Seven Hills High School - Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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Milestone FOR SYLVIA FROM JOHNNY Jenny buried her pretty face in the big box of bright red roses. They were beautiful, Jenny was beautiful. In the bottom was a card written in that familiar hand, Por Sylvia, sight unseen, from Johnny, sight unseen, Meet me at the letter desk at the U.S,O. at nine. That was all. He had given no warning that he was coming home from over- seas. That was just what Andy would have done. But this was Johnny. Jenny's hands trembled slightly with wonder and excitement, What would he be like? She sat down tiredly, and a few unwanted tears settled like dew on the cool, fresh roses. Why couldn't these flowers have been accompanied by a note saying, i'Por my Jenny. I love you. Andy. ? She had loved and lived for Andy. He was everything in the world to her, but then time seemed to stop and she had nothing, nothing to live for. The telegram, A'lVlissing in action, had come only three weeks after the day they had parted. Jenny so clearly remembered that day: a day full of laughing with the always fun-loving Andy: a day full of happiness from their promise to be married when he got back: a day full of tears when he had taken her in his arms for the last time and whispered, Good-bye. my Jenny. I love you. Ever since that day and the day the telegram came two years ago, some of the pep, beauty and love of life that had always been so characteristic of her, faded, but she retained to the fullest extent her sweetness and charm. She had the sense that it takes to realize that the lives of two must not be wasted because of the loss of one. And so she carried on with a brave and endless spirit, trying to forget the way Andy would wink and smile whenever she had on a new dress: the way he would pinch her chin whenever she amused him: the way he looked, so tall and handsome, when she would open her door to him. She tried to forget. On joining the U.S,O., Jenny was given the name of a soldier in a hospital over-seas with whom she was to begin a correspondence. That was one of her jobs at the U.S.O. She was given an impersonal history of Jones, J., too, He had been sent from the front lines to the hospital to rest, suffering from amnesia. And now for almost two years Jenny had written every week to Johnny Jones, and he WrOte nearly every day to her, She signed her letters Sylvia because she felt that letters signed Jenny would have gone only to Andy. To Johnny, these letters signed 'lSylvia meant everything. He could remember no part of his life except the days since he had been in this hospital, and Sylvia was the only person he knew of from home, And from her letters he grew to know her, and he saw that Sylvia was an ideal person. To Jenny, at first, the correspondence meant her job and A'Jones, J. and nothing more. His letters revealed little of his character. It was hard because he was new even to himself. There was nothing behind him. But as the months passed by, Jenny began to perceive his personality as one she would like to know better, and she realized that the Sylvia who wrote him every Monday meant a great deal to him, though he never mentioned love. And now the unseen Johnny was here. For Sylvia. from Johnny. page 92

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Milestone going all the way to - - -. How about you? The rest of the conver- sation differs, according to whether your companion likes the scenery, symphonies, or smorgasbord. Time passes quickly when there is someone with whom to talk, and soon you get that old feeling which means a meal is in order. Where is the diner? You ask the conductor. who bursts rudely into hysterics, to your embarrassment. Obviously there isn't one. There is, however, always the little man with the liver sandwiches and salted peanuts. Sometimes the menu varies, and you have a choice between sausage and liver. Sometimes he has coffee, or tomato juice, or such luxuries as juicy apples and rich, creamy chocolate bars. If you have an especially de luxe coach, you may even get literature with your meal- Cowboy Stories or The Holy Roller Weekly. A wise person will bring his own lunch, or at least campaign to sit next to someone who has brought his. Sometimes you can wheedle a sandwich: sometimes, only a tomato seed in the eye, but at least you won't starve to death. Ho, hum: No matter where you are, your eyelids have a way of drooping after a meal: so a short nap is necessary. lt is one of the hardest things for a girl to look her best while slouching against a crumpled coat piled in the corner, trying to get some sleep. It is the best policy to remove all excess hats, gloves, and other articles while napping, because it doesn't look then as if you fell into such a comical state accidentally. When your mouth drops open ridiculously, people may think you wanted it that way on purpose. You can even look fairly attractive if you droop yourself correctly over the arm of the seat. People might look at you and say, A charming sylph who is unused to trains and wishes to be back among the woodlands. Such a thing has never happened to me, but I feel that there must be some type of girl who looks attractive on a coach seat. All good things must come to an end, including naps. You awaken when your companion accidently drops his suitcase on your head, just as the train is pulling into the station. In two minutes, you are standing in the aisle ready to hop off the train. A sudden stop sends you flying boldly forwards into the back of a chagrined, but more stable passen- ger, You are pushed off the train and up the ramp to the station, looking for a familiar face among thousands. Sometimes a pathetic expression on your face brings a redcap or Traveler's Aid attendant, a person who is always helpful. No familiar face is waiting, principally because the train is two hours late, but there is always a taxi, Within two hours, at least, you will be soaking languidly in a bubble bath, babbling delightedly to your friend, ready for any kind of evening. Even after a train trip, life goes on as usual. It wasn't so bad, was it? At least it was enlightening, you keep telling yourself. ANN VAIL, '46 em

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Milestone Jenny put the roses in a vase and felt her heart jump with excitement ahead of her. She felt as if she had known Johnny for a long time and yet she had no idea of what he would look like, how he would act, She put on a pale blue dress to match her eyes, and the mirror reflected a beautiful girl, a happy girl: but for a moment she wondered why it couldn't have been Jenny going to meet Andy instead of Sylvia to meet Johnny. For Sylvia, sight unseen, from Johnny, sight unseen. Meet me at the letter desk at the U.S.O. at nine. As Jenny walked down the hall at the U.S.O., she tried to picture Johnny, wondered what he would say, what she would say. She was about to see for the first time the man who had been so dominant in her thoughts for the past two years, along with the unforgettable memory of one dead. As she approached, she saw the figure of a tall soldier standing alone at the letter desk with his back to her. She quietly walked up behind him, her heart pounding wildly, and said as calmly as she could, Hello, l'm Sylvia. He turned quickly, and taking both her hands in his, answered, And I'm Joh ------ He didn't finish. They stood hand in hand staring at each other, unknowing, On her face was a jumbled look of fear, surprise, and disbelief: on his was plainly written a deeply confused expression of a man who, once dead, suddenly Hnds himself living again. Tears were in the eyes of both. He took her in his arms. Andy, My Jenny! LONSDALE GREEN, '46 TY-fa Q! E , , y , W F5 i , f , X ' reid. CHQICE Oh, you may pray to heaven To make your dream be real, To make it really tangible, A thing that you can feel, But I will pray as earnestly To make mine stay the same, A dream, when real, is shattered, And dream is not its name, BETTY CHAPMAN, '48 page 93