Piedmont High School - Tris Yearbook (Piedmont, WV)

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.GRY .lack went straight from the dressing room into the gymnasium in or- der to secure a good seat for he knew t-hat fthe place would be crowded. Al- tlhough he was downhearted he did not lose his spirit for the game of to- nighlt. He felt sure his school wxas going to win. Not once dfid he have the idea Uhat Beryl High would 'be defeated. When the teams came in, the gymnasium rang with applause. Jack had a sensation of being out off place. Everylbody who knew 'him was ask- ing him why he was not going to play and he felt as if he were :acting yel- low. As he watched his fellow students they would smile up at him and his eyes would fill with teanrs as he would think over th-e games in the past wh.en h-e had been on th-e floor with them. Those memories would always remain dear to him. He was brought back to the scene of the evening fby the blow of the refemee's whistle. The referee ihnad called the boys .to-gevher and was talking to them. Jack saw the cheer leaders arranging their groups. His eyes sought in vaim for the girl of his dreams. He wondered if she had de- cided to stay at home. No, she had said that she Wanted lto see the game. But what do I claire, he asked himself. At that moment Loretta, the girl of his dreams, entered the gymna- sium. She gave one glance upon thle balcony' and rested 'her eyes upon Jack for a moment rand then she started up. I wonder, thought Jack, if she is coming up here. No, that could not be tnue for all the ohairs were oc- cupied. Besides hadn't she told h.im at the game he only pllavyed to see all the girls make eyes at h.im and cheer him. She told him. that lar good sport would play the game for the honor of the sohool and lbeoavuse he liked the game and not because some little flapper would praise him for it. These remarks had cut deeply into Jack, never 'before huald Loretta spoken such words to him. Loretta came up and the boy who was sittirng next to Jack promptly arose and gave her his seart. Why, Jack, aren't you going to play to-night ? s'he asked in tal taunt- ing voice. Jack answ-ered her without turning his head, No, I do not feel like playing a game when some people get the wrong conception. 'Ilhere was a tinge of sadness in his voice. 'Oh! I see, she replied. 'llhen the whistle blew for the game. Jack forgot for the moment just where he was. He was on the pitch for the basket. All of a sudden. he was brought back to terra firms. by the blow of the whistle and the shouts of applause. Beryl High had scored once the fi-rst five seconds off -the game. Jack looked lat Loretta, but she did not see him or at least she didn't ap- pear to. Her face was all aglow and she wlas cheering for Beryl. Jack, too, caughrt the spirit :amd cheered until he was hoarse. At the enld off the firslt half the score was 2-5 in Middle H'ig1h's favor. The Beryl boys played hard but they missed the one on whom they put so Pay: ninety-:ix

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- jg el 5111: gf fjvffg rv ,Q-qfnlg-svn-'L - xg ew- gpg-.---1-W -5. - , . .,... . . , ,,, W One could not approach :any closer for fear of being discovered, but one could tell by Jackls expression that she was either urging him to do some- thing or else she was telling him some sad news. Sevenal times he would raise his hand in protest, but eventufally she intended to finish before she stopped. Their voices raised a little but -only a few words could be under- stood as the door was closed. Finally she must have finished for she arose, abruptly left him standing there alone. He did not attempt to stop her, but one glance at her face as she passed by could tell thart som-e dark cloud had fallen upon their young lives. Such things offten happen to lovers, Whether it is just nature, j ealously or what I will leafve for you to decide. The inside of every dark cloud has .a. silver lizning and sometimes it is sure to burst :and so it was with this one. It will be hairldy fair to tell you the name of this member of fthe fair sex. But to be unselfis-h I will tell you her given name was Loretta. When Lor- etta left J ack on the piazza she went into the class room. The remainder of the afternon dragged slowly for two especially. Middle High arrived on the 5:30 train and was conducted to the cars which were to take them to the hotel. Beryl High had taken every precaru- tion to make their visitors welcome. After the ga.me there was to be a par- ty in the school auditorium. By seven o'clock both teams were in their dressing room. The Beryl boys were almost dressed when Jack came in. He was greeted with cheers from the other boys, but Jack held up his hand for silence. Boys, I wish you the best of luck and the very best of success. Then he paused for breathg all the boys had raised to their feet. Then he continued, I am not going to play to-night. What ? cried all the bo-ys to-gether. Then they began to pry him with questions but he would give no excuse. When Jack left the dressing room the boys were worried. Who would take his place? What were they going to do? They all knew that without J ack in the game they would stand ai poor chance at winning against Mid- dle High. . What luck I cried one. The very last minute our captain throws up his hands and cries, 'Surrenderf No, that is not true, cried J oe Brandy. Jack has not surrendered although he says he will not play. There is something wrong soimewhere. Boys, did you see how down- healrted he looked ? asked little Bobby, who played as at Sl.l!b'SlZ'ltil1lZ9 some- times. We all know Jack too well to think that he would miss playing this game if there was not something wrong, said another. When the coach heard that Jack was not going to play he was angry because he would not give a siatisfafctory answer. But he tried to patch it up the best he could. He put a substitute in J ack's place .and tried to cheer the boys up the best he knew how. V Page ninrly-f-ve

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L .m-,.A 11 f' 1 much dependence. When the whistle bl-ew for the end of the first half .Da-ck had watched the game with an eye of a playerg he slarw the weak points of Beryl team and he knew that he could strengthen them. 2-5 in M.iddle's favor, rang in J ack's ears. This meant only one thing. If a change for the better did not come in the next twenty minutes, the ohampionshlip would goto Middle High. For a moment Jack wondered Whether or not he was doing the right thing. Was he doing justice to himself and to his sohool by paying so much attention to the whim fancy of the girl? Would he not be doing better by entering the game? It's the High School thwat counts to-night. I will play. Let the girls go. Jumping up he almost ran down the stairs leading from the balcony. The coach meet him half way across the fl-oorg he saw the delight in Jack's eyes and knew whvat it meant. I Get time off, broke in Jack. I will be back in .a. jiffy and ready to p ay!! In less than five minutes Jlack was back. The room rang with cheers when Jack took his place on the floor. Middle High had also changed two of their playe-rs. Jack had forgotten all about Lorettiafs taunt. lA.ll he knew was that Beryl High must win the game. He watched the referee pitch the ball up in center, he saw the centers signal, secured the ball, made a long shot but missed. Then Jock followed up his short shot with a long one and again Beryl scored. Middle High tried .again and again to break up the fast passwork of their opponents but it was all in walin, although they diid iS'0iI1'1l6' wonderful playing and made some fine shots. The excitement of the spectators was high 'and Jack was their hero. Loretta watched the game with shining eyes. That she was proud of Jack she was bound to admit and she was de- termined that if she got the chance she would tlell him so. She knew that she had spoken in haste that 'morning and she' was sorry for it. In the last five minutes of the game Jack got the centers tiap and sent the ball flying into the forward's hands. This was done five times in suc- cession anid each time Beryl scored. When the whistle blew for the end of the game, the final score stood 12-15 in Beryl High's favor. The whole build- ing rang with applause. Everybody was pleased with the playing of both teams. In the whole game there had been no personal foulsg this was due to the proper training both teams had had. When the noise died out the superintendent presented the banner to Beryl High School and congratu- luauted the players of both teams for playing such -a good game and then he went onganid gave the pupils a lecture on good .sportsmanship which went in one ear and out the other. The players then retired to their rooms to prepare for the party. Jack was the last to leave his room. The boys lingered to Wait for him, but he sent them out telling them he would be along presently. But to tell the Page ninety-.wzzcn .... A ,mg 5' .. . ,,....--