Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

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WHERE THERE’S SMOKE Herbert Weene ’57 When the growing town of Dunster de- cided to modernize its fire department, it re- solved to make a good job of it. As a result Dunster had one of the best equipped de- partments in the state. This naturally re- quired no small expenditure on the part of the citizens. Therefore, picture if you can, the chagrin of the townspeople when their fire department, resplendent with shining en- gines and handsome uniforms, somehow man- aged to finish last in the annual state fire de- partments’ competition. They were the laugh of the year. The mayor of Dunster, who hap- pened to be in attendance at the event suf- fered the many jibes of the other mayors whose well-oiled units were setting records left and right. “Next year,” said the mayor to fire chief Simpson, “we do better or you’re out!” By the time the competition had rolled around again, Chief Simpson had whipped his neophyte firemen into a crack organiza- tion. “This year we’ve got it in the bag,” said the mayor to visiting State Chief Weinster. They were watching the Dunster department at practice on this particular morning and even the state chief was forced to admit that last year’s stumblebums might well be this year’s threat. So the situation stood on the week before the competition. The whole town was excited as only a small town can be over such an event. “We gave the department the best darn equipment available and we want a prize this year!” said one prominent citizen. And that just about summed up public opinion. Now I must introduce two of the key figures in this little tale. Mr. Antonio Mar- zone was a typical imigrant in that he was vastly impressed by the modern conveniences of the United States and had a strong love for his new country. Of course he had certain misconceptions. At first, for instance, when the radio commanded, “Got right out and buy Potrzebie Toothpaste . . .” he went right out and bought Potrzebie Toothpaste. But after a month in Dunster he had learned a good deal and was just as excited about the com- ing competition as anyone else. Jeremiah P. Mulcahey was one of the Dun- ster firemen. His biggest qualification for the job was that his brother-in-law happened to be the mayor. As a matter of fact, he might have been fired several times except for this. He was famed for having accidentally turned the hose at his chief at the previous year’s competition and having created the fun- niest spectacle in twenty years. (This did not particularly help the Dunster depart- ment’s rating, as you might guess.) Now it so happened that the not-overly- bright Mr. Mulcahey was on lookout duty the day the mayor was showing Chief Weinster around the fire house. Tired by the morning’s maneuvers, Mulcahy was just sitting in the tower smoking his pipe. There was a tar bucket in the tower as the roof was under repair. Mulcahey dozed off and dropped his pipe into the bucket. Burning tar smokes profusely, but most of the smoke was blow- ing out the window, and Mulcahey was not an easy man to wake. For some strange reason, Mr. Marzone was the first to see the smoke pouring into the sky from an unknown source. Immediately his civic sense of duty was aroused. One of the things he had learned was, “When you see da smoke, you pulla da leetle handle in da fira box.” He was standing right beside a (Turn to page 24) Eleven

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SOMETHING TO SEE Marilyn Ince ’58 A milky white frost glazed the windows of every house, irregularly placed, in the town of Fillvington. The wind whistled through the naked trees, and myriads of silvery stars covered the sky. Golden moonbeams skipped on a nearby brook as God surveyed His handi- work. Everything was at rest. About 2 A.M. the shade went up in a second floor window of the Vickerson house. Someone opened the window and looked out, but not for long. After a while, shivering from the harsh cold air, Lee closed the window, and filled with im- measurable excitement and wonder, she fumbled in the dark for her housecoat and slippers. Making all the noise which she tried not to make, she finally found the ob- jects of her search, and also woke her room- mate. Startled by the confusion, Brenda asked rather drowsily, “What are you doin’ up and where are you goin’ this time o’ night? Brrr, it’s awfully cold in here. Why don’t you go back to bed?” Caught unaware and still excited, Lee an- swered with her Oriental accent, “Oh, Brenda! I am sorry to have waken you, but I was in a hurry to go outside.” “Outside,” ejaculated Brenda. “Are you foolish? Why it’s practically freezing out there. Why in the world do you want to go outside?” “Oh, come to the window, Brenda, and you will see why.” Brenda reluctantly went to the window. “Is it not beautiful,” continued Lee. “Isn't what beautiful? Maybe my eyes de- ceive me, Lee, but I don’t see anything out there unless you mean . . . .” “Yes, Brenda, that is what I mean, and that is why I wish to go outside, now.” “Oh, Lee, it’ll probably be there in the morning, and if it isn’t it’ll be back again sometime. C’mon, let’s go back to bed.” “No, Brenda, I cannot wait until morning, and it may not come again for some time. Maybe you think me foolish, but I want to go out now.” Smiling, Brebda replied, “All right, Lee, I’ll go with you, but you’re sure to catch cold, since you’re unaccustomed to this weather.” “I don’t mind,” replied Lee. And so, wrapped in their coats the two girls tiptoed downstairs to go outside. Lee had come to this country from Ceylon to go to school, and, becoming very close friends with Brenda, she often spent much time at Brenda’s house. Everything that she had seen here was a marvel to her, and she was a careful observer, as most foreigners are. To her, being in America, and attending one of the best colleges in the world, was even more than a dream come true. It is a secret wish in the hearts and minds of multi- tudinous young children. Then, it becomes a reality for some, while for many others, it remains merely a fantasy for which there can be no hope. Can you imagine, therefore, how grateful and how enthralled Lee was? If so, you understand, then, why she could find beauty and splendor in the simple things which we think trivial and ordinary. You understand, too, why she wanted to go out- side on this frosty, bleak night to see some- thing that to her was new and wonderful. After the girls returned to bed, Brenda fell asleep immediately, but Lee lay there wide-awake. She was too thrilled and excited for sleep. However, about three days later Lee had a vivid reminder of this venture, when she was in bed with a dreadful cold. It was terrible while it lasted, but she bore it all very well, and not long afterward she was normal and healthy again. A few weeks later she and Brenda were busy doing their Christ- mas shopping. As you can imagine, Christ- mas that year was two-to-three times more exciting for Lee than for Brenda. However, being pushed and shoved about in the big de- partment stores by the other Christmas shop- pers was exasperating to both girls and was something that Lee could not understand. As she said in a letter to her parents, “The peo- ple in America are always in a hurry. They rush from one place to another, yet I know of no special place to where they must rush. Their means of transportation is so quick and easy, but they persist in practically trampling all over you in order to go some- where.’ Ten (Turn to page 13)

