Norway High School - Caduceus Yearbook (Norway, ME)

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THE CADUCEUS 17 Beverly did not reply. She made her way to the upper end of the scow and opened an umbrella. The sand along the banks shimmered in the glare. There was a deathly stillness, as there so often is just before a storm. Heat waves rose over the surface of the water. Connic's heavy, dark hair felt sticky and her wool bathing suit scratchy. Her shoul- ders smarted. The oars had never before felt so heavy and awkward. Connie grit- ted her teeth and sent the old scow lumber- ing through the water. She did not pause until she reached the middle of the lake. Then she looked at Beverly, apparently cool and comfortable, her pale gold hair curling in little ringlets about her face and her eyes half closed in perfect comfort, and Connie eyes Hamed. . 'flt's your turn now,l' she snapped. 'Hllhis is halfway! 'il took you all the way yesterday. You can 't be just company all the time, Connie. Be a sport. You invited me, Connie flared. 'fYou wanted me to come out here. I'd be in the shade in town, and l wouldn't have to do more than my share. Beverly was as angry as Connie. '4Well, if you want to know the truth,'l she said, her lovely face red with anger, 'tlllother made me invite you because she and your mother are such good friends. There was a moment 's silence, then Con- nie shoved the oars toward Beverly and said, After this you 'll do all the rowing. Good-by. Connie dived overboard and with long sure strokes, made her way to shore. Bev- erly could not swim very well and Connie knew she'd have to row. .She went into the house, dressed and packed her bag. Mrs. Williains was out picking berries and Billy was in the yard tinkering with his used car . What's the idea? Billy asked, pleas- antly, when Connie appearedwith her bag. lim going into town, Billy. Could you take me 'V' Connie asked, trying to keep her voice steady. Sure,7' Billy replied, so delighted to have anyone show enough confidence in his rattletrap car, that he noticed nothing wrong. Connie, with sinking heart, sat down be- side Billy, and for once, at least, was grate- ful for the sputter and roar of the engine- it prevented conversation. Connie did not see Beverly Williams again until school began in the fall. She had received an apologetic note from her, written, however, in a cool fashion and she had answered in the same manner. Hello, Beverly called, when she met Connie in the high school entrance the iirst day of school. Her greeting was low and she was unquestionably embarassed. After the first break it was easier, and they managed to chat of their studies, but the friendliness was gone. There seemed no way of mending it-until the invitation from Beverly asking Connie to be her guest again on a bob-ride. Connie adjusted her orange beret once more and descended to the living room. There was a pause in the program while the announcer spoke. ' 4Wl1en the gong strikes, it will be exactly ten minutes before seven o'clock. This ser- vice is sent by the courtesy of- Connie did not wait a second longer. Good-by, everybody! she called. Connie hummed as she walked along. She was willing to forgive and forget. Bev- erly had been very generous to take the Hrst step toward reconciliation. Connie reached the corner. The Wil- liams' house was next door. Beverly had said the bob would be at the door at seven sharp, but there was no bob there. Neither were there any guests on the porch nor a lighted living room. A woman came out of the house on the corner and started down the street. She

