St Thomas More High School - Utopian Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

Page 75 text:

up-thanks to you fellows. You really set off the fuse, Art, when you said, 4You don't have to prove you're a champ' . . . Man, you sure touched a sore spot there. The boys howled their glee. Maybe the spot will get sorer-by tomor- row afternoon, Frank promised. Let's hope and pray. Luke yelled. Yeah, let's hope and -, Lou tried to repeat, but an unanimous shut up on the part of the boys choked oii' into a prayerless gulp. The scholastic outcast trailed the rest as they tramped out of the gym. The next day, they arrived at the gym at three o'clock. Tommy was already there and had set up a tennis net on the court at the far end of the gym. He walked toward them, carry- ing two tennis rackets in his hand. His con- fidence was again in full bloom. He stood astride as he eyed the group coldly. Pick your weapon, Art, but don't worry, I promise not to trounce you too badly. He looked quite natty in his white trunks and T-shirt. Art was dressed in his street clothes. He took off his coat and tie. That's nice of you, Tommy, Art said, swinging his racket to test its weight, maybe I'll he able to do the same for you, real soon. Tommy's face flushed at Art's retortg he turned quickly and went to the end of the court. He Hgured that he would win two out of three games. He served the first game, which he won quite easily . . . almost too easily. The boys shook their heads in desperate silence, but not Frank. He watched with a faint smile on his lips. This is the cat playing with the mouse if ever I saw it played, he chuckled to himself. As the second game progressed, Kelly be- came exceedingly light and swift on his feet. It wasn't long before he out-pointed Tommy completely. All through the first game Tommy had been smiling, but now he was grim and sullen because, for the first time, he had lost a game. This was something entirely new to him. He tasted the salt of defeat in his mouth, and he didn't like it. Dripping with perspiration, he almost frantically wiped his brow time and again. His breath came in gasps as he fought to regain his lost composure. It's just beginner's luck, Art, I'll heat you in the third, he called out. THE CHELSEA REVIEW . . But Kelly only smiled. He served the third game viciously, hitting the balls over Tommy's head, far to his right and to his left. Tommy didn't score a point. He let his racket fall out of his hand. The silence of the group was more painful than their laughter would have been. The older boys quietly congratulated Art, but not Little Lou. Boy, I never saw tennis played like that before, especially against Tommy, he shouted, his voice reverberating in the vastness of the almost empty gym. They shushed him. Frank felt that the time was ripe to break the news. '4How else do you suppose a champ would play? His statement brought such expressions of amazement to their faces that Frank and Art both snickered as they nudged each other. The loud exclamations of surprise on the parts of the boys were topped only by I.ou's shrieking voice, Champ in tennis-you? Ch-ch-champ? Why didn't you tell me? Tommy had heard Lou's question. He came and stood before Kelly, looking first at him and then at Frank. Oh, didn't I tell you? I'll tell you now. then, said Frank. Why, Art won the 1952 ten- nis State championship title last year. You see, Tommy, I knew that meeting up with a real champion would be the only way for you to realize your limitations. I know also that you thought you were a great tennis player, but Art's bad days are better than your best. Sorry it had to be this way. With that, they turned around and started walking toward the exit. They left Tommy standing there. staring ahead, open-mouthed in wonderment. He pawed the floor with his foot as though he were trying to figure out what to do next. Suddenly, he stopped and looked up and found himself alone. With a sudden im- pulse that sprang from a re-awakened knowledge of himself and a new understanding of the meaning and value of friendship, he called out, Hey fellows, wait up. It was a new Tommy Phillips that ran to- ward his friends. The thrill of his discovery had communicated itself to them as they turned as one man and said laughingly, O.K.-Champ- but let's not dallyf' .71

Page 74 text:

