Seven Hills High School - Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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Milestone , Theres always next year, Susan, and I promise you this time that we ll have a wonderful summer together, After all, the winter can't last forever, He was holding the dock with one hand, while he helped me out with the other. He stood there holding my hand a minute, smiling into my face. Then he said, 'iGoodbye, Susan. I'll write, and remember about next summer. and he was gone. I don't quite remember what I said or did from that moment on, except that I could hear his words, I'll write, over and over, and I felt like singing, because I knew that he would. No. the winter couldn't last forever, and the wonderful summer days, and Barney. would come again. ANN VAIL, '46 f X 'Q ,I ur U High School Story -- Second Prize THE GOLDEN PULLET The warm sun beat down on a small boy's tousled head, but, somehow, it couldn't seem to dry the fat tear drop that lingered on the boy's tanned cheek. Toddy was trying so hard not to cry: but, try though he might, a loud sniff accompanied each memory which led up to his present sorrow. Toddy had lost his chicken. It wasn't just one of Daddy's many, but his very own. The chicken had really been Tommy's, too, for it had all begun with Toddy adoringly following his big brother, as the latter did the chores, Toddy's other two brothers never seemed to have the time or else were too preoccupied to bother with their little brother: whereas Tommy was never too busy to point out a new bird or call out, as he climbed into the truck, UI-Iey, fellow, Hnished your work this morning? and beckon to the eager boy to join him while driving to town to do the daily errands. As they talked, there grew between them a dear secret, almost a password. Tommy would tell Toddy of a little golden pullet. She was perfection in every way, and Toddy could readily see her soft golden feathers ruffle as a tiny Zephyr played with them. The man and the boy planned how, one day, they would discover this pullet, raise her, set her, and eventually have a small clean farm where, each day, the two of them would work and care for the offspring of their Golden Pullet. page 73

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Milestone tone which I had spent all morning practising, said I believed it was Barney. My brother, who at times seems unbearably wise, replied sarcastically, I-low amazing! I bet you had forgotten all about him. I blushed to the roots of my hair, mumbling about the nastiness of little brothers, as Barney called a greeting and waved, all the while coming closer to the dock. I-Ialf of me wanted to hide, the other half, to jump up and down. All I did was sit there perfectly still, not daring to speak. He had landed expertly at the dock now, and was talking enthus- iastically to my family. At last he looked at me, making me glad I had put on my prettiest bathing suit and that there was still some curl in my hair. Aren't you even going to speak to your best beau, Susie? I must have said the right thing because he laughed and pulled me to my feet, dragging me towards his boat, but all the time my mind was a perfect blank: it was a wonderful blank, though, and I didn't care. Before we had been out sailing Hve minutes, I had lost my shyness, and he was teasing me and I was liking it, just as it had been before. I-Ie hadn't changed much, except that he was a little more serious than I remembered him to be, I-le no longer called me Susie. I was so happy in such peaceful and pleasant surroundings that I wanted the gorgeous morning to last forever. When Barney nnally brought me back. I was a half-hour late for lunch, but all I could think about was the afternoon, when Barney and I were going sailing again, and I pirouetted gracefully into the dining room, much to the disgust of my family, We were sitting on the porch when Barney came, and of course the whole family had to talk to him, while I sat there twiddling my thumbs, anxious to get started. All of a sudden Dad said, How long a leave do you have, Barney? I hope we'll be seeing you around a while, I'm afraid not, sir. My leave is up in a few days. I have to take the early train for Chicago tomorrow. Tomorrow! As if by magic a cold wind blew up from the lake, and the sun, just a moment before so warm and friendly, was now hidden behind a cloud, its rays bleak and depressing to my spirit. We were both silent as we cast off, for I was angry at being taken by surprise, and depressed because the things I had wanted would never be. Barney must have read my mind because he very quietly said, Mkt least we have today, Susan. Let's not ruin that, And I knew that he was right. We sailed for hours, while Barney told me about the Navy, about his hopes for the future, and too soon the sun was sinking, the sky was all purples and pinksg the night breezes were coming up, and we had to start for home, It's been a wonderful day, Susan, he said as we reached the dock. I only wish more than anything that I didn't have to leave. We've hardly had time to get reacquaintedf' No, Barney, it hasn't been really fair. I had looked forward to seeing you so muchl page 72

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Milestone Then Tommy left his happy home to ight so that Toddy could ponder and dream about the Golden Pullet securely. When his other brothers left, too, that spring, Toddy held the full responsibility of the chickens: the boy not only collected the eggs and fed the chickens, but he also helped his daddy set them. Each day, Toddy would take great care with the chickens, and, after he had finished his jobs, he would sit upon the steps of the chicken house Kas he was nowl , thinking about.The Golden Pulletg his dimples would tack a smile in his face, and, he would skip off, merry with the exuberance of youth, to find and inspect a new distraction. One morning Ruthie, the big black hen, brought forth from her ten polished eggs, ten wee puffs, upon one of which the sun had bestowed, as a blessing, its own brilliant yellow: tiny lights shimmered through the fluffy coat of the chick, as its fairy-godmother shone down. Toddy knew that this was The Golden Pullet. And so it came about that with the God-forbidding silence of a seven-year-old, Toddy kept his secret until Tommy would get home. The boy and the chicken became attached, as only a youngster and an animal can: often that summer, when he had no other job to do, Toddy would tuck the pullet under his arm: and, utterly content, they would start off down the dirt road: the dust would tickle Toddy's toes, and the Golden Pullet would give forth a complaisant chuckle. The fall came. The trees stood nodding at each other while the fall breeze rustled the ruliies of their bright dresses, and each field lay at rest, waiting for the iirst snow flurries to hide its tired brown face. And with the fall came lessons, even for seven-year-olds. And after school, Toddy would skurry home to a piece of bread and butter and The Golden Pullet. One crisp day, having just learned of Tommy's expected return tomorrow, he met the neighboring Commission man, Mr. Sam, on his way to talk to Toddy's daddy. Nl-li, there, young feller, said Mr. Sam, and oh! how good the world seemed to Toddyl Home, that aftrnoon, Toddy, of course, went right to the Golden Pullet, but the bird was not there. Angry at first with his pullet, the boy, suddenly realizing what had happened, rushed, with a stinging sensation in his chest and eyes, to his father, and asked with faltering words, A'NVhere are the chickens? Why, I sold a few of them today to Mr. Sam, Toddy. Why? A deluge of tears followed this, but, after much effort, Toddy's Daddy succeeded in finding out his son's story. How the boy's hopes ran wild when he saw his handsome daddy go to the telephone and ring up Mr. Saml But, alas, the hearty voice of Mr. Sam carried to Toddy, No, Tom, I'm sorry about it, but I'm afraid the young feller's little hen got took down to the station with them others, and by now - let's see - yep, 'fraid so, it's 4:30 now, and they was to be put on the 4:lO westbound. Sure am sorry, Tom - and so with heavy foot and broken heart, the boy shulflled out and sat, crushed, on the steps of the chicken house. The child sought, in vain, to discover why, just a day before Tommy was to arrive home from the wars, his surprise and all chance page 74 J