Newport High School - Live Wire Yearbook (Newport, ME)

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NEWPORT HIGH SCHOOL -r L 16 1 4- walking to the station, when laughingly Marie spied a little make-believe mon- key peering from a store window. He had a little white sailor hat perched saucily over one button eye, and a grin spreading from one furry ear to the other. Amused at her delight over it, Blair bought it for her. Here, funny-face, here's something to keep you from be- ing lonesome while lim away. After seeing Blair off, Marie made her way sorrowfully home. Oh, well, she told the monkey, he'll have more fur- loughs-and some day he'll come home to stay. Spring came and Marie started mak- ing plans for her flower gardens. Blair loves spring and making gardens, Marie thought, as she dug into the warm, damp earth. It's too bad he couldn,t get a furlough about now. She ought to get a letter pretty soon, too. He hadn't written for ages. Days faded into weeks and Marie waited patiently for Blair to write. Then one morning she did get a letter. Lying 1,11 her bed, she looked at the envelope. Her eyes were bright pools of happi- ness. It didn't feel very thick, but may- be he didn't have much to write now. He typed it, too, she noticed. Unable to wait any longer, she ripped the letter open and started reading eagerly. The kitten watched her dreamily from the rug- Love's a funny thingf' he thought. It either makes you or breaks you,', and purred contentedly to sleep. When Marie read the first line she looked puzzled, but in a moment a strange light came to her eyes, and she was lying limply on the bed crying. Blair, Blair. I won't believe it. I won't. I ca-a-a-n't.', But after looking at the telegram again she knew it was true. Blair was dead- was killed in action. Heid never come home again-never-he couldnlt kiss her any more or call her F unny-face-every- thing was over for her-everything. I might as well die, too, she sobbed miserably. There isn't anything to live for-except one thing. Iill spend the rest of my life trying to wipe those rot- ten, dirty Iaps off the map or dief' Bracing herself the next morning, Marie walked firmly into the Red Cross building and added her name to the list of nurses who were going into action immediately. Her eyes never shone with laughter any more, and the happiness that dimpled around her mouth was replaced by taunt, firm lines mixed with bitter- ness. After reaching home she went to her room. As she opened the door, her eyes fell on the little monkey grinning saucily at her. Slowly she picked him up and sat on her bed. She could hear Blair say now, Here, F unny-face-here's some- thing to keep you from being lonesome while lim awayf' Pressing the monkey to her tear- stained cheek, she fell asleep. A smile passed over her face and settled on her pale lips. Perhaps she was dreaming of Blair's next furlough. But, no, I think she has gone to meet him. The Story Behind a Whit Setting: Larry's apartment. Time: Early evening. Characters: Larry, a young composer, Laurel, his girl friend, Mack, his pub-