Sensing the tenseness of the moment, Frank breezed into the group calling out a cheery- Hi, Luke--fellows. I want you to meet a good friend of mine-Arthur Kelly. Art, you now are looking at the hope for the future, properly branded by good old Washington High. Don't examine them too closely, he warned in the loudest of stage whispers, they're not pedi- greed stockf' You can say that again, Frank, and louder. The pedigreed-bull--is to the rear, Dan said heatedly. '5Sorry, Mr. Kelly, nice to know you. Same here, the other boys intoned. Art Kelly chose to pass over Dan's caustic remark without comment. Come on, guys, can that 'Mr.', what am I, a grey beard? Art's the name. Glad to meet you fellows--in spite of Frank's recommendation. And you, too-Bull -bowing to Tommy. But Tommy was in no mood for a gracious reaction to Kelly's humor. He scowled at him. Wise guy, he muttered aloud, folding his arms across his bare chest. Sorry, no oH'ense intended, I was just kidding. Tommy, thinking over the awkwardness of the situation and realizing how awkward, too, the two visitors must feel, nodded an acceptance of Kelly's apology. Even he felt the sincerity of the cleancut, virile college senior. He just wasn't the wise-guy type, and Tommy knew it, as he stood behind the other boys who were sizing Kelly up. He grudgingly admitted to himself that Kelly measured up to all the requirements of a fellow who knew how to handle himself. He was a big man, yet not with an out-door kind of bigness. Broad shoulders, trim waist, well- built and lithe, tall and good-featured, about twenty-two, they thought. His handshake was vigorously firm. Little Lou winced at his turn. Gosh, he said, shaking his hand to stimulate the circulation, gosh, he repeated, looking with frank admiration at Kelly. Tommy relaxed and joined the group. What's this? Frank asked, glancing in Tommy's direction and seeing that he was still in his trunks. Swimming meet? Who won? We did, the boys chorused. They mean-I did, Tommy corrected. Well, ah, when you win, you win for every- body here, don t you? Kelly inquired. I guess so, but I don't get that 'we' stuff. 70. They couldn't win a prize in a crackerjack box. How about you? You look as though you should be interested in sports. You're older, too. These guys think that I can win only in my own age- class. I'll beat anybody that plays my game- anybody, do you hear? He turned and faced his fellow-student, his face contorted and his voice shrill with anger. Take it easy, fella, Kelly said. You don't have to prove you're a champ, just-be one. Well, I am one, see. But it seems that I got to prove it every time to these weak sisters. Look at them. They don't have enough wind to blow a football up. Tommy was beside himself, venting in one outburst all his resentment of their treatment of him. He hadn't planned this. He knew that he gave his hand away. Now he was more furious with himself because he had revealed how much their coolness had bothered him. Hoping to save face, he gave his attention to Art Kelly and asked him what sports he was interested in. Oh, I like most sports. Play a little of each in season, I guess, he said quietly. Nice big gym you have here, he continued, endeavoring to change the subject. Play tennis? Tommy persisted. I know it's not in season, but we have a good court in the gym here. Want to-beat-me tomorrow and make your friend's friends and relative happy and contented? How about over here tomorrow after school. I understand you're going to be around for a couple of days. What d'you say? O.K., Tommy, Art said. Maybe you can teach me a couple new plays. I'm always willing to learn, you know. It's a date then, Tommy stated. You're all invited to be present at this match. Bring your cryin' towels with you, you'll look more at home. He slapped his towel tightly around his neck and glared at his school mates. Then without another word, he turned on his heels and went into the showers. Kelly whistled softly, Quite a boy and very temperamental, too. The boys chuckled as they discussed Tom- my's violent reaction. Never figured I'd ever see old sure-foot off balance. Boy, did you see his face? Luke asked the group. Yeah, Bill agreed, his gander was really . . THE CHELSEA REVIEW

Page 76 text:

