Nazareth Academy - Gateway Yearbook (Nazareth, MI)

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THE HARDEST LESSON Jimi jimmy! James Thortonl You get np right this minute. Following this usual dialogue ls. Thorton gave a weary sigh, Oh, what's the ue, he'11 never be cured. Sometinns I wish he had insomnia. Every morning jim's mother nearly collapsed getting her son off to school. He would take his time getting ln- to his clothes, combing his hair and coming downstiars. And at the breakfast table, she would start the routine again like a veteran, Jimmy, hurry dear, or you'l1 be late. Oh land, why do you have to be so pokey? To hear him answer, uh-huh, was too much. Witha resounding whack she started him toward the door at a good rate of speed, but in vain. Once over the thresh- hold he slowed down to his habitual crawl. I-Iis reputation for getting to school minutes, even secomls before the bell, had been with him ever since tl: Reverend Leo Ambre could remember. It was utterly nervewracking to see him come sauntering into the room and drop nonchalantly into his seat just as the bell began its clanging. But one morning there was an awed hush in the room as 'the 9:CD bell rang and...No Jimmy! The day nearly everyone had been waiting for was here, but no one felt quite as they had expected. Finally, after minutes which seemed hours, jim appeared and went directly to Fr. Ambre. There is to be a fire drill immediately, he said. So everyone formed a line and filed out into the hall. They were met by smoke billowing from the rooms followed by sheets of flame. The priest glanced keenly at jim and then at the panic stricken faces of the child- ren. Moving quickly he gave orders to the class which was already beginning to scatter about and led them to safety and fresh air. just as jim was heading for the door he heard a groan comkng from a room down the corridor. Jim rushed toward the sound. Fr. Ambre, see- ing Jim heading back into the smoke too, darted after him. Quickly reaching his side the priest demanded an explanation. In a few words jimmy had explained. In Room 209 they found a little girl overcome by smoke. To- gether they lifted her and started out. But an idea had struck the priest. A real way to cure jimmy. He slowed his pace and made jim match his steps to his own. And they progressed down the hall. Beads of perspiration trickled down jim's face and he gave the priest a desper- ate look. Seeing his eyes give way to mutual consent they started at breakneck speed to the door and the out- side. The throng of teachers and students just gasped. They couldn't believe their eyes. The always calm and cool face of their jim was hot, desperate and filled with relief. And miracles of miracles, he had broken his own record and had learned to run. The hero of the day, s real speed demon, their own...jim Thorton. Mary Catherine Bradley DIRGE Ah, life is so gay is the spring time When the rohins and roses are there. Ah, life is so gay is the spring time If only I were there. X X 5 .sf S ' 'Q SHADES OF EDGAR ALLEN POE All I heard was fire and then instantanlously I blacked out. Upon regaining consciousness, I choked and staggered to my feet, in the midst of a thousand of the most unearthly shouts and screams, coming from the helpless victims of the Home for Cancer. It was more or less a home for the dead. The smoke was clogging my.brain, but I knew death when I saw it. Surely this Earthly Hell was it. I stumbled through the long corridor as far as room 14-B. I peered into the room, and on the bed was a patient. Apparently he had fainted, due to lack of oxygen. Frantically I rushed into the room and grasped his waist, and pulled. He came without any opposition! Still having six feet to go before reaching the stairs to the main exit, our only lnpe of escape, I tightened my hold around his waist and stlll.......I pulled. The flames, having soared to my knees, were consum- ing my legs quite rapidly, and my dependent's body was now beyond recognition.....yet I pulled. The pain shot through my legs, and contracted with my brain. only to slow me up. I finally reached the exit. it seemed a gate to Heaven, leaving this -blazing inferno. Now being at the point of exhaustion, I clung to my dependent, rather than he to me. At last came that wanting breath of air...air...at last ...airl I dropped the man and sank to my knees. A doctor rushed to my side, I was still conscious and my eyes were open due to my lack of strength,I could not close them. The doctor then ran to my dependent andexamined him. I-le turned and looked at one of the internes and said bluntly, Call the morguel This man was dead a half an hour before the fire began. I Sandra Roselip KXf7'fX To rise with the morning laughter To sleep with the falling sas. Ah life is so gay is the springtime ut life for use is done. Anna Marie Baldwin f 1' Xl. ' Y' Q' .fl 4

