Orono High School - Crimson Crier Yearbook (Orono, ME)

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A JOURNEY'S END by Carol Reed '55 It is hard to imagine the terror gripping Joey's heart as he huddled in the corner of the dingy room, trying to keep warm. His mother lay on a cot be- side the stove, her face very white and her eyes red-rimmed from fever. The last stick of wood was glowing feebly in the stove. He heard a low murmer from his mother and rushed to her side. Joey, dear, she said, I'm terrible sick. I'm afraid I'm going to die. Please remember to be a good boy. Joey remembered the time, two years before, when his father had been taken to jail, and since then he hadn't seen him. His mother worked hard, but her health failed and now she was dying. He heard his mother continue, There are some pennies in the cupboard. Take those and try to get a job. Her soft voice broke, and she winced with pain. Goodbye, Joey. Remember-- be a good boy for I love you very much. Joey looked closely at her. He called to her, but she didn't answer. His head dropped to his mother's breast and he sobbed, brokenhearted. The fire had gone out and the room was very cold. Joey lifted his head, it was dark. Hetwas frightened. Taking the money from the cupboard, he ran out of the house. Very much later he lay exhausted in an alley. He didn't know how far he had run or where he was. He only knew that he was so tired ..... When he woke, it was morning. He got up, very stiff from cold and also very hungry. He looked down the street at the line of stores. Squaring his shoulders, he started up to a newsstand and spoke to the man selling papers. You don't know where I could get a job selling papers, do you? The man stared at him. You look too young to me, he said and went back to his work. Joey walked dejectedly down the street. He noticed a grocery store with a boy wanted sign in the window. He went in and asked for the manager. A rough looking man came across the store and spoke, You want a job, eh? Well, if you plan on workin' here you got to work hard, see? Y-yes sir, I understand. Well, okay, you can start right now. Take this order to 212 Center Street, and make it snappy. , Joey took the package and stumbled out of the store. He was so tired, so hungry. If he could only have something to eat. Now what had the manager said? Center Street? Where was Center Street? He asked the policeman on the corner to direct him to Center Street. It was almost a mile away. An hour later he returned to the store. No one seemed to notice him. Finally the manager stalked up to him. All right! Where have you been all this time? Y0u've had time to deliver that order three times. I can't keep a boy as slow as that. Besides you're too young anyway. But sir. . . Joey began. Don't you 'but sir' me! I can tell you're lazy and probably a thief Just by looking at you. Get out of here before I throw you out! Joey left feeling terribly let down. Now he felt even more hungry. How was he going to get any food? Suddenly he remembered the few pennies in his pocket. He took them out and counted them. He had 13 cents in all. He knew that he couldn't get much to eat with 13 cents. He ordered toast and milk at a little diner and ate it slowly, hoping it would stop the ache in his stomach. When he had finished, he paid the man 12 cents. With his last penny he bought a large piece of hard candy and left the diner.

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P1GEoN's PERCH by Leon Treadwell '54 Tombstone in the still of night, Stand erect in granite dress. While misty arms glide o'er the graves That hold within their secrets known, The souls that never rest. Then from the silent, moonlit night, An object in the sky descends. Slowly in a circle wide A pigeon settles down to rest, Before his journey ends. The pigeon, damp from mist about, Perched upon his granite throne, Slowly blends to color white. And looked, upon, Vfrom a distance short, Takes the form of a statuette. ' Then suddenly as if by magic Words, he comes to life, And disappears into the dark A I While tombstones in the still of night Stand erect in granite dress.

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Suddenly a small figure came running down the street and knocked him down. In back of the boy came a policeman. The boy kept on running and by the time the policeman had helped Joey up the boy had disappeared. Joey thought of what his mother had said about being a good boy, but he had to have something to eat. The boy he had just seen had stolen and gotten away with it. It was Joey's only chance. He entered a small store and walked quickly to the bread counter. Be- fore taking anything he looked around to see if he was being watched. He grabbed the bread and had nearly reached the door when someone yelled, Stop thief! . Joey broke into a run and dodged down an alley. He heard people run- ning past. All at once he heard a voice behind him. Why are you hiding here? Joey jumped, startled, and motioned for the boy to be quiet. After the people had gone by, the boy said that his name was Wally. Then he repeated his question. Why are you hiding ? Joey started at the beginning and told him the whole story. And now I don't know what to do! I don't want to steal again and I can't get a job, Joey finished. Why don't you come home with me until you decide what to do? Wally asked. My mother would love to have you, and my brother and I need pro- tection against my four sisters. Dad loves kids. He says, 'The more the merrier. ' Well, Joey said, if you're sure it's all right. I'd love to. Wally's mother was wonderful. She was always joking and laughing. His father said that the only thing that bothered him was that his wife hadn't told him about Joey before. Here he is ten years old, he would say, and I never even knew I had three boys. Joey had never been happier in his life. The only trouble was, in the back of his mind, he knew that he couldn't stay with Wally's family. They didn't have much money, and there were so many mouths to feed. They were carefree, though, and made Joey feel as if this were his home. After a week Joey made up his mind. He couldn't stay. He would have to run away and look for a job again. The next morning he set out. He didn't know where he was going, but at least he was clean and not hungry. He tried to get work at many places, but they all refused him. He hunted all day without success. As it was growing dark, he came to a park and dropped onto one of the benches. He was too tired to worry about anything, and exhaustion claimed him. As he slept, he dreamed about his mother, about Wally and Wally's family. Joey! Joey, wake up! Someone was shaking him. He opened his eyes sleepily and looked into the face of Wally's father. Joey, do you think this is a very nice place for one of my sons to sleep? After all, I thought our beds were more comfortable than this. He lifted Joey into his arms and at last Joey was going home. A WINTER DAY by Raymond Savoy '57 The weather today is frightful, But the fire is so delightful. I wish I were home in bed, But I have to go to school instead. The wind is blowing, it sure is snowing, and I'm getting wet. But what do I care, this isn't summer, it's still winter yet.