Polytechnic High School - Caerulea Yearbook (Long Beach, CA)

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Tuesday came and no report was yet received by Hal as to whether his date had been accepted or not. l-le began to feel a little anxious about the situation. He had told the boys that he was going to take a swell girl to the reception and he wouldn't be the object of ridicule for the world. That afternoon he met Alice Stanhope, one of the dra- matic stars of the school. ln the course of the usual conversa- tion about school, Hal asked Alice if she was going to the reception. Well, l'd just love to go, but-but-l-don't know whether lill go or not, stammered Alice. Quick as a flash the hint struck l-lal. Here was Alice Stanhope, one of the belles of the school, apparently without a date. Why shouldn't he ask her to go with him? His other date had probably been turned down since he had heard noth- ing from Mary. Only three days more, before the reception. Why be left out altogether? Still maybe, maybe he hadn't better ask her now. No, he would wait for word from Mary. That evening he sat at home, apparently absorbed in a book, when he suddenly jumped, grabbed his cap, and after Ringing to his mother, l've got to go to the library, slammed the door and started down the street. Alice was always at the library on Tuesday evenings. She had told him so. Arriving at the library, he glanced anxiously around the room and sure enough there sat Alice pouring over a book. How do you do, Aliceg l didn't expect to see you here, lied Hal. ls that so? I thought I told you l was here every Tues- day evening, studying for composition. Why, so you did, answered l-lal and then bending close to her ear, he whispered, Say, Alice, may-may l take you to the reception? iiwhy-why, yes, certainly. Thank you. l'd be delight- ed to go. Next Friday, isn't it? Yes, I'll call for you at 7:30. Thank you, too. As he walked home his heart was light and he congratu- lated himself on the lucky date he had made with such a nice girl. The next morning as he was walking down the hall, he heard his name called and turned, to find Mary coming to- wards him. l-le was just about to tell her that she need not mind Twenty-Fivc'

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fi ,,, Di, DQU LE 1 . if Y T 'vi Have you made your date for the class reception yet, Hal? No, answered Harold Bartlett. l couldn't get one anyhow. Don't you believe it, kid. Why, the girls are just dying to have you ask them, joked Chuck Smith. Well, maybe l will try, pondered Hal. You'd better. You'll sure miss a good time if you don't, encouraged Chuck as he started down the hall. The more Hal thought of the reception and the good time, the more he wanted to go. But whom should he ask? Edith Hamilton wouldnt go with him. She probably had a date anyhow. Whom should he ask? At that moment Marion Davis, a new but very popular girl in school, strolled by. She smiled at Hal and Hal smiled back. Why shouldn't he ask her? He had never been intro- duced to her, but she always smiled when she passed. Yes, he would ask her. But how should he do it? It wouldn't look right when they had never been introduced. No, he must figure out some way for them to become acquainted. After an interview with Mary Jackson, a good friend, it was decided that Mary should arrange for a meeting of Marion and Hal, and the date would be made. Easy, wasn't it? A few days later on seeing Mary in the hall, he inquired, How is the scheme working out, Mary? Why, l simply haven't had a chance as yet to see Marion, but I'll fix it up all right, never worry, answered Mary. But the reception is only a week off, persisted Hal. Well, l'll tell you. I'll make the date and you call for her and introduce yourself, explained Mary. l don't like the stunt, but l guess it will have to go, an- swered Hal. Twenty-Four

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about the date with Marion when Mary joyfully announced, It s all right, Harold, Marion said she'd be delighted to go with you to the reception. General Gloom advanced and routed General Joy's army. Ye gods and shoe strings! Everything seemed to turn black before Hal. She accepted after all! Two dates! Oh, what a world! Why, what is the matter, Harold, are you sick? Ye-e-e-s, a little faint. You see a-a-I got some a-dates this morning and they don't agree with me, feebly explained Hal. l'm sorry, but I hope you'll be all right for Friday night. Oh, yes, thank you, I think I will. But to himself, Oh, to be dead Friday night! What was he to do? Two dates. It never rains but it pours! He thought he couldn't get one and now they come in twos. Two sleepless nights were spent by Hal. All he could see was girls! girls! girls! all screaming at him, How about my date? Are you going with me? Will you keep my date? Oh, it was awful. Why were they ever put into the world? He had read how the Creator made man and looked upon him. He was good and He rested. Then He made woman from the rib of man, but no mention was made of His resting. In fact, Hal decided that there had been no rest for mankind since. Why was he ever born? He confided his woe to his pal, who merely laughed and said, Woman is the greatest conundrum of the age, but even if you can't guess her, you'l! never give her up. Hal savagely replied that he would give her up if he ever escaped alive from this tangle. Friday morning came and Hal had not yet solved the problem of how he was to manage his double date. The mat- ter had worried him so that he looked worn and haggard for want of sleep. That morning he saw Joe Hill, a new student at school, gazing at the bulletin board as if he, too, were sorely affected. What's the matter, Joe, sick? inquired Hal. No, havent got a date for tonight. I did want to go, too, dolefully answered Joe. Whoops, my dear, cried Hal as his heart gave a bound and General Gloom retreated before General Joy. Say, l've got an extra girl. Want to take her? Who is she? Do I know her? Twenty-Six