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TH E IMPORTANT MISSION Tomorrow, yes tomorrow was the big day which I had been waiting for, for about two weeks. The day soon flew by and night fell. Sometime in the middle of that night, I would wake up and lay there think- ing of the wonderful thing I'd actually be doing tomorrow. Tomorrow came after a night which seemed very, very long. At 8:30 we had tn-eakfaat. I did not eat much be- cause my stomach felt as though it had a hundred and one butterflies flopping around at the same time. After break- fast I helped finish the dishes and then all by myself I dusted the living room. It was now 9:30 and Mom was still cleaning and mak- ing beds. I tried to hurry her up but she just acted as if this task I was going to do happened everyday. But it dldn't, and I just couldn't get it across to her that I had waited a long time for today. About 10:00 she quit working and told me to put on my cap and jacket, which I did very hurriedly. She then gave me a piece of paper with some words on it. I left the house on my mission, and as I walked down the street, our house faded away in the distance. I was now on my own. 'Sf , in IW ' 4 I LIGHT He had been in prison for months, for years, maybe- he did not know. Why, he did not know. Two other men were there, too. They had not been there as long as he. They were not as ill as he. He did not know they were there either. By this time he did not know anything and he did not care. All he wanted was to be left alone and to sit and stare and think. Oh yes, he could hear them talking but he could not move, he could not will himself to move. Even now they were arguing-the priest softly and per- sistently, and the other one loudly and impatiently. Often they argued about God. The priest would have the man convinced of a God and all would be peace for a while. And then the man would have another doubt and there would be more arguing. The arguing would become more frequent and loud as time went on for even now the man was treaking under the strain of prison and torture and doubt. But the priest--he and his superstitious would never part. So ran the thoughts of the one in the comer--the one who stared. Stared at the blank wall and through the wall. and wished to do nothing else but this. Occasionally though, thoughts would seep in or he would become con- conscious of what those two were saying. Again the voice of the man rose. Rose and screamed, That is not so. God cannot be here. The priest smiled and started to say something but the man hit him and he fell on his face. And the man screamed again and cried and beat the priest lying dead on the floor. The one in the corner stared at the priest and the man, through the -:nan and through the wall. Through the sky and etemity and there was nothing to see. Some guards came. One took the murderer out. One kicked the dead priest over and cried. Look, Sarge! The fool smiles. Tlny pulled the one who stared out of the room. And he stared at the priest who smiled in death and he laugh- ed. He laughed as one laughs for fear of crying,-for fear of crying,--for fear of madness-the madness from which he just returned. Now he saw. He saw everything and through everything and he saw God. Gloria Brocato Q 'TJ' f f A , 1 I F ll f x I passed many buildings, high and little, many of which I had gone ln before with Mom, but now I couldn't because I was on a special errand. ' I walked more rapidly because my stomach was now in a fairly calm condition. Only two more blocks to go, which made me feel very happy because thus far my mission was a success. As I entered into the building I reached down into my pocket and pulled out the paper Mom had given me, hand- ed lt to the big man who had stooped down and extended his hand. He then rose, reading it. After a time he re- turned and handed me a package. I took the package, carrying It very carefully and returned home. When I arrived home I came in the back door and put the package down on the work-bench by the sink. - After taking off my cap and jacket, I went silently in- to the living room to wait with Dad and Mother. lother suddenly went into the kitchen. After a few seconds she returned carrying the package with a strange look on her face. See Dad, Icried, I went to the store for Mother all by myself, and bought a dozen eggs! Mary Ellen Walenta. f., VOCATION I think sorrowfully- Of high school slipping to the past: And as I lie here by my window, Comes the night --a symbol. Soon a new future will begin Like the dawn of another day. What e 'er that day holds for me- Ifollow anxi ously, Drawn by His hand outstretched To the path of Living Light. Lore tta Portugal l