Maynard High School - Screech Owl Yearbook (Maynard, MA)

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THAT ' S GRATITUDE FOR YOU I first met Jake about six months ago. There was nothing extraordinary about the way we met. There I was, old Mike Flannery, coming home from work, as usually. It was just a little darker and the usual air of gloom around Pier 83 seemed heavier. A cold mu,st slithered about and only the eerie blast of a foghorn broke the heavy silence. Now don’t get the idea I’m afraid of the dark or of the pier district — . It isn’t that at all, because I’ve worked as a stevedore for almost thirty years. You know, a job like that keeps me going all hours of the night. Well, as I approached the Gilded Lily Saloon, I heard an unusual commotion, so I stood listening to see if I could find out what was going on. The barman came out holding Jake by the scruff of his neck and tossed him out shouting, Scram ! We don’t allow the likes of you around here.’’ Jake, I didn’t know his name was Jake then, just lay there and shivered. I know I should have left him there, but he looked so downcast that I couldn ' t resist going to his aid. I approached him with hand outstretched and said, Hi, there, fella. Kick you out, did they. ’’ Mutely he stared, then turned away. Now, look, boy, don’t be like that. Have )Ou got a home. ’’ He gave a shudder that might have been a bitter laugh, but I received no answer to that query, either. Listen, come home with me. I guess I can afford to feed another mouth.” He looked at me suspiciously, but slowly got to his feet. He followed a short way behind me; and .so Jake came to live with me. At first he would peer at me when I was absorbed in thought or in some task, but as soon as I would glance his way, he would shift and gaze in another direction. It was as though he were trying to under- stand my motives for sheltering him. I won’t say he was ungrateful. It was just that no one had ever treated him kindly before and he didn’t know how to react to the gentle treatment. Well, I guess life would have gone on then in the usual way tor us — . I would have worked so that Jake and I would have a home. And Jake. Well, 1 guess he would have just stayed on, eating my food, sharing my shelter, but never showing any affection toward me. Just about a week ago, I decided to surprise Jake, and after standing in line for three hours at a meat market, I was able to buy a large, juicy steak. I was in a jocular mood as I wended my way homew ' ard thinking of how Jake’s eyes would light up when he saw the steak. When I arrived home Jake seemed glad to .see me, but did not utter any greeting. His joy seemed boundless when he saw the surprise. I decided that we would need onions with the steak, so 1 left the meat exposed on the table, and told Jake I ' d be right back from the store. Reaching home again, I called to Jake but received no response. To my surprise, when I went into the kitchen, I found both Jake and the .steak gone. It was evident what had happened. Jake had taken his opportunity to de.sert me and to take something of value from me. Well, there’s nothing more to tell. Perhaps you will benefit from my sad experience. Never take a stray dog into your home — . Oh, well, that’s grati- tude for you ! IsABi;i.LA Koski, ’47 H: FOR BOYS ONLY There have been countless rules and regulations written on etiquette and good behavior at a dance. Many people have tried to follow these and have become rather confused. But these rules and sugges- tions which I am about to make are convenient and can easily be followed. I. If, when dancing )Ou accidentally bump into someone, it is permissible to give that person a ( 5 )

