Thomas Jefferson High School - Aurora Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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The Adeerzfzzre 0 THE OLITARY T HI KER It was a warm lune evening. I was sitting on a pillow by the Window, wallowing in each breeze that happened to make its way through the screen. My freshly-polished nails would not dry because of the lack of circulation in the air. This worried me. Tomorrow I had to look perfect. It would be graduation day and for once my classmates had to see me shining from head to toe. Tonight I would not have to burn the midnight oil doing some boring and lengthy chemistry assiginnent. Tonight I would not go to bed too tired to set my hair. I could retire at eight if I wished, but deep in the back of my mind I doubted if I would be able to sleep. I looked out of the window. There stood jefferson in all her red-bricked, vineless glory. XVhat had made me become so attached to this forbidding building? I remember as a child looking at that very same edifice and think- ing how Id never be old enough to go there. On another occasion I had accompanied my mother there so she could vote in the booths set up in the lobby. She left me standing in the middle of the hall while she entered one of those curtained contraptions, and I had looked around with wonder and awe at the statues, the glass cases and the many doorways and stairwells leading to the unknown. I marvel now at how things have changed since then. I can now look at the outside of the building and know exactly what it is like inside. The locker room. the library. the elevators. and the bookstore all in their familiar little nooks. No longer do I panic when walking down a dark, uninhabited staircase. I know exactly where each one will lead me and no longer get those quaking freshman knees. Three years have I spent there, looking forward to Christmas vacation, assembly programs. mid-terms and the Regents, and now they mix in my memory as one blurry pot-ponrri in my lifetime. A rare evening breeze brought me back to the present. The light of the quickly disappearing sun revealed the entrance to the school and I had to laugh just a little at the quote from Lincoln over the main portal of MThomas Jeffersoni' High School. I had never noticed the mistake before entering Jefferson but now it only made the building more endearing for it gave it a distinction of which not many others could boast. Now it was dark. A light. grayish drizzle fell softly and mist covered all. The building once more took on its macabre hue and I wondered. in the years to come would my warm. familiar home once again become the for- bdding monument of the past? Carol Rubin A group of worried seniors gathered around us as we searched, anxiety written on their faces. Have no fear, I said. Mr. Sherlock Holmes and I will solve this case. Holmes smiled.

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be me 0 THE FADI ORY It's 1959, and were graduating from High Schooll How very mature we all feel for our age. Not as old as our 'ipractically ancient? parents and teachers, of course, but very grown-up indeed. NVe now look back at our 'cchildishw years and recall uthose good old days? in kindergarten when we were young. But, in 20 years from now, we'll look back and reminisce in the very same sentimental way about our ujuvenilei' days in high school. And will we remember all those tests? Boy, did we put in hours of study and preparation Qto place all those long test answers on those little 'cgyp sheets? D. And will we recall the clothes we wore? XVill you fellas remember copying the appearance of singers Elvis Presley and Pat Boone Cwho you claimed you despisedl? You started at your head with those long sideburns and went right down past your paisley print shirts to the white buck shoes on your feet. And will we girls recollect those big, baggy crew neck sweaters we wore four sizes too large for us, while we wore all other sweaters four sizes too small? Sneakers Qwhich were sinful to wear cleanl was the vogue in footwear, and heavy make-up was the trend for eyes fit weighed down eye-lids and gave a good excuse for falling asleep in classj. XVhat about the memory of our lunchroom and our favorite delicacy, potato chips? CVVe also liked egg salad, tuna salad, bologna, pastrami, salami, cheese, ice cream, candy and anyone hungry?j And will the memory of these sly techniques we used in class haunt our minds in the future? For example, nodding our heads yes in Spanish class to give the teacher the assurance that he was putting his lesson across. CVVe knew very well it all sounded like Greekd Then there was the falling plaster tthat kept falling until the painters camel, the new look of the school when the painters were through Qsame old light green colored walls, we loyedl, the weekly baby sitting jobs, the homework Call week and twice as much on week-endsl, the blind dates falways lu lusl, the gym Qwith the daily dressing and undrcssingl, and the weird expressions Culiin cracking up , crazy man , I could croaku, 'Tm going to blow a fuse And those were the good old days .... YVill we remember??????? H0l'lIt'lll' Sllillfttl' Try every room on this floor, Watson, remarked Holmes. You know O ll my methods.

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