V 'Wl WM'1 'fvy-Pwr, ,, , , f 1 X Nxkahx . , .f . rf. Z M f ff ,. 2 1412- ,Hrs 4'-,' x- RQNA- I . gg,-2. -jj 4, ' I' - Q55 A' 'a 4 It I--in - -1 V a fs gy, f -Q .fr-'eg-zlgegssfff A -.3 -YY -, ',r P l 1 . Q f' 'I4fiQ'Y- 1, I Z It A - , J ' fi-we fin, .j. , Q, A - --N. 'Q N' E, E f ft l Z' V1 1 Q' K.'1 i 1227 . 7 U ' f l' ALI L 'xy . L l -f x .I . 7 , g dal . l I f x ig I vi 'EI I I 7 .,.,..,- f-.. --.,, N .H ll ll a I ' M, .ull 1 f il, - -3 W ur I we R 1 ff 92:4 - 1 .' . ,lrpifw .N , f -gf 'V ,M ' f'1G3'y!jgjZ11ff'7,yy?lg, 4 k 4275 ml! E '. 2,7 fp, We , , my -N2 f,Zf,,gM'. 77f f wa L 1 4--. ' at , U iwf 'A'f ' ' fs a f ' 17717 ., ,... .M A -. , . M ' ' - ai I ,R . ' -va' . '. 'li x .,Qif,.. - ' , 16's',, .,, A fs'fyf 4 ' LM 'R '1 ' , X S, sl ' - 5 ,A , -I' N, Q Q 5 X. V X V I .bln 39, 3 ' ' , I fnnfm, Q' A . ' I' .-if , 71 r '! . s K 1. '. z' in , ' .' ' ,vw 1 1. 1 f'ux.tT'r5 l .X-N X J ...J.47W f L xx 4 . ff ,I X i 1 -2, 'Q . , , 'Ay , I 1-fq wl, ' aff 'V 3' f . fN1'11?iQ1TfZiif X I Qs 'f ,B ,! Hifi! ff' A M ' ' Z A I Qu . I , - , ug, I, H .1 1 ' :I u , f . it fm ffm W! ,gs ,' w ,I Q I bw f QM, :wif f -' 'f fl sn' y ,n a 1 kfffatvaa a t th!!! ' r ' N igrw, 1 lg 13 ri A ., -l j 1 ll ,,q 1 u ,' L ,Q 5 , WM ,fe,Jf!j,x-A ,, pg, 5,1 WW , L 'Q I I .fwa fi-5 T an it 5, f ,,U 1,1 5,1 g IAW4 411.5 72 . . WllA'l' THE S'l'0liY 0F FATIMA MEA S T0 M BY RICHARD O'MALLEY, '53 Illustration by MR. GERARD McCAULEY 66 O BE or not to he--that is the question. It seems to me that no question could he more pertinent to the world today than precisely that--to be or not to be? For that is the question, the biggest question that has ever faced a puzzled world. The an- swer to that question has been given. For when Mary the Immaculate appeared to the children at Fatima, she laid the gauntlet on the table of the world as, through the minds and mouths of Fatima's children, she asked the soul-stirring, soul-chilling question of us all: To he or not to beg O World, what will you? Thus our Lord, knowing the needs of His people, sent His Blessed Mother, Mary most holy, to warn us of our peril. It is interesting to note that when our Blessed Mother appeared., she appeared to children, which shows the love and confidence that she has for minds not yet exposed to, or contaminated by, worldly deceits. When Mary first appeared to them, the children, quite nat- urally, were afraid, but when they saw how kind and gentle Mary was, instantly they fell in love with her. By appearing to children, the Virgin Mary showed to the world that in the eyes of God, the minds and souls of children are so much more preferable to those of so many men and women who have forgotten that our Lord cautioned: Unless you become as little children . . . The purpose of our Lady's visit was to awaken the world to the fact that unless they pray to God for peace and live the effects of their prayers, they will iind no peace. For peace is not something that is manufactured, like a car or a television setg rather it is something that reflects an inner goodness that speaks all over again the consoling words of Christ: The Kingdom of God is within-you. It was not accidental then, that our Lady appeared at a time when the world needed des- perately the right kind of advice. For it was then, in 1917, that there had developed the worst threat to peace that the world has ever known. It was then that Mary revealed, not a secret weapon against this evil, but a . THE CHELSEA REVIEW