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IT ' S UP TO YOU Why is it that a great many of the high school students of today lack the ambition and the desire for a higher learning? A large number of them have only hazy ideas about what they are going to do after they graduate, and what is worse, they are not in the least bit concerned about it. They are perfectly con- tent to glide along through the four years of high school, doing only a minimum of homework and just barely passing. Could this attitude be the fault of the schools? No, not when we consider how much the schools are doing to make students realize the importance of a good high school education and plans for the future. City schools olfer guidance courses on a large scale where one may study each phase of the occupation in which he is interested, and upon grad- uation go out into the world knowing what require- ments he must meet and what obstacles he will have to face. Even the smaller schools are becoming guidance conscious’’ and offer students general courses in this important subject. Such courses not only make students think about their future, but they also give them the incentive to study harder while in high school so as to be all the better prepared for their future. Next we must take into consideration the parents. Could they be responsible for this attitude? Hardly, when it is a well-known fact that practically all mothers and fathers have big plans for their sons and daughters, and picture them as successful musicians, doctors, teachers, or lawyers. Parents with such dreams surely realize the importance of a good high school education as a basis for the many years of study ahead; but their advice, though freely offered, is not always freely accepted. Students, for the most part, continue merrily along their way, doing only what they are forced to do, and not even that if there is any possible way of getting out of it. They simply shrug their shoulders and mutter something about too much advice” and times have changed.” What they can’t seem to realize is that this advice is offered by people who learned the hard way and who are eager to spare their children the headaches and heartaches that they once faced. No, we can’t blame this atti- tude entirely on the parents, either. Since there are three forces involved, the school-- parents — and the students — and since we have ab- solved the school and the parents, upon whom can the fault lay, if not upon the students? The school has done its part; the parent has done his. Now what about you ? ( 4 ) Elinor R. Case, ’47

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violent kick in the shins, provided that you don’t know the person, that you don’t miss your target and kick his partner instead, and that your partner doesn’t see you. II. After dancing with a girl, it is customary to thank her for the dance and escort her to her seat. It is not advisable to ask her where she wants to sit and proceed to give her a violent shove in that direction. III. When asking a girl for a dance it is ex- tremely inadvisable to whistle or to beckon to her from across the hall. Besides, the wrong one might come and you might be stuck with Lena-the- H)ena or a reasonable facsimile. W. During ladies’ choice, if you have the mis- fortune to be asked by a girl whom you do not particularly admire, it is considered bad taste to a.sk her in a sarcastic voice, Are you kiddin’?’’ V. If a girl asks you to a dance which her club is sponsoring, do not, under any conditions, ask her, When’s the funeral?” If you can’t wriggle out of going with her, submit like a gentleman. Neither will it be considered polite if you need a day or two to make up your mind, hoping to get a better offer. The girls never do ! ' VI. If you accidentally step on a girl’s feet, do not ask her if those are her big feet upon which you are stepping — even if they are big. VII. At a dance one is expected to dance, not march around in time with the music. Many a mile has been paced in that auditorium and been passed off as dancing. VIII. You will be forgiven if you don’t arrive at dances on the stroke of eight. You’ll be allowed a few minutes longer to put on your tie and suit coat. Your willingness to arrive on time and to start dancing is commendable. But we’ll allow you the few extra minutes in which to finish dressing. IX. If you meet a girl at a dance whom you would like to escort home, ask her. If she says no, don’t follow her all the way home, stepping on her heels at every step she takes. You may wind up with a black eye if she really doesn’t like you. If she does like you, — well, we’re getting off the subject. Norma O’Neil, ’49 A DREAMER ' S LIFE {DeJicaleJ to toy self) Strange — how my eyes grow dim again as blurred visions cross my face. And once again I leave this earth to fly out into space. I spread my wings and dip down low in salute to all sights I see. Gazing at each object til it becomes a phantom, drifting hopelessly. I want to tarry along the way just long enough to be A lovely ballerina — - or a sailor out at sea. But first I’ll be a senorita listening to my senior play An enchanting little violin to which I’ll swing and sway. And then I’ll visit England, walk out along the moors. Or maybe be a King or Queen, and throw gold upon the floors. I won’t forget to go to France and visit gay Paris, To listen closely to such chants. As, ”Voila la belle Julie.” The visions are getting dimmer now so I must fly once more Through heavy layers of floating clouds Back to my own front door. So another dream has ended, and I must settle down to be A funny little person Whom you all know as me. Julie D’Amico, ’47 H ' NEVER AGAIN Never again ! Nope, never will I help other people out. I used to be kind, nice to people and all that, but no more. I learned my lesson. The milk of human kindness is sour in my stomach and I’ll tell you why It was spring, the little birds singing, the flowers was growing. The old world was coming to life and I was walking through the park communing with ( 6 )