Watsonville High School - Manzanita Yearbook (Watsonville, CA)

Page 13 text:

THE MANZANITA 9 she quickened her pace and fairly ran the rest of the way home, the pink bow flopping gaily over one ear as she ran. A-zalia, cried ber mother as she came into dismayed the door. Where have you been 'Z We have been home for an hour. Look at your dusty shoes. And do fix your hair! You look like a ruffian! Yes, mother, answered our heroine as she skipped to her room. But once inside, she paid no atten- tion to the pink bow but engaged in very mysterious proceedings. When her mother called for supper, Azalia emerged from her room with a triumphant light on her face. Will you please pass the butter, father, said Azalia sweetly as she sat at the supper table. The whole family stared in amazement at this new and strangely gentle Azalia, but she merely dimpled back at them. The supper dishes washed, Aza- lia joined the family in the living room. She tried to read a maga- zine but could not become interested. Then she attempted to crochet but her thread tangled in an exasperat- ing manner. Finally she cast it a- side, too, and leaned back in her chair. As she looked arou11d the room, first at her father, busy over his newspaper, then at the mother mending one of her middy blouses, next at Albert reading Treasure lslandf' and last at little Janet singing a lullaby to her doll, some- thing seemed to tug at her throat and she swallowed hard to get rid of it. The clock on the shelf struck eight. Mrs. Domincus rose wcarily. t'ome, Jannie, dear, it's time for bed. Azalia sprang to her feet. Let me take her, mother, you look tiredf, The mother's face lighted up with a tender smile. That's so thoughtful of you, Zaly, I am very tired. Goodnight, Jannie, pleasant dreams, she added as she kissed the rosy mouth. Azalia flushed guiltily, but said nothing. As she tucked little sister in bed, Janet pulled her face down to her own small one and whispered, I love you, Zaly. Again that queer something tugged at her throat and again she swallowed hard as she closed the door behind her. In the living room once more the minutes dragged slowly by. At half-past nine she arose to say good night. As she kissed her father she felt that awful sensation in her throat again. Her eyes burned and filled with tears. She gritted her teeth to suppress them and turned toward her mother. But the sight of the gentle mother working so patiently for her, touched Azalia's heart. She could not trust herself to kiss her but stumbled out of the room with not a glance toward the neglected mother. The moon shone through the win- dow and fell on Janet's face as she lay sleeping. A low sob escaped Azalia's trembling lips. Oh! well. 11's worth it. I'm not going to stay here in this poky old town for- ever, she declared with an attempt to regain her courage. Azalia crept into bed and 'lay there with sleepless eyes till the clock struck ten-then the half hour-then she heard the rest of the family leave for bed. Another hour passed-another half hour-and then she crept stealthily out of bed, dressed quickly, and pulled a small satchel from under the bed. It was an easy thing for Azalia to climb

Page 12 text:

