Monson Academy - Pharetra Yearbook (Monson, ME)

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singing birds and a tumbling brook, that they could neither see nor locate Helen Ranta 'Sh She Never Had a Chance Leslie stepped off the train at Grand Central Station She was a picture of forlorness A girl just turned fifteen, with blue grey eyes already carrying the look of despair, lines around her eyes and mouth, a drag in her step Should she have come to New York? It is the wish of almost every girl to be part of the excitement and bright lights of the big city', and Leslie was no excqnnon She had been an only child, and her parents were killed just two weeks before in a plane crash It was then that the farm born Leslie decided to start out on her own, with 3200 and a few bedraggled hopes Now here she was, in New York, with people and noise bust ling about her everywhere She had no idea where to go or what to do Her first thought was to find some place to rest her weary body She needed to do some clear thinking, and to do that she needed to be alone She found a cheap room not far from the station It wasn't much, but it would have to do for now After a good night's sleep she would feel much better, and things would look more hope ful, she was sure She awoke the next morning, and looked around her She couldn't remember where she was, but finally she realized she was in New York, her new home hurried cup of coffee, she bought a paper and went back to her room She scanned the want ads and spotted one that read, 'Chorus girl needed at the Havana Club' She read the address, grabbed her hat and coat, and started for the club She approached the office for the interview, she was almost in tears She would have to lie about her age, and she hoped she could look eighteen When the receptionist finally told her that Mr Barnes would see her, she took a fleeting glance at her self in the mirror, and was scared Mr Barnes proved to be a rather hard looking character in his middle forties But after they were introduced, he put Leslie very much at ease, with smooth talk Surely this should have been a warning signal, but Leslie just let it pass as sincere kindness 'You should understand, Miss Cooper, that your work will be strenuous until you get the hang of it It 1sn't easy to become a chorus girl, and you can't make yourself perfect over night' Leslie said she understood very well, and after a few more words with Mr Barnes, she was dismissed, and went joyously back to her room She sat and thought of her good luck on her first day in the 'big city' 'Maybe New York will have something for me after all', she thought aloud 'The ringing of the telephone startled her out of her day dreams a few hours later She looked at the clock Just six Then she reached for the telephone A voice asked, 'Is this Miss Cooper?' n I ' - . 0 ! Leslie dressed quickly and went out for breakfast. After a

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Leslie summoned a faltering, Y yes, it is ' The voice at the other end continued, 'Well, I'm lucky to find you home This is Mr Barnes Would you like to have din ner with me?' Leslie didn't know what to say She was only fifteen, a stranger in a strange place, and this Mr Barnes, an older ma was asking her out But she decided one thing fast, she must have looked eighteen, so now she'd act it! 'Why, I'd love to Mr Barnes I'11 be ready at seven, and with a hasty, 'Goodbye,' she hung up Leslie was thrilled with Mr Barnes, or Greg, as he asked her to call him He knew New York, and he showed it to her! At rehearsal the next day, she tried to act very friendly toward Greg, for the benefit of the others It worked for awhile, but when Greg came over to ask her to have lunch with him, she couldn't conceal her joy And then, after a dining and dancing date that night, she decided she was very much in love with Greg, and told him so She noticed the sharp intake of his breath, and wondered if she'd said the wrong thing, because Greg definitely looked wor ried However, he said nothing The followin morning, she was deliberately a little early for rehearsal, so she could surprise Greg by dropping in his office to see him woman's 'Really, Greg, you shouldn't lead the girl on like this After all, you are my husband ' nYes, Rene, I know Just be patient a while longer This deal should be about ready,' Greg answered Blind with fury, Leslie pushed the door open and stood fac ing the couple She didn't trust her voice, but she pointed an accusing finger at Greg Looking quickly to her left, she was able to see a heavy black object, used as a door stop Swiftly she picked it up, and hurled it at him It missed Greg, but hit his wife in the head The woman slumped to the floor Without even going to her, Leslie knew she was dead Greg just sat and stared for a long time Finally he called the police, but Leslie didn't move from the spot in which she was standing After the police arrived and started firing questions at her, she burst into a flood of uncontrollable tears She was taken into custody Today, Leslie Cooper is on trial for murder A murder which she was almost forced to commit Would you, reader, blame this girl? This girl who was taken in by flattery and the bright lights of New York City? This girl, who never had a chance? Carolyn Leavitt ' Mr Blood 'Do you know which Pope it was who gave us our present calendar9' Helen Ranta Pope? Good gracious, I thought they all came from the grocery store. Carol Ann: nwhisper something soft and sweet to me, darling.' Elmer: nChocolate sundae.' n Q O 0 e e . V 0 . n, . 1 I! I 0 O O O 0 0 0 C 0 K? . KD As she opened the door, she heard voices, and one was a I D . 0 0 O ' 0 0 O O O 0 O C O O O . : : W ' ' N