Pelham Continuation School - Pelham Pnyx (Fenwick, Ontario Canada)

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THE PELHAM PNYX Z7 LITTLE WILLIE BEFORE COMPANY BJ' Betty Daw, GRADE xi MOTHER had been worked up all day and everyone wondered why. Why? she would say when we asked. Why. I'll tell you why. We are having the new minister and his wife for dinner to-night. Well, that's nothing to worry about. They are friendly, common people. But girls, you know little Willie. I've entertained other guests but I've never attempted a minister simply because of Willie. He always shows off so and it makes me so ashamed! just then the doorbell rang. Oh, here they are, she cried, and Willie hasn't come from school so that I could clean him up. Oh dear! The young minister and his wife, both very young, were ushered into the living room. And, by the way, this room was only used on special occasions. Mother had calmly ordered us to start dinner and sat down to chat with the charming couple before her. Ma, Ma, was heard from the hall, Where are you, Ma? Here I am, dear, in the living room. Little Willie then came noisily into the living room. He flung his books carelessly on the table, upsetting a beautiful bouquet of artificial flowers. His hair was uncombed, his face was dirty, his pants tornfin short, he was a typical Canadian child. Willie, mother gasped, where have you been? No place, was the usual answer. Mother, then going up to him and gathering her wits about her, made excuses for her wee son and dragged him out of the room. In a few minutes voices could be heard from the bathroom. I don't want my ears washed, I don't want to take a bath, I don't want to put on clean clothes. I never did before when company came and now . . now . . just because the old min . , I The end of that word was cut off short by something or another. Per- haps Mother's hand happened to come in contact with Willie's mouth at that particular point. At any rate we heard no more of him until dinner. In half an hour poor little Willie was ushered carefully into the living room and into a big waiting chair that seemed to be waiting with open jaws to devour him. No doubt he wished it would because, though mother did not speak, she sent warning glances his way and, like a good little boy, he he did not move. TEMPERAMENTAL SUSIE By Doris Daboll, GRADE xi AMBLING up the flag-stone walk came Susie. After the book which she had thrown came to rest in the corner of the sun porch, she thrust her hands into the patch-pockets of her slacks, tossed her head and slumped down into a huge wicker chair. She tucked her feet under her and looked at the ceiling. Mrs. Marmering came to the door of the porch, smiled down at her fifteen year old daughter and asked, Was the book interesting, Susan dear? I didn't like it a bit, answered Susie, and please don't call me Susan, Mother, and oh, Mother, I wish you wouldn't wear that dress. f Well, you are certainly in a queer mood, said her mother, laughing so tlv.

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26 THE PELHAM PNYX Music came faintly to my ears and, Si Senorita, Si, melodiously filled the silent night air as Paul Tokar, strummed his guitar and sang to the fair lady silhouetted in the moonlight. Room 313 of the National Broadcasting Company sounded the signal for the commencing of the program for Tiny Tots, With a familiar voice and an also familiar nursery rhyme, 'Old Mother I-Iubbardf the children were called to fifteen minutes of entertainment. The songstress was Miss Gwen Mitchell and the program sponsored by Welcome Breakfast Food. A room entirely different from the former was of pure white, Your diet, Mrs. Ceterlsburg, will consist of one glass of milk, 7.50 caloriesg one slice of rye bread, ISO calories, and some plain fruit. This expert advice was given by Miss Margaret Tuck, head dietician of the West Street Hospital. A spacious newspaper oFfice, in fact the head ofiice of the World Times, edited by Gordon Beamer, was indeed an entirely different place. Glancing through the columns my eyes rested on one in particular, the one headed En- gagements, and I read: Mr. and Mrs. William Julian wish to announce the engagement of their only daughter, Glenna, to Sir Cedric Alexander Rinehart. The wedding will take place at the Rinehart castle in Scotland in late June. With a few dots, dashes and the customary time signal, Mr. Edgar Ker, announced, The time is now exactly II :go p.m., courtesy of Wincox Watch Time. Your station, CWXZ, and now we are signing off for our daily broad- cast is completed. I woke up with a start and discovered I was still seated in the very same seat, in the very same train, the only exception being the porter shouting: Next stop, Ottawa! Next stop, Ottawa! I had arrived. K at 2 a ! Q 1-:- un- -,::.- ' ',,...1-a- I-25,4 J-- - 2 egtvrepg 1 r-.-T g , f qfi' j?jlflGle.aEI nenemeerd

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28 THE PELHAM PNYX Susie didn't laugh, she entered the hall and slowly climbed the stairs. Inside her room she sat down before her dressing-table. She decided she was far from pretty, her skin was too white, her hair too washed-out, her eyes too green. I-ler father called to her, Phone call for you, Susie. She made a face at herself in the mirror, got up and went down to the hall to answer the tele- phone. She answered the telephone with a casual I-Iello. A movie! Of course I'll go Peg . . Tyrone Power. Oh swell! I'll see you later. Bye. Mother, she cried, I'm going to the show with Peg . . . is that all right? O.K., well, I'll have to rush. She ran upstairs, taking two steps at a time. On her way out she kissed her mother, swiftly ran down the walk. I-ler mother thought she looked much like a fairy as she skipped along. She met Peg at the corner and they proceeded to the show. The picture was lengthy, but she arrived home quite early. The movie was a complete disappointmentfthe ending wasn't right. Susie entered the sun porch, sat down on the couch, picked up the book from the corner, turned on the lamp, and read two chapters. She turned to her mother. This is a grand book, Mother, and oh, Mother, I wish you would call me Susang it sounds much more refined. You know, that dress looks lovely on you, Mother. Her mother laughed heartily Susie said, Good-night, and once again ascended the familiar stairs. She sat down on the bed and thought, I wonder what made Mother laugh? She decided it must have been worth laughing at, and she laughed too. l THE JACK PINE.-Tom Thomson -Courlesy Nalional Gallery of Canada, Ollawa