Siskiyou Union High School - White and Gold Yearbook (Weed, CA)

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THE IIIIIUDIBLE UUICE Honorable Mention My life rested in the collective palm of the eight me11 and four women who sat before me. A thump was pounding within me-jerking the blood in my veins. I could hear a voice saying, Scream at themf, It became louder, '4They don't care what happens to you. On the elevated pavilion sat the man whose voice would tell the crowd what my destiny would be. My voice was stilled. To utter words was useless. My brow became heavy with a cold sweat. My hands felt cold, and my fingers became frozen. My body was tense. A feeling of terror and sadness crept upon me. Only one person in the room knew the truth. He held the delicate thread to which I was clinging with all my st1'cngth. He had committed the murder. I had helped himg yes-but I wasn't the murderer. His word could free me from the bond of Death. Before my eyes reappeared the vision of that fatal night-the night the police performed their duty. One more minute and I would tell them the truth. They couldn't hang me. I was only an accomplice. I once again looked at the jury before me. They were calm-life meant nothing to them. They would continue to live. I glanced at the judge. He was holding the paper-the paper! The verdict was before him. I saw his eyes read the sentence- Guilty, of first degree murder. He brushed his hand across his brow, and I could sec the gleam of his teeth. He was going to pronounce me guilty-guilty! I clutched the chair with all my might. There was a deep silence in the cou1't- room. The people, the stillness, the suspension was too great. I rose and faced the crowdg the crowd who was interested only in what the judge was saying. llfy body was weak, but I screamed,-yes, I screamed to the eight men and four women who now were no longer needed. Sure, Iim guilty. Do you hear me. 1,111 guilty Ii' Slowly I became conscious. Wliy, what had sec111ed to me a scream had only been a mere whisper. A whisper that was being drowned out by the voice of the judge who was reading the verdict pronouncing me, uNot guilty. LAURA PASTEGA Wfecd High School cc 24 my

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You cannot see the sky above, Or those familiar hills. It blots the distant field from View And each small valley fills. lt penetrates into your heart. It seems to drag you down. That lnorhid feeling that you feel Is felt throughout the town. And as the days drag on and on, While Fall and lvinter wed, You feel that you will lose your mindg You wish that you were dead. And then one morn with heavy heart, You rise up from your hed To find the world now bright Zlllll clear The awful fog has fled. With hungry eyes you gaze upon The sights that you once knew. The hills stand out in sharp relic-fg The sky is clear and hlue. The load is lifted from your heartg It seems to leap with joy, And life seems sweet and kind again. You're now a happy hoy. That wall is gone that formed a pall Of worry over you. And now youive happy thoughts to think And happy things to do. It seems to you as if the age Of joy has just begun. Your heart is lightg your soul is free. You walk now in the SUN. llrlILTON BLAKE Yreka High School 44 23 Pb

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J Ill00IllIGHT FIHITIISV Honorable Mention The first pale rays of the moon lighted up the sky, changing the somber night to an airy fairylandg and as I watched, the moon broke from tl1e detaining hands of tl1e horizon and sailed in full glory to greet her ti11y sub jects, thousands upon thousands of sparkling stars. Her train of moon beams, the moon-fairies lifted and spread over the quiet water, setting it softly rippling. The fairies, flying on glowing wings, then left tufts of spun moon-glow on the branches of the trees. From poppy pods they shook star-dust on every bud and blossom. They soon spied a dark, gloomy spot, and, alighting, tripped softly across the pine needles. Hopping about on twinkling toes, they made a smooth circle just big enough for sporting fun. With hands joined, they began a-dancing. One of them, pulling vigorously on a stock of blue-bells, called more fairies, and soon there were countless slivers of moonbeam dancing beneath the trees. Sud- denly, a bright spot appeared on the path across the water. As it neared, one could see nothing but a spinning ball of light. Closer, still closer, until, alighting amid the fairies, it took shape, and they beheld their queen. She clapped her hands. Instantly the dancing circle was transformed to a banquet table. There were pollen cakes covered with poppy seed, blue-bells filled with dew, pine-nut puddings, salads of water eress and lily, violet buds and clover blossoms covered with honey. The feasting over, they turned to games for pleasure. Two pine needles stood straight up, with woven spider web between, for a hammock. They swung reck- lessly back and forth. shouting, shrieking with laughter when one fell out. Some did daring feats on thc backs of beetles, others, catching pairs of fire Hies, hitched them to a stray walnut shell. On the lake, they stole rides on the lily-pads and teased the frogs by stuffing spun moon glass in their mouths when they eroaked eomplainingly of the noise. Soon, near the east, were seen tl1e Hrst signs of morning. Birds were stirring, owls flew back to their rest, chipmunks and squirrels scolded sleepily. The fairies ran to the lake and picked up what little remained of the moon's train. Returning, they drifted slowly to thc ground. .lust as the last had put her wings over her head, the first bright rays of the sun escaped their gloomy prison from beyond the hills. PHYLLIS MYERS McCloud High School 44 25 as