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THE LIVE -r 5 15 lIllHHHY Blair,s Furlough Marie walked slowly home through whirls of colored leaves and golden sun- light. She had auburn hair and hazel eyes, and now, with the bright leaves drifting around her, she looked prettier than ever. Many people stopped to watch the lovely picture Marie made in her green wool sweater and plaid skirt, her roller skates flung over her shoul- der, and a letter gripped tightly in the other hand. The minute she reached home, she raced up the stairs, humming one of the latest dance tunes. All her serenity dis- appeared. She Hung her books on the bed, and danced happily around the room. Pausing in front of the mirror, she smiled at what she saw, and spun around the room three times, landing in the middle of her bed, the unopened letter in her hand. Marie held the letter up. It looked exciting, she thought, as she ripped it open. Her eyes sparkled and she un- consciously smiled to herself. Guess what, Ienniferf she addressed ner sleepy kitten, Blair,s coming home on a furlough! Now, Iill see him in his Navy uniform. I'll bet heis a darling. Just think, kitty darling, Fridayf, She never realized. how much she really did miss him. If Friday were only here. She could see him now-the way his eyes wrinkled at the corners when he smiled, his brown wavy hair, the funny swagger he had when he walked. Oh Blair, Blair, Iill never be WIRE j +- able to waitf, The next few days seemed endless to Marie, as her parents helped her make preparations for Blair. She recalled the grand times they had had together-their first senior hop, the weinie roasts with the gang, the time the carnival came to town and he took her on the ferris wheel four times in a row, all the plans they made for the future. Everything. She always had wonderful times with Blair, even when they WG1'6Il,t doing anything special. After years of waiting, Friday finally arrived, a nice golden fall day. Marie stood patiently on the station platform, looking very pretty and un- sophisticated in her pale blue woolen dress, her bright hair tied with a blue ribbon. From a distance she heard a train whistle blow. Her heart began to beat faster, until she thought it might jump right out of her mouth. The train pulled up at the station, she saw a Hash of blue leap from the steps. Then she found herself in Blairis arms, her cheek against his. Oh, it was good to be together again. Iust wonderful. i'Blair, darling, have you missed me?,' What do you think, funny-face?', he said gently, tilting her head back to look at her. So they walked gaily up the street, seuffing in the leaves, his sailor hat perched jauntily on her red curls, and holding hands. The two weeks passed quickly-too quickly, Blair and Marie thought. Marie rounded up their old gang, or what was left of it, and they did the town up righti' from movies to corn roasts. On his last day Blair and Marie were

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THE LIVE WIRE -4 L 17 1 4- lisher. Scene: Larry is sitting on a piano bench in front of a baby grand. Music paper is scattered and crumpled all over the room. His hair is tousled, his tie loose, his shirt partially unbuttoned, and he has a chewed pencil in his hand. Larry mutters: What am I going to do? I,ve got to get this finished before tomorrow, and I havenit a tune in my head worth putting on scrap paper. fThe door bell rings and, without wait- ing for an answer, Mack walks in.Q Mack: Hello, Larry, any luck? Larry: Not a measure, but don't worry, somethingis got to pop. Mack: I just dropped in to see how you were doing. By the way, when are you going to let me in on your secret about your pen name, Silvio? Most young composers with as much fame as you have wouldnit be ashamed of it. The public is crazy trying to find out who you really are. Larry: Not just yet, Mack. I have a very special reason. Tomorrow you can broadcast it all over the world, and per- haps you can broadcast something else too. Mack: Well, old man, maybe you know what you're doing, but I,m sure I don't. Well, I'll see you tomorrow. Larry: Okay. Goodbye. fMack goes, and Larry picks up the telephone.l Larry: 2358, please. fPausel Hello, Laurel, can you come over about eight, it's very important. fPausel I know you have an appointment with the mysteri- ous Silvio at eight, but if you love me you'll come here. CPausel Okay, bye. fHe replaces the receiver and goes back to his work. Then the doorbell rings.l Laurel: Can I come in Larry? Larry fstill musinglz Uh-huh. Laurel fenteringj, Larry, please hurry and tell me what you want. Silvio will be the greatest scoop in history, and if the boss finds out what happened, I wouldn't work for the 6'Sentinelv much longer. Larry: Calm yourself, my dear, you,ll meet Silvio, but this was just a test to find out whether you were in love with me or your old newspaper. Now I know, and Iill give you the whole story of Silvio. Laurel: You, how could you knov about him? Larry: Darling, I am Silvio. Laurel: You. fShe looks around the room and sees the music paper.l You, a composer! Oh, Larry, why didn't you tell me? Why all the torture? Larry: A young composer isnit al- ways welcomed as readily as I was into the music world, so I used Silvio as sort of a shield. Laurel: Larry, lim not a fainting wom- an, but would you mind holding out your arms? Larry: What for? Laurel: So I can faint, silly. fShe falls in a mock faint and Larry catches her. Then suddenly he sets her down on the floor, he grabs his pencil, sticks it behind his ear, and starts play- ing.l Laurel findignantlyl: Well, sir Silvio, what struck you? Larry: Laurel, I had to have a song for Dinah Shore to sing at an Army camp and now I've got it, Who is Silvio?', Arthur Anderson.