West High School - Shaheen Yearbook (Davenport, IA)

Page 14 text:

The assignment-write a theme about student life- styles-was bad enough, but then it was also assigned on Thursday, to be due on Monday. His weekend was shot, George knew it. Maybe I can finish it Thursday night, George said. He planned to start as soon as he got home from school, and he would have if Leave It to Beaver hadn't been on. And he couldn't avoid supper, or the forty- five minute phone call from jay, who wanted to tee-pee Rhonda's house Saturdaj night. By 6:30, he was locked in his room. The writing didn't exactly flow. Even for students who are not involved in extra- curricular activities, people who spend as little time as possible at school, school still influences how they live their life, he wrote. He promptly threw it away. Downstairs, he heard the music from Laverne and Shirley. Oh well, l'm not getting anything done anyway, George said. So he watched Laverne and Benson and Barney Miller and Soap and, for no good reason at all, Kate Loves A Mystery. 10 After Class Hamm He hated himself in the morning. With his introduc- tory paragraph due by class- time, he'd have to work in the library during his free periods. C'mon, go to the Zoo, lay tempted. I can't. l've got work to do, George said. But then lay told him that the pop machines had been turned back on, and that called for a celebration. He got to the library for his sixth hour free period. And sat. Accomplishing nothing, he decided he might as well catch up on what was happening in the world. He read People from cover to cover, then turned to the Times's comics page. My first idea, he screamed. George wrote, Students are like the Peanuts gang. You never see their parents. Their teachers are just a squawky voice. They spend all their time with other kids, having fun. He promptly threw it away. Where's your introduc- tory paragraph, George? his teacher squawked. Oh, l'll have it done, George said. When? The clocked clicked to 3:20. Monday, I promise, George said, narrowly escap- Whether they win or lose, whether they play the game doesn't matter, Friday football stays popular. ls There After ing. V His mother gave him the same hassle. Do you have your homework done? she asked as he was leaving for the football game at Brady stadium. I have all weekend to do it, George said. Of course, he really only had Sunday, since he worked all day Saturday, and then Iay insisted that George still help with the tee-pee job that night. He really owed it to himself. He shouldn't have to work all night after working all day. Part of Sunday was lost too. Rhonda's next-door neighbors, watching the house for the family, called the police, and if Rhonda hadn't gotten home when she did, they would have had a lot of explaining to do. As it was, George had to help clean up the toilet paper late Sunday morning. Hey, want to go to a mati- nee at the Cinemas? Rhonda asked afterwards. Halloween 's back. For only 52.50, he couldn't refuse. Left all jumpy by Hallow- een, he locked himself in his room as soon as he got home. Rowdy? Red? Munchies? What do they all mean? Find their definitions and you gave a good description of Class? student life-styles, George wrote. He'd written it in second person-unacceptable. He promptly threw it away. He tried again. Student life-styles-so much can be written about them. Unfor- tunately, most of it is un- printable. That would never do. By 9:30, he reached his breaking point. Student life-styles, huh? George ranted to the empty room. I'll tell you what stu- dents do-what they have time to do. They write stupid writing assignments for stu- pid writing classes. Anything else they do? I have no idea on God's green earth what they do! How could I possi- bly know?! He quietly col- lapsed. Student life-styles? What the heck is that sup- posed to mean?'.' George, did you say something? his mother called from downstairs. Uh, no, Mom. Is your homework done? Um, l've got it under control. He started rummaging through his wastebasket, re- trieving the rejects he had written earlier.

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Homecoming Queen selection is just one place where the daily phenomenon hap- pens: the massive student body joining together, getting involved, sharing a lifestyle. Summer gets buried at the bottom of your locker when school starts, but a new life rises from under the heaps of books and papers. lt's a once-in-your-life phenomenon, unique to your high school and your high school years. lt's a life of hurried homework and Friday night football, hallway gossip and visits to The Zoo, plays and pep auds, pizza and Prom. lt's a life you share, for 179 days a year, with almost 3000 other students. But so much happens so fast it becomes a blur. That's why some- one has to grab a handful of the most important moments and freeze them. Then, you can spot all the details. Only then can you see the phenomenon clearly. 0 Student life Student Life Divider 9

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Like T.V., Northpark Mall has be- come a necessity of life. Students can get on both sides of the cash register there. Left, junior Debbie Gaddey browses at lust Pants while below, sophomore Mary Beth john- son rings up the sales there. lust because it can be messy to eat doesn't matter. Senior Kelly Forde enjoys this favorite finale to an evening: pizza, Why? Because we like you, may be the only explanation for a house getting decorated with toilet paper. To out-of-towners and adults, it seems a silly prank