l ' fx 8 THE MANZANITA Jackson, i'Hello, Mary! and Aza- lia in her jealous rage, saw Sadie smile and nod back at him. A tear started from Azalia's bright eye, but just then he turned and looked straight at her. Hello, dearyl his cheery voice cried, and then to astonished yet delighted Azalia he threw a Foolishly blushing, she stood in confusion, staring after his tiny form. Why, Zaly, that clown frowed a kiss to you, cried Janet in a shocked tone. Who is he, Zaly? Azalia walked home slowly- thinking-wondering. She could not forget the clown's small face. How handsome and young he Was! And he had thrown a kiss-to her! At the dinner table she was so un- usually quiet that her father in- quired, What's the matter with Puss today? Didnlt you like the parade? Don't you want to go this afternoon tl l guess you do not like circuses much, eh? Chl yes, she does, spoke up Janet, hut, Father, today, the pret- ty little clown boy frowed a kiss to her! My! l should think she'd he happy 'stead of mad-l would, if 'twas me! And how Mr. Domincus did laugh. Ile laughed till the tears rolled down his face and still he laughed! Threw a kiss to you, did he? Well Puss, l wouldn't worry about that. He does that to all the pretty girls.', As an answer Azalia made a face, stuck out her tongue, and flung herself out of the room. ln her own room she looked in the mirror. The face she saw was really pretty. Her long black hair was topped by a big pink bow, the very tint of her round cheeks. Her brown eyes flashed out from under heavy black lashes and her mouth was curved and dimpled. t'So he does it to all the pretty girls, does he? she said spitefully to the girl in the mirror. t'Huh! didn't I see him speak to Sadie Jackson? And he never threw a kiss to her-and all the neighbors thing shc's pretty. The afternoon was one of excite- ment to every villager. The big white tent, spread on a green com- mon at the edge of town, was crowded to its utmost capacity. Mr. and Mrs. Domincus were there with all the family. Azalia could hardly wait till the performance began. Finally the band on the platform began to play The Star Spangled Banner and the whole audience rose. Twelve jet black horses came prancing out, bearing twelve girls. 'lhey tripped daintly to the rings, where they divided, six going into each ring. The skill of the beauti- fully dressed girls in their daring acts was a source of envy and ad- miration to Azalia. She watched their every move, her brown eyes flashing. Between each act the Baby Clown would come out, mak- ing fun for every one. Many peo- ple afterward declared they had never laughed so before in all their lives. Azalia tried to attract his at- tention by waving her hand or throwing peanuts at him and twice or three times she succeeded in get- ting a grin and a wink from him. The performance over, Azalia left the tent with reluctance. She linger- ed in the menageries as long as she could and walked oh! so slowly down the street toward home. Sud- denly, as she walked along, a bril- liant idea came to her, so brilliant in fact that it made her brown eyes shine like stars. At the same time

Page 14 text:

10 THE MANZANTTA over the Window sill and drop to the ground three feet below, and she did this as softly as a cat might have done. Outside in the soft night air she breathed easier and with a glance at the moon and her star angels she started on a run. Down the quiet street she ran, past dark- ened houses and shops-on and on -straight toward the green field where the circus te11t was. Suddenly she stopped short. She had reached the place but the tent was down! VVhere were the booths -the horses-and the ticket sellers!! Several big black objects loomed up in the darkness ahead of her. These she soon saw to be loaded wagons. A11d then she saw a group of men who were rolling up the tents. The circus was moving already! It was a good thing she had come early. 4'Are you taking the circus a- way? she questioned. The man approached, whirled around. 'tWhy, where on earth did you come from, chick? Sure, we're moving. NVhat's your business here, anyway? he asked grutfly. Oh! Why-l-I-where is Tiny Tad? she managed to say between 0llEl'tl',9Y'll1g' teeth. 'tWhy, sure he's here. That,s him over there at that wagon tieing the boxes on. But what do you want with him? Gee, you're a queer duck, anyway. And he laughed a coarse, harsh laugh. Azalia looked in the direction in- dicated but she saw 110 little clown, clad in a red and white suit. Slow- ly she walked over toward the wagons. A number of men were working herefwhich one did that man say? That small one, there? VVell, that surely was not Tiny Tad! Pondering the questions over in her confused mind she timidly ap- proached the small man. VVith fear in her breast she asked, t'Are- are you Tiny Tad? The figure turned around. Aza- lia stood and stared. A small dwarfed man stood facing her-no young, handsome, smiling face was his-but old-ugly and wrinkled. Yes, l'm he, he announced with a snarl. What'll you have, miss? 'LOh! I-I-just wanted to-to know who you-who you+were- goodbyef, she stuttered and turned on her heel and started home on a run. On-on-and on she hurried through the dark, once she fell but she staggered on. Vtlith each step she mumbled, Oh! Oh! and he was so handsome today! NVhy did l go? Why did I go'?,' lt seemed that she had been run- ning for miles when she finally reached home. Pale dawn was just showing in the East as she crawled back into the little bed. When she awoke, the sun was shining and her mother was smiling down at her. Get up, Zaly. You are missing the best of the day. Sadie is wait- ing outside for you. Flinging her arms about her mother's neck, Azalia sobbed out, L'Oh! Mother, last night l forgot to kiss you good-night!',