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., .V N! . fi? , - , , ,- ,' ' . 7 5 -X ' 5' Y 'Z Y 'lf 1 I is 'Q' ' fi, lisp. Y 5 E- L-, n E 1,1 if ., 3 f 2 h B Y e if e 5 ,Q s 3-is F 1 1 T , r ' , l ll V E , . , i ' . ' ,A , I 'f x W V 1 1,- 1 -it 1 ' . ' 1, 'p N , I V5--Y-:3.:X, X ff..- . A 3 ., , If Stiiiil - -if-f -T-4 -el If rl . . v 'fo ' T ' 'H - THE GRUDGE perfectly happy since her disagreement 'tWl1en the gong strikes, it will be exact- ly twenty-one minutes of seven o'clock, Eastern Standard time, the radio an- nouncer said. Otherwise Connie Drake would have vowed that the clock on the mantel was slow. And, in spite of the fact that her brother, Paul, was giving a most exciting account of a boy who had just climbed Mount Washington, the evening meal seemed to go unusually slow. As soon as she was excused from the table, she hurried up to her room and put on her new orange and brown knit dress. There was an orange beret to match and she knew that they were very becoming to her brown hair and eyes. But, strangely enough, her excitement and delight had nothing to do with her pretty new clothes. Beverly Williains had said, Remember, Connie, seven sharp! lt's quite a trip out to Uncle Dan 's farm, as you know, and we want to get an early start. HI think a sleigh ride party is the most fun of anything,7' Connie had declared, enthusiastically, and had asked, her face both wistful and hopeful, t'Are you sure you want me, Beverly? 'tOf course, Beverly had replied, with some embarrassment, and had repeated it, her face flushing, UOf course, I do, Con- nief' Connie felt warmed and comforted by Beverly 's assurance. Connie had not been with her oldest and best pal. The incident that had broken up the friendship had oc- curred in July, and now with school in full progress, Connie was still feeling a sense of injury. The SCQIIC seemed as vivid now as it had then. Connie Drake was a welcome guest at the Willia1n's cottage on Square Lake. It was a pleasant little cottage with every- thing to make one comfortable, The last week in June-which was the first week of Connie's visit-had been idyllic. The girls had tramped daily to Daniel Williarns' farm for fresh eggs, milk, and butter, and had gone swimming twice a day. The san- dy beach lay at the far end of the lake from the cottage, and the bathers usually rowed over in an old scow. It was a fun- ny old scow, almost as large as a raft, and it required strenuous paddling with big, heavy oars to make any headway. Rowing was fun on a cool day, but on that hot July day it was torture. The girls stepped into the boat about an hour after breakfast. Even Billy, Beverly 's un- complaining young brother, said: My! It's sure a scorcher! 'tl't's your turn to row today, Connie,l' Beverly announced. Connie gasped her surprise. It was true Beverly had rowed the day before, but that day had been cool with a lovely breeze blowing over the lake. I know it, Connie replied, but I think you might help, too. It's so hot and close.

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18 THE pauscd a moment when she saw Connie's sad figure. Waiting for the bob? she called. '4Why, it 's been gone these ten minutes. Suddenly Connie 's eyes blurred with tears. She knew she had not misunder- stood. Beverly had said, 'fRemember! Seven o'clo-ck! And Beverly had delib- erately left ten minutes before the appoint- ed time! The town clock was striking as Connie stepped onto her own porch. Automati- cally she counted the strokes. Seven! Her anger seethcd within her. Beverly 's treat- ment of her on that hot July day had been impulsive, this was deliberate. Connie entered the house, wearing a forced smile that deceived no one , least of all her brother, Paul. They've gone! she said, lifelessly, and sank into a chair. I--guess-I-misurr derstoodf' Tell you what, Sisf' Paul smiled mat- ter-of-factly, you take my ticket and go to the Public Speaking Contest. Cousin Gene is speaking. I can 't go myself. Must cram this history exam stuff. Thanks, Paulf' Connie said, taking the ticket. I must go somewhere. When she arrived, Cousin Gene spied her and begged her to go up back stage and prompt him in his speech. Connie felt calmer with something to do. Paul, industriously studying about Na- poleon, sprang to his feet when the door bell rang. Instead of ringing once, it kept up a continuous jangling. He jerked open the door, and Beverly Williarns, followed by her excited crowd, burst into the house. 'LWhere's Conniedlw Beverly inquired anxiously. Over at the high school, Paul replied promptly. Over at the high school ! Beverly 's ex- clamation was almost a sob. CADUCEUS Talk about a mean trick! one of the girls spoke up. 4'.Say, let is get this straight, Paul said. Connie went up to your house, Beverly, at seven-and the bob had gonef' t'It happened, she said, Hthat the bob drew up at our curb while the clock was striking. f'We'll give her a chance to explain any- wayf' said Paul. t'I'll run down to the school. Be back in a jiffyf' When he entered the auditorium, Gene was giving his speech with great gusto 5 Paul, looking the crowd over, could not see Connie anywhere. When he got back to the house he was almost as sore at Connie as Beverly was. '4She wasn't there, he said shortly, you might as well go on. 4'All right, replied Beverly. Paul again settled down to Napoleon. Suddenly the door opened, and Connie dashed in. After explaining to Paul where she was when he was at the school and hearing about Beverly is being there, she said, 'tllm going to the party. I 'm going to walk out, it 's only a little over three miles. I've hiked it before. In the summer. It's a whole lot dif- ferent now, Paul argued. I'll be careful, Connie promised, as she pulled on her mittens and an extra heavy sweater. i'Don't worry. 'Bye, Paul. After studying for a half hour, he called Billy on the phone. Billy said the old bus was raring to go and he'd be with Paul in no time-just had to get her tuned up. The tuning up took almost three- quarters of an hour, but at last they were on their way to Dan Williams' farm. Once out of town, Connie walked rapidly, occasionally jumping aside for passing ears. Beverly wanted her! How good that made her feel!