Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

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a man could be alone with his thoughts. Here one could get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. I stayed atop that hill for many hours just staring at that endless countryside thinking that once all of our country was just this beautiful. But of course man and all his progressive ideas changed all that, and now only a few places remain for nature to put on her once-a-year technicolor spectacular. I was shocked into reality by a shrieking voice of a woman calling someone to dinner. And as I got up and turned around, my heart skipped a beat seeing that sun set just behind that faraway mountain, which seemed to be calling my name, calling me to follow the sun. And hearing it call me, I knew what I had to do. ONE AUTUMN NIGHT Donald Tims ’65 David and Jane both felt wonderful as they walked to the car from the dance in the gym. They had every reason to be happy, for they were young and they had love, the happiest, most wonderful thing in their existence. The night was calm; a full moon looked down upon a comfortably cool night lovely with autumnal splendor. The dance, one of the first of their senior year, had gone perfectly, and both were at peace with the world as they walked hand in hand. David and Jane had been going “steady” for eight months now and were devoted to each other. Their parents and friends did not take them seriously, but they did not care; they had each other and they planned for the years ahead. The couple entered the car, and David started up the highway towards their usual spot for after-date snacks. They talked about what they would do in the years to come after David had gone to college, and they were married. Not too much was said, though; mostly, they simply rode along in silence, sharing that very special closeness of spirit which only those who love can experi- ence. They stopped for a red light and took advantage of the respite from driving to Sik share a short, tender kiss. When driving, however, David kept his attention focused upon what he was doing. He prided himself upon being a safe driver; his father realized this and thus had no compunction about letting him use the car. Jane laid her head back upon the seat and gazed at the stars through the window. She felt a warmth and tenderness for David un- like any feeling she had ever known. A sensitive girl, she had a deep need for af- fection, which David fulfilled. David glanced over at her lovely profile and beautiful blonde hair and felt his heart leap within him. They were very much in love. Suddenly, as they were driving along at a conservative speed, a racing car headed in the opposite direction on the highway went out of control and hurled across the narrow grass dividing strip straight at them. David swerved shaply to the right to avoid a head-on collision; but the other vehicle smashed into the rear corner of his car and sent it skidding across the road. David had a swimming impression of fear as the car swept off the road, through a guard rail, and down an embankment. He caught a fleeting glimpse of trees rushing up at them; the last thing he heard before blacking out was Jane’s calling his name. A swirling mist shrouded his brain, but through the mist, pain penetrated. He opened his eyes but could see only vaguely at first. His hand went down to his stomach and felt 5 PETE 0 KILLS...

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father answered it, and she was standing near enough to overhear the conversation. It was the Border Police checking to see if they had seen a stranger in their area. Mr. Reedy said, “No, but thanks to your plain clothes detective, Mr. Brady, who just left, my daughter was well protected while we were away for a few hours. There was a pause at the other end of the phone. Then she heard the man say, “We have no Mr. Brady. Me must be with the state police. However keep all doors and windows locked . . . the man is armed . . . and dangerous and a vicious murderer . . . he has an ugly red scar running down his . i r’-t e; ebrow to the crown of his head.” A WANDERER’S AUTUMN DAY Fausto DiTullio ’66 If you have never been in Maddox County, Vermont, in the fall don’t read this. If you do, the temptation to go there will be too great for anyone to resist. The rolling countryside stretches for as far as the eye can see. You won’t see any of Man’s cold con- crete jungles here. What you will see is Nature at her most colorful best. When you look at the countryside for the first time, it actually seems to be aflame with vibrant red color. The grazing cows in the pasture move slowly, eating a mouthful of grass every few feet or so. Groups of people talk casually as they slowly walk to Mass. Whatever they do, the people of this small Vermont town do it slowly and without any commotion. These people have never known time schedules or the five o’clock rush hour. How much better this world would be if people just took their time, instead of running pell-mell to work, or to a golf game, or to a P.T.A. meeting. The wind was crisp this October morning, just crisp enough to remind everybody that winter was approaching. As I looked toward the lake, I could see ripples of water being pushed across by the wind. A month from now children would be skating happily across its frozen waters, but now it served as the best place for trout fishing in Ver- mont. As I walked toward the covered bridge which spanned the lake, I could see golden- cclored leaves dancing madly through the air. as though having their last fling before bedding down for the winter. The high, clear blue sky of this Autumn day clashed beauti- fully with the bright orange countryside. I surprised a squirrel as he was in the process of gathering his food for the cold winter months. But just then the people began filing out of the church heading toward home for the turkey dinner which is a traditional Sunday meal to these people of Linden, Vermont. Approaching the covered bridge, I spotted a handful cf small beats, their passengers eagerly awaiting a Big One. Crossing over the bridge, I headed for the hill which over- looked the neighboring countryside. The wind was a little nippier and a little crisper at the top. To my east could be seen the checkerboard fields of corn, and to my west the outline of the Green Mountains, some of which already were covered with fluffy white snow. Looking at the outline of the moun- tains against the big autumn sky gives you a wandering feeling, that feeling that makes you hungry for travel and adventure. Here Five

