North Quincy High School - Manet Yearbook (North Quincy, MA)

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MAN ET 17 itor, I 1nean. She's just between Meg's age and mine, but she'd never 'own being any younger than Meg. Her first name is really Ruth, but she calls herself Elissa, her second name. She 's a gorgeous blonde, if I must say so. Great big swimming blue eyes and well, everything, but she makes me sick. From the time she comes in, to the time she goes out it's Jeanie, run get this, will you? and Jeanie, bring me in that, like a good girl. Have a chocolate? The ones with nuts on top are good. Let's see, where was I? Oh, yes. Well, she came to visit just three days after David Harrison entered the scene of con- flict. Dad came home the second night Elissa was here and brought Mr. Harrison with him. I took a good look at him from the top of the stairs before I came down and decided he wasn't much older than Meg, just a kid in fact. So I went back a11d put on my new lacy collar and came down again. I walked nonchalantly into the front room if I didn 't know there was anybody there, and stopped politely at the door. Dad came over and put his arm around me and said, 4'Hello, Jeanieli' and pulled my ear as if I were a three-year old. I sort of drew away from him, said, Hello, Dad, and wondered palpitatingly how he was going to introduce me. My worst fears were realized. He said, Oh David, this is my younger daughter. Getting to be quite a young lady, isn't she? Jeanie, this is Mr. Harrison. I was on the point of giving Dad a viscious dig in the ribs but I didn 't, so I made myself mad- der still by blushing and not being able to find anything to say except, How do you do? Then supper was announced, and we herded into the dining-room. Jimmie was late of course. He stamped in, slamming the front door behind him, walked right in and sat down and was already eating before Dad could get him introduced. After supper Dad and Mr. Harrison went into Dad 's study, and Meg said she had to go down to the library. That left Elissa and me to entertain each other. Believe me I didn it enjoy tl1e project, and when the doorbell rang I ran to the door thinking it was Ted or someone. But I got rather a shock to discover it was Rick Nielson. I hadn't seen that rat, if I may say so, for months, and didn't like his looks any better this time than before. So I didn't even open the door wide at first but just said Margaret wasn't home. Then I got the dumb idea that started everything. Have some more chocolates? Help your- self. As I said, I got my bright idea. I looked in the front room and saw Elissa sitting tuck- ing in her curls and looking inquiringly towards the door. 'tBut she 'll be right back, said I, smiling suddenly and affably. t'Won't you come in and wait? You know, Rick looks, and dresses like a gentleman, and it 's not his family's fault he 's got a shady character around here. So when I led him into the front room Elissa leaned back, tossed one arm over the back of her chair and smiled winningly. Ten minutes after the introduction Rick had forgotten all about Margaret. I went out quietly and nobody noticed me go. I discov- ered Mom and Dad in the hall looking in the other front room door, and I heard Mom! whis- pering, HI know, dear, but he 'S probably Elissa's friend, iand we canlt say anything against him. You can imagine how relieved I was, because I'd had fears of Dad's throw- ing Rick out. When Meg came home later she must have accepted Rick as Elissa's friend, too, ,cause she just put up her eyebrows and didn 't say anything. Things were going along swimmingly for about two weeks and a half. VVhen I think how swimmingly it nearly makes me weep. Dad brought Mr. Harrison home two and three times a week, and sometimes I'd meet him down the library and he ,cl walk home with me. I knew I didn 't have anything to fear from Meg's quarter because anyone can see by the way that Williams boy hangs around here that Meg is right now out of the running. But it was Elissa 's blonde wig that bothered me most. Of course my hair is naturally curly and hers isnit but I guess blonde hair with a permanent is better than reddish-brown with real curls. Let's see, where was I? Have some more chocolates. Oh yes, I was trying to tell you how well things were going. Well, Elissa was bothering me less and less. She 'd been seeing more and more of Rick, and whenever Dave comes over, that is Mr. Harrison, she was gen- erally either out or going out. Since the Wil- liams boy always claimed Meg, there wasn't much left for Dave to do but tuck little Jeanie under his arm and take her out. I bought my- self a stunning green dress that Mom said was far too sophisticated, but if I do say so myself, it looks good on me and makes me look as old as Elissa tries to look. I knew I had to work fast because if Elissa went away with things looking as they might have-if you follow me- Dave would follow her back home, 'cause she doesn't live so very far away, and desert us entirely. Then came the climax of tl1e whole affair. It was Tuesday night, and Elissa was leaving Fri- day. At eight o'clock' Dave came over looking all spruced up in a pair of new grey trousers and Haunting a new tie. Hello, Jeanie, says he, with a smile that Clark Gable could take lessons from. Hello, Dave, says I, giving my interpre- tation of a Pepsodent ad. It was then that I caught sight of the new trousers and the tie. I started to say, Gee, you look swell, but changed it into something nicer because I don 't treat Dave as I do Ted or the rest of the crowd.

