Summit School - Flame Yearbook (St Paul, MN)

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RETRIBUTION RS. Archibald Van Pierce swept into Madison's with her furs trailing meekly behind her. Ignoring the head waiter, she sailed through the room, causing a slight commotion in her wake as napkins, menus, and even a few dishes fell to the Hoor. Unmindful of the despairing look on his face, she climbed the one step that separated Thomasis haven from the rest of the room. Dropping into a chair at a table in the middle of the floor. she rapped sharply on the water pitcher with an emerald ring. Thomas, as was his habit, suddenly appeared from out of nowhere. He was resplend- ent that afternoon. Never before had his suit been so neatly pressed, nor had his shirt front gleamed so, for Mrs. Thomas had carefully washed the day before, all the while regretting that Thomas wore so many shirts. I-le bowed deferentially to Mrs. Van Pierce. Good afternoon, Madamf, Good afternoon. Please give me a menu. And do bring a high-chair for dear Archibald the Secondf' Unquestioningly Thomas retired to his table. No one else ever touched it. On its gleaming mahogany surface were neat pileswmenus, napkins, tablecloths, and ash trays. On the shelf above, straight rows of goblets. To the left of these, finger bowls. To the right, wine glasses. fThomas prided himself on serving excellent wines, but if anyone had bad enough taste to want a cocktail with his meal-well, there was a bar second door to the rightj Carefully Thomas selected the two whitest napkins and the two shiniest goblets. Then he picked out the proper knives and forks and spoons from the drawer under the table. In the other half of the room any waiter could set any table, but these five were Thomas,s children. And he tended them with loving care. Thomas set the high-chair, which he had pulled out of a hidden closet, in place and waited for Archibald to appear. 'KCome, Archibald, dear. lump up. That's Mothers good boy, And now maybe the nice man will bring you something to eat. Take our orders, waiterf' No one who knew Thomas called him waiter. Unflinchingly he looked down into the beady, black eyes of the lengthy black and tan dachshund, which sat in the high- chair, looking around him with an insolent eye. 28 THE FLAME

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Lauren Bacall acts either, but you can't hate a person for that! . . . Oh, but she's taller than Ianie, at least four inches . . f' From downstairs: Ieaniel From upstairs: lust a minute, Mom . . . Barbie, that was Mother. How she loves to talk, ha! ha! . . From downstairs: Ieanie! From upstairs: Oh, are you calling me, Daddy? What do you want? From downstairs: Will you ple-ase get off that phone? From upstairs: Yes, Daddy. Barbie, that's . . . Yes, Daddy . . . Good-byef, From the receiver: Bang! PHYLL1s Poarlan Form V THE C0-OPERATIVE PARTRIDGE WAS nine years old and very excited. This was the first time I had ever been taken hunting. My father, mother, and older brother were with me, and we had started out on the first day with high hopes. We walked along the path that led to an inland cabin where we were going to have lunch. I was being very careful, carrying my empty .22 as if it were loaded. Suddenly someone saw a partridge. It was standing very still trying to blend in with the back- ground and hoping we wouldn't see it. Remembering that I was the youngest, and that I probably wouldn't get another chance like this, my father told me to shoot it. If I missed, my mother would get it before it flew away. By this time the partridge realized that we hadn't overlooked him, and he was trying to walk away unnoticed. I fumbled as I loaded my rifle with small dust shot, closed one eye, and prepared to aim. I wondered why I couldn't line up the sights until I realized that I had closed the wrong eye. As quickly as possible, I changed and aimed once more. This time I trembled as I started to pull the trigger. I waited for the loud shot I knew would come, but nothing happened, and I wondered why. What,s the matter? my mother called. I don't know. It just won't shoot, I answered. Maybe your gun's on safe. I looked, and sure enough it was. If the partridge knew what waslhappening he probably would have taken this time to escape, but he was very co-operative and waited until I was all ready. Little did the poor bird know that he was supposed to be drawing his last breath as I raised my gun and again aimed. When, after pulling the trigger for the second time, I heard nothing but a click, I knew that I had not cocked the gun. This meant that there was no bullet in the chamber ready to be Fired. Now, I thought, I am ready. If the gun doesnlt go off this time, I will just give up. For the third and last time, I carefully raised the gun to my shoulder and pulled the trigger. As I raced over to the ruffled mass of feathers on the ground, I saw that my first shot had gone straight through his eye. I carried him triumphantly into the cabin. The first day was a success. ELIZABETH SLADE Form II THE FLAME 27

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We have some hamburger. Excellent, Madam, for your dogf' Hamburger, indeed! Have you any good liver? Yes, Madamf' And some vanilla ice cream and a saucer of milk. Seriously Thomas first wrote down this order, then waded through a maze of direc- tions-clear broth fnot chicken, mind you, but beefj, avacado pear salad, thin white toast, tea, and perhaps an eclair for dessert. With relief Thomas rejoined his compatriots. Those neat rows of glasses seemed to wink at him in amusement as they sparkled in the noonday sun. For a moment he had an impulse to sweep them off onto the Hoor, these soldiers he was reviewing. This surprised him as he was usually of a very placid temper. Quickly regaining his com- posure, Thomas gave the orders to the somewhat startled cook. Upon returning, he found his friend, Professor Dunster sitting at the corner table, absently working out Euclid's eighty-second problem on spheres on the tablecloth with an oyster fork. While taking the order, an order so usual Thomas could recite it, they discussed the relative merits of Hunter and Boyston on Hamlet, Act III, Scene III. A nod from the chef indicated that Thomas's first order was ready. He set the dishes down with neat precision, being careful to give Archibald's plate an extra polish with the napkin that hung over his arm. Leaving Mrs. Van Pierce daintily sipping her soup, and Archibald noisily swallowing his liver, Thomas retired to the kitchen, almost an admittance of defeat. It was when he was serving the dessert, when Archibald was voicing his objections to the ice cream in short, sharp barks, that Mrs. Van Pierce expressed a desire for crackers and cheese. What kind of cheese do you have?n Rat-trap, in a low tone. i'Pardon me?,' Rat-trap, Madamf, Excuse me, do you mean American cheese? Rat-trap, Madam, with the great stone face. Bring me some. By this time Mrs. Van Pierce was truly exasperated. A few seconds later Thomas silently placed before her a silver plate on which reposed three' small, apologetic pieces of dry yellow cheese. Mrs. Van Pierce's reaction was imme- diate, loud, and long. Thomas bore it all, when it had run its course and dwindled, he bowed and turned away. He was back at the exact moment she wanted the check, it in hand. Courteously he helped her into her coat and fastened Archibald's leash. Then, catching sight of some small change carelessly left in plain sight on the table, he picked it up, bowed, and handing it to her, said: You've left something, Madam. EDITH NYE F arm V THE FLAME 29