When she is home. I: speak to him as little as possible, so as not to cause unplea¬ sant words. He is nice to me when Mom is home. There ' s someone coming, so I ' ll close for tonight. Oh Diary. I hope he is not angry tonight, because I know I won ' t keep my feelings back much longer; and I do not want to come be¬ tween him and Mom. I wouldn ' t want her to hate me. Goodnight.