Northwest High School - Vanguard Yearbook (Indianapolis, IN)

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The Desert When I was a child, I lived in Las Vegas for two years. There I lived with my grandparents. I enjoyed play- ing in the desert. It was hot and dry. The drab colors were very soothing to my eyes. I liked the soft brown of the sage brush and the tan sand of the dunes. ln the background were large mountains with long, stretching shad- ows across the barren land of the West. There, I could think of my prob- lems and straighten them out. The air was clear. I could see a hundred miles. lt was quiet, everything was still. I enioyed the desert, my mind was set free. Mark Brezko, freshman -I 1 iilk I M K- K .'.. rl: .I . I ff .-1. Ill! x 4' sttss f .Y ..gg..g. . , ...T 1 st... 4 ff sst. .gif ' t I .. t Q u g ,Z 'ii J- -'iWT M - V. in ,env 'T le I 1 li I I I I . 4 -V V, ,I 5 , iw, A5 I ff xzlf ' , 1 ' .1 Xa:-. , - s f . '. - C s I . , 8 4- .gg .. ' it . 2 ' L . . , J ,W Z! . .E at 4 ...I it. Ili 4' N if f . I Leslie Malone, senior I - H When I laughed when the leaves colored when the sun smiled when the clouds danced because I was alone. I cried when the leaves died when the sun sank when the clouds gathered because I was lonely. Dee Norris, senior T14 A Double Existence I do not want to be part of my brother. Chang told doctor after doctor. I want to be separate! But the greatest surgeons refused to undertake an operation that was feared might kill them both. It seemed hopeless. After endless years of seeking physical separation, bitterly dis- appointed, Chang began to drink heavily. Even though Eng protested, Chang would ignore him and find peace within his bottle. Their lives were lived as freaks. They were exhibited throughout Eu- rope as the rarest aspect of life. In America they were displayed to thousands of people by P. T. Barnum. They were a popular at- traction and brought many custom- ers so they had saved a small for- tune after working many years for Barnum. But even their fortune could never buy them separation or hap- piness. They were bound to each other for life by a band of flesh at their torsos. Chang and Eng were the inseparable Siamese twins. God and man made no attempt to separate them. After 45 years of constant com- panionship and with no hope of separation, Chang and Eng became very bitter towards one another. Chang would result to violence and li 1 1 sometimes cruelly beat his brother and then turn towards his bottle for comfort. Eng withstood his brother's blows physically, but mentally he was building a burning hatred toward his brother. His heart had turned cold and he had changed. No more did he talk but retreated into a world of silence. Each day it grew worse, days went by without a word spoken. , Finally, one night after finishing his bottle, Change broke the silence. What in the heIl's wrong with you? You know it's torture for me, too! Speak! No reply came from Eng but al blank look. Chang violently struck his brother, causing him to lose his breath and gasp. I hate you, my Eng. brother! cried Chang began to once again withdrew into his world of silence and no more was spoken. passed as they laugh and Eng Three long years continued their bitter fighting and quarreling. Chang suffered from bron- chitis because of his drinking. En could not return to reality and showe signs of insanity. Their fortune ha disappeared, and they were left pen- niless. They joined a small circus, but the money they made could not sup- port them both. With this new prob- lem Eng became vey violent inside His hatred had grown so much that hel could no longer hold back. That night, a terrible bloody scream disturbed the silence. Oh, my God! What are you doing? cried Chang. But nothing could stop Eng. Hi hands were painted with blood whil he muttered I'lI soon be free. Change tried to put up a struggl but became sick to his stomach whil Eng continued his evil deed. Bloo was all over as he hacked at the ban of flesh. Although he was weak something inside made him continue Freedom from his brother was his in sane thought. Soon Eng completed hi crude operation. He put down hi knife and lay beside his brother. Hi body was weak from loss of blood. Now he looked at his brother anc touched him saying We are free.'Q But no reply came from his brother' cold lips. Eng didn't realize death wa payment for this freedom. And now, realizing what he had done, he re- treated back into his world of silence forever. Patricia Johnson, sophomore

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'T , i I My Pal Budgie While Budgie didn't live during my childhood, he didn't quite live dur- ing my adulthood either. Budgie was an additon to my life during sixth grade-I966. It had been about five years since a parakeet had lived at the Van Sant house, and both my mother and I decided to get another one. I We drove one evening to the old Kresge's store lnow Golf-O-Matl in Eagledale Plaza and walked back ,to the bird section. We selected a Igreen parakeet with dark aqua-blue tail. When the saleslady tried to y bring him out, however, the bird be- lgan to flutter about. We lost track of that one so she pulled out an- other one-Budgie. It was the best mistake she ever made. Once we took him home and got him in his cage, he became a skilled acrobat. On his perch, he would turn sommersaults. When we let him out, he would fly wildly back and forth in the kitchen. As Budgie became familiar with our house, he would fly almost anywhere we'd be, using our shoulders as a perch. He would spend hours with me in my room chirping. Soon I learned to mimic him, and he would chirp back. This pleased him and soon we would have regular conversations in para- keetese. I began to actually under- stand his tone of voice and would mimic back in like manner. When he chirped like that, he would bob his head up and down. I started to do it, too, and soon every time I shook my head, Budgie would shake his, too. Though I was his mas- ter, he trained me how to be a bird. We became so accustomed to each other, he would fly down to my plate and eat my food. His favorite treat was to nibble at my bacon in the morning. He once even sipped my cola, perched on my glass. There was no food he wouldn't try. His bathtime was also something to behold. I would turn the water on sprinkle, cup my hands beneath it, and Budgie would fly down. He waded through my water-filled hands like a pond duck. There was so much he did that there is no room to tell it. He was as close to a human being as a bird could be. I mention him now because last I I night ISundayI at about 6:55 Budgie died. I lost the best pal I ever had-a parakeet. Charles Van Sant, senior ,'5.,N ' 1 2. 'lf' .Qi -X. As the blossom opens up to the morn, I feel a warm, awakening breeze upon my heart. As the day slowly disappears, silently, magically, Irecall . . . As the sun's warm rays shine gallantly upon the petals, And as the flower reaches out to the sky, I reach out also But . . . As a shadow falls over the flower, And its petals begin to close, Hiding from the dark emptiness of the night, I realize Pain, happiness, sorrow, ioy, Love Is it worth it? Cathy Kiefer, junior 113

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I I No different from anyone else, I have my likes and dislikes. But there are times when you really dislike some- thing all because you don't think you can do it and it presents a challenge to you. With me it was boxing. Everyone had been telling me I should try boxing. I didn't know any- thing about it, and I thought it would be fun to try. Thus, I got on the boxing team at the Community Center and began my training. After about a month, I was sched- uled for my first bout. I was confident, but confidence doesn't win a fight, and I took a beating. I left the ring with an extra lip, a broken nose, and a broken heart. I lost my second bout also. Now I felt like quitting. I had made it up in my mind that I hated boxing. But there was something in me that wouldn't let me. I kept trying to improve my style and technique with no real objective in mind. It's no fun training day after day and getting hurt. But what makes you keep on de- spite the risks? I think that my hate for boxing is really my love for it. Clarence Moreland, sophomore