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a torn, warm and wet mass of flesh into which a segment of the steering wheel pro- truded. His right leg, which he could not move, was just a center of throbbing pain. Oddly, he could feel no pain in his stomach, in fact, there was no feeling at all. His head was clearing a little now, as he heard voices shouting and saw lights. Then one over- powering thought went through his mind, Jane! He looked up and saw to his horror that she had smashed up against the wind- shield ; her head and shoulders were not visible for they had gone through. He tried to call out her name, but instead he vomited and blood ran from his nose and mouth. David was vaguely aware of this as, mercifully, he passed out. He was suspended in a world of semi- consciousness. Everything seemed unreal, as if he were somewhere else observing all that was happening. He was half aware of being enclosed in an oxygen tent, beyond which he knew were doctors, his family, and a priest, all of whom were praying. There was no pain now, but David knew somehow that he was near death and that only his strong will to live for Jane was holding him. David’s older brother entered the room. “How is he doing?” he inquired. “The doctor says he has a very good chance cf pulling through,” his father an- swered. “How is Jane?” The boy looked down. “She is dead. There was nothing the doctors could do.” Although he could not distinguish between the voices and although the individual sounds of words meant nothing to him, David knew that Jane was gone. It was not necessary to strain so hard now. He murmured her name. “He said something!” David’s mother cried. “He said, ’Jane,” said one of the doctors. It was easy now. David felt calm and warmth settled upon him. He lost all con- tact with the hospital room and those within it. The darkness was creeping up faster now, and David knew without thinking about it that it would not be long. The doctor turned off the oxygen and drew up the sheet. A JUST REWARD George Harrington ’66 Calmly the river flowed with hardly a ripple, reflecting the stately pines and spruces which hugged the shore. From the top of the cliff overlooking this placid scene stood Pierre Laval, who was wanted for murder by the police. Three months before, he had broken out of prison, and with only his animal instinct for survival had lived in the vast Canadian wilderness. He had managed to sustain his hunger from day to day by eating wild plants and fish, but was rapidly growing weak. If only he could find some way to leave this godforsaken territory! A thought struck him, gazing madly at the river. He would build a canoe as the Indians had taught him when he was a child and flee down the river. Gathering the neces- sary materials, he stripped an ermine-white birch of its bark and set to work. In a few days he had built the canoe. While he was testing the boat’s ability to hold water, a large wave suddenly rocked it and Pierre was thrown headlong into the canoe. As he floated downstream, the dazed man realized that the oars had been left on shore, and that he had no control over the flimsily built craft. Gaining momentum now, the canoe began to sway from side to side as it rushed into the seething white foam of water which Pierre knew to be the dreaded rapids. The churn- ing, bubbling mass enveloped the canoe several times and then, as suddenly as they appeared, the rapids were past. Tranquil waters lay ahead of the canoe. The unsuspecting Laval was overwhelmed with a feeling of relief, for now he would be free. But around the next bend, his smile was turned into a look of profound horror. Be- yond the blue stretch of water a vast expanse of woodlands! The river had disappeared! As he neared the falls Pierre Laval gave a final shrill scream which was muffled by the roar of the thunderous waters, .and the canoe slipped over. yy yy Ay Seven