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WHILE LEAVES WERE FALLING Dorothy Shubow ’57 In her high school classroom Ellen sat look- ing out of the window. One by one a kaleido- scope of vari-colored leaves was floating down. It didn’t seem as if they’d ever stop. There was a green one, a red one, a brown one ... it seemed to be literally showering leaves. Ellen wanted to be out there, to stand in the middle of all this, so she could see for herself the miraculous change that was tak- ing place. Only a few short weeks ago . . . She was lying on hot sand, feeling the stimu- lating rays of the sun on her back. She would read a novel, or perhaps write a letter, fingers wrinkled from salt water. Her hair was windblown and streaked with many shades of blond, the result of constant ex- posure to the sun. She loved the way her pale pink lipstick looked on her bronzed face. Oh, she was so thrilled with life! After all, what could make a girl happier than to know that there was someone who cared, who noticed what she was wearing, who made her feel wanted, and even needed? She didn’t know if she could stand wait- ing any longer. Soon, Jimmie would be com- ing home from work. He’d change into his bathing suit and come down to the beach. Life was so glorious. In his college dorm, in a room already blos- soming with girls’ pictures, pennants, and crazy signs, Jim sat at his desk gazing out of the curtainless window. Was he actually puzzling over a history problem, while down below the girls and fellows burdened with books in their arms, walked or rode their bikes to and from their lecture halls? Was it really the autumn wind whistling, and blowing leaves and papers in endless circles? . . . He could still picture himself on Sunday mornings sitting on the bridge letting his feet hang and not caring whether or not he ever caught any fish. Then it was twilight; there he was down on the tennis courts smacking the poor tennis balls left ’n right, up ’n down! What fun it was! But most of all he remembered Ellen. He’d rush home from work, and run to meet her. Barefoot and running along the beach, holding her hand, he found it hard to believe that any person could be so deliriously happy . . . Leaves were falling and soon there would be snow. Ellen’s teacher had called on her to recite in class. Se had much to learn and ac- complish. Jim was taking an important exam tomorrow, and his parents were scrimping to keep him in college. He must study! So the summer must be forgotten for a while; for a long while. Many of us today, like Ellen and Jim, live in our memories. This is not entirely wrong, because memories are wonderful. Not only do they teach us lessons, but they toy with our emotions, making us laugh, cry, or blush. Nevertheless, autumn is past, and winter is here. Ellen and Jim must attend to their studies. Tom must clean his bunk, and sew those buttons on his Air Force uniform. Mary must type out those letters for her boss. Last summer is but a memory. FANTASY Judith Tarentino '57 “The mist of dawn lay on the gray-green wildness of the moor. The sun, rising slowly now, did not radiate sufficient brilliance to light the drab sky, but slowly, calmly, it lifted the foggy coverlet from the sleeping world. “A dewdrop slipping down a tall grass blade joined the dizzy swirling of a tiny stream. From the distance a bird’s query, high and shrill, raced through the air and lost itself in the wind. “A cool breeze of morning swooped by fa- miliar fields, setting the mood of the day and sweeping the last traces of fog under a cloudy carpet. “These are Nature’s lands, withstanding time and man. No clans inhabit; no one in- habits the tall grass and ...” The tall, thin girl closed the book reluc- tantly and dazedly rose to resume her house- hold duties. Far away it seemed a baby was crying, but for a moment her inner self was Twelve