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16 MANET Miss Gabrielle smiled again and contentedly studied the blue blazer, piped with white, with a white monogram on the breast pocket. Some sort of school uniform, sl1e thought, then sug- gested, Perhaps you'd like to explore. He jumped up eagerly. t'May I really? Of course, said Miss Gabrielle. 'tI'll let you go alone-I think it 's much more inter- esting to discover things by oneself. He plunged his hands in his pockets. I say, you are a jolly sport l He turned away and sauntered across the grass, whistling a tune- less fragment of song. VVhen he had disap- peared Miss Gabrielle said to herself, 'tPer- haps he a burglar-but if the way to a l112l11,S heart is through his stomach a good tea might be of some use. She smiled up at Janet, who, unconscious of the guest, had brought out tea for one, laid attractively on a wheeled tray. Tea for two, Janet, with some of the little plum cakes you made, and please put some jam in the little ming bowl-the yellow one. For two, Miss Gabrielle? Janet's plain face was astonished. She lifted severe eye- brows, half-opened her straight dour mouth.. A young gentleman is calling, Janet. Please hurry. Janet, burning with curiosity, switched off with an indignant whirl of starched skirts, Miss Gabrielle quivered with excitement as she made sure that there was plenty of sugar- boys liked sugar-and put a spray of apple- blossoms in her hair, like a maiden going to meet her lover. IVhen the visitor returned, Janet had already made the necessary additions, had returned to the house, and had stationed herself at a con- venient window. She caught her breath sharply when he came into view, for there was some- thing in his easy lounging poise that reminded her very much of someone who had stood, in that same spot, leaning against the twisted trunk of an apple tree. Miss Gabrielle, meanwhile, was extremely happy. He had come back with shining eyes, and flushed. HA dovecote tool Now I know it can't be real! And does the tiger cat bother the dovesfll MNot at all. Please sit down and have some tea with me. Talking continuously he sat down and opened his snowy napkin with calloused, capable, brown hands. I never was in a place like this before. Are YOU real? You look like a Dresden china figure, he added boldly. Miss Gabrielle's cheeks became as pink as the fragile old teapot from which she filled his cup. HPlease, please, she murmured, passing it to him. Over the cakes he became confidential. Amus- ing and entertaining details flowed in a con- tinuous stream-his family, his school life, his childhood, his friends. Miss Gabrielle was entranced. 'fThey still think I'm the baby at home, he stated heatedly. I'm nineteen. Sometimes I think I'm rather old for my age, but maybe I'm wrong. Alaric-the one that's in India- is no end hipped on himself. VVith outmost gravity he licked a crumb from his finger. I hope I'll never be like that. My dear, you will never be tl1at,M thought Miss Gabrielle. Not as long as you are so confident and delightful and friendly. They talked. Long gold lines came across the wall. It grew cool and a faint breeze scattered the creamy-rose petals on a silvery head and a black one. Suddenly the boy was up. t'It must be late! he exclaimed, drawing his black brows together. Suddenly Miss Gabrielle knew. She didn 't have to be told his name . . . she knew, as surely as she knew her name. VVith a contagious, surprised laugh, he cried out, f'We don 't even known each other's names? HMy frends call me tMiss Gabrielle', she said gently. HAnd you're- Michael Storm. My father used to live near here. Perhaps you knew himf' Miss Gabrielle sat very still. He approached her and she held out her small, fragile, hand. He took it in his big brown one, saying, I've had a jolly time! His eyes were eloquent. 4 ' I 'm coming again-sometime. Miss Gabrielle would have spoken, but he bent swiftly and kissed her cheek. Suddenly she was smelling heather . . . soap . . . vigorous young hair , . . he stood up, she saw his bright, dear blue eyes smiling down at her, through a mist-he was gone. Janet saw him vault the gate and wondered. Miss Gabrielle stayed dreaming in her chair, staring at the napkin he had dropped on the grass. All at once she was filled with an all- consuming ecstasy . . . Michael Storm had left her without a word years before . . . but he had come back . . . to kiss her good-bye. ELFSSA WAS A BLONDE By Hazel Borne Pull over that big chair there and I'll tell you all about the whole thing. In started with Daddy 's getting that new man, David Harrison, in his office. You'd think Dad'd know better, getting in a man with blonde wavy hair, and inviting him out the house evenings with two girls already in the house, and Margaret asking a third one to visit for a couple of weeks. I must tell you about that girl, Margaret's vis-

