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

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' T H E P R O G R A M fFirst Place Storyl He was sitting alone in the shadowy room. The silence was like a living thing urging him to think on before it swallowed him up. So this it it! I'm home at last, the thoughts ran through his head. After all those months of dreaming-I'm here. Now, I haven't e v e n dreams left. They were all washed out by the sweat, the blood, and the tears. Why didn't they leave me there with the rest of them? Why was I the one to be spared? It isn't fair. It just isn't fair! Sure, leave college, leave your girl, put on your handsome uniform and go over and fight for your country. Then come back- with this! I'm not a man any longer, iust some- thing to be pitied and stared at. So I'm lucky, they said. Lucky, huh! They don't know what it's like not to have a leg-to have part of your- self gone and lust a piece of man-made iunk in its place. I wonder what Linda would do if she could see me now? Would she cry and say she's sorry but she wants to live a normal life? Or, would she say that she's found someone else, that it isn't my leg that makes her feel this way? Well, she doesn't have to worry, I won't em- barrass her by going over now. Suddenly and awkwardly he stood up. The thud of a book as it dropped from the table shattered the silence. He looked around him, but his eyes saw nothing. Kind'a wish I hadn't asked my folks to leave me alone tonight. They try. They try not to notice it too much. He limped across the room, his artificial leg dragging, not quite in step with the other one. I can't stand this. l've gotta get out and do something. I can't keep myself locked up here any longer. I don't care, let 'em stare at me. The door banged as he closed it and the cool night air swept over him. He kept walking even though he felt a stab of pain with each step. Finally he was on main street. There seemed to be people he knew everywhere. The bright neon lights turned into a huge spotlight centered on him. Step right up, folks. Every- one look at the poor boy ..., his thoughts seemed to come to life. l've got to get out'a here. l'll go into a show or something. Here! Here's a concert hall. Maybe I need some music. At least I can still listen. He bought a ticket and walked in iust as the curtain was opening. The usher handed him a program which he stuffed into his pocket as he sat down near the front. The girl at the piano was young and beauti- ful. Smilingly, she nodded towards the crowd. As her fingers raced over the keyboard, the music she produced held everyone spellbound. Everyone-except one person. Funny, he thought, people stare at us both. I guess it's just human nature. When they look at her they see everything they want to be-young and talented with everything to live for. When they see me, they feel thankful that they are what they are-not a piece of over- used goods stumbling around. The bitterness in his heart swelled until he felt like kicking down the piano and stopping the music that tormented him. The applause of the crowd put a stop to his wild cascade of thoughts. Unthinkingly he pulled the program out of his pocket and gazed down at it. At first he saw nothing and then the words registered. He sat there, staring straight ahead as if realizing something for the first time. What a fool l've been. What a selfish, conceited fool! I thought the world was against me, but I'm the one who's against the world. If she can do it, I can do it too. This program proves how wrong my thoughts were. We all

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STEPPING STONES TO A BETTER FUTURE CFirst Place Essayl Life-that which God instills in each indi- vidual at birth is the beginning of a great and confusing labyrinth. The pattern of our lives in the early years is largely the result of heredity and environment. However, as we advance in years, so our responsibilities increase to the end that we begin to visualize our vocation. To this end we are faced with these stepping stones-decisions. As we travel along the stones of life, into our lives come the times of decision. We have our choice, stepping stones to a better future or the stones of deceit, laziness, and failure. We, from the beginning of time, have found ourselves in a world of many choices. We are continually stepping on many stones as we seek a better future. But sometimes in our search for a better future, we have mistaken the stones to take. The eternal stars have seen us fall, beaten, without having claimed the treasure we seek. Driven by force, led on by persuasion or tricked by deceit, we have tried one stone after another. Now we are confronted with only two al- ternatives, totally opposed to each other, yet seemingly alike in many ways. Ancl we must make our choice-a choice that will decide our future. How shall we know which to take? Let us make a close-up examination of both. These stones on the left-deceit, laziness and failure: these will not lead us to a better future but will pull us down and prevent us from seeking the true treasure which can be ours. And the stones on the rig ht-education, pride, courage, sincerity, integrity, industrious- ness, self-preparation, religion and security. The harsh reality of life according to Judge Perkins is this: Each person must perform the task of self-preparation himself. No one can do it for LITERARY SECTION him. He must achieve at least a minimum standard of ability or he will meet fa i l u re, trouble and unhappiness. If his task is made easier he is much more likely to succeed. But whether he gets help or not, he must succeed or suffer. This is not fair, but it is the law of life. Life doesn't let him off. If a train you want to catch goes at 8:30, you've got to be there at 8:30 or you won't catch it. There may have been all kinds of reasons beyond your control why you couldn't get there on time but still you won't catch the train. In the same manner we build a better future. There may be all sorts of reasons for bad conduct, but, tough as they are, they don't excuse us. We've still got to obey the law of the group, or else. It is up to us as we step along the stones to build a better future and to minimize the conditions that would undermine us and increase our own strength so that we can withstand the bad conditions. In our great America everyone, regardless of race, creed, or color, has an equal right to avail himself of these opportunities for a better future. That right is guaranteed by the Decla- ration of Independence which says, for we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal and endowed with certain inalien- able rights: that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We should all rededicate ourselves to the hardy virtues which have made our nation a land of liberty: education, pride, courage, sincerity, integrity, industriousness, self-preparation a nd sincerity, and above all a reaffirmation of faith in the God of our fathers-these are stepping stones to a better future. NANCY YOUNG, '54 Tulelake High School

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have an obstacle to overcome whether it be the loss of a leg or something not easily seen by others. I know now that it isn't the obstacle that matters-it's the way we overcome it that counts. l've been so busy with self-pity I haven't given myself nor anyone else a chance. Look at her- she didn't have to, but now she's bringing hap- piness to others with her playing. There's a way for me too, and the first thing to do about it is go see Linda . . . to tell her I'm still hers, if she wants me. Now I feel like the same person at heart. And if she doesn't want me, well, there are a lot of other things to do, He put the program, which had become so precious to him, in his pocket and got up and walked out. He had a smile on his face and the people he passed smiled with him. As he walked on in the brisk air he no longer felt afraid or sorry. The way to Linda's house was lust as he remembered. I'Il tell her about tonight, he thought. She'll understand. She always has. He was so eager he didn't feel the program as it slipped from his pocket. The old man painfully stooped over to pick up the piece of paper. Hey, young feller, you dropped something! Hey, you! But the young man didn't hear and continued his fast, yet lop- sided pace. Heh, wonder what it is, the old man pondered. Mebe it has his name on it. Disappointedly he looked a g a i n. Ah, it's nothing but a concert program. Probably doesn't mean nothin' to him so I iest won't bother to track him. He threw down the program. Slowly the mud oozed over the words, Piano Concert, by Miss Jean Rockwell, blind artist. BEVERLY PETERSON McCloud High School T H E 0 C E A N CFirst Place Poeml The ocean wave With icy blue fingers Reaches out to clutch A lone piece of driftwood Floating out to sea. An undercurrent Rushes toward the wave Like the north and south winds Meeting head on In a duel to the finish. It charges the wave With renewed spirit, White foam flies up Filling the air with the Brilliance of newly fallen snow. Now, all is calm on the sea. A sea gull glides gracefully Over the water, Looking for its dinner. He eats his fill and rests. The tide rolls in, It grows dark and the air cools. The moon shines brightly Over the horizon And everything is quiet. SUSAN SKIDMORE, '56 Tulelake High School