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13. - MANET Dave beamed all over, and settled his tie self- consciously. Then he stopped smiling and said, Say, whose cars are those out front? being a very out-spoken young man. I was putting bobby pins in in front of the hall mirror, and said over my shoulder, The blue one's Arthur Williams', and the green one 's Rick Neilson's, watching in the mirror all the time. I didn 't like the way he showed signs of going out and committing some mild crime, so I led him hastily into the living room. Elissa looked up, smiled when he came in and said, i'Oh hello, Dave. Then she and Meg got up and started for the door. You'll have to excuse us, Dave, said Mar- garet, but Arthur and Rick are taking us to the show, and it's getting late. Then she added, t'Why don 't you come along? I waited palpitatingly. Dave showed himself the good sport he was. Good idea, said he, t'Run get your coat, Jeanie, and we 'll all go. I overlooked the unceremonious way he in- vited me, and dashed upstairs to change my dress. I got 'down one he 'd never seen before, one with a strictly feminine atmosphere, with frothy ruffles around the shoulders. I took so long with my hat that- Dave was honking im- patiently for me, and the others were all set to go. We must have looked funny, all three cars streaming down the street with Rick and Elissa way in the lead, because although I hate to admit it, he had by far the best car of the three. It was a dandy show, and awfully long, be- cause it was about twelve when we got out. It had begun to drizzle, and we all stood under an awning for a minute while Rick proposed that we go down the Coffee Cup for some- thing to eat. Williams thought it was a good idea, but at the critical moment I sneezed. Mar- garet pounced on me. ttThere,?' she said, I knew you'd been com- ing down with a cold. You'd better get right home. It 's late anyhow. Elissa chiined in with something about Dad's liking me in early, and Dave settled it by say- ing that the others should go on to the 'tCoffee Vupl' and he 'd take me home. There was nothing I could do, so I just stepped on Elissa's new slipper as I went by. and apologized sweetly. Dave was as nice as he could be about it, though, and bought me a pound of penuche on the way home, most of which we de- inolished. VVhen we got home, I invited Dave in, of eourse he hesitated at first, but then said he 'd eonie in and wait for the others. So I sat him down in the front room and Mom talked to hiin while l went up and powdered my nose and smoothed iny ruffles. When I came down again Mom excused herself and explained that .linnny had got siek eating chocolates and needed looking after. Jimmy's only sixteen and he acts like an awful kid. We, Dave and I, had a dandy time waiting for Meg and Elissa, dancing to the radio and talking about this and that. We were just getting to the point where he was going to ask me to the Grange Club dance when he heard a car drive up. Sounds like Neilsonls car, said Dave, get- ting up with a look in his eye that made the Grange Club dance fade into impossibility. Yeah, said I, sounds that way. They'd beaten Williams home, of course. Conversation lagged. We waited and waited. We heard voices outside, and we could hear Elissa talking rather loudly. Then there was a long silence, followed somewhat later by the queerest noises. Dave was already seated on the very edge of the chair and I' confess it was getting me pretty jumpy, too. Then I heard a decidedly queer noise, and jumping up I ran to the window and stuck my head way out in the rain. You can imagine my horror when I saw Elissa up on the piazza roof just where her bedroom window opens out, holding something. There was a ladder up against the wall, and Rick Nielson was holding the car door open. I drew in my soaking wet head and running up to Dave I said fiercely, Elissa's eloping with Rick Nielson! My God! said Dave, making a dash for the front door, and I knew then I might just as well have not wasted my time. I followed him, blubbering like an idiot: 'tIt's all my fault! I introduced her-to Rick-and I knew he wasn't any good-but I didn 't think- and I went on in that silly fashion, because I really was scared. HYeah, growled Dave, running down the front steps, Hyou didn it think-! Vlfe ran around the corner of the house, and I could feel the soggy grass squishing under- neath my good shoes. Elissa was half-way down the ladder. Suddenly I realized that I didn 't know what to do now that I was out there. But Dave did. He walked right up to the ladder and said, with what he probably thought was a remarkable show of self-control, May I help you down, Elissa? Elissa turned around on the ladder and said, 'tMy goodness, Dave, youill get terribly wet. And Jeanie! Go get your coat. Here, Dave, hold Desdemona, will you, while I get down? The poor thing was meowing dreadfully-I' Dave broke in on her with some sort of a yell. I just stood there in the pelting rain feel- ing ridiculously supertluous. You know, it was a pretty decent thing for Elissa to climb up on that slippery roof just for Desdemona. Dave pounced on Rick. He stuck his head in the ear and yelled in Rick 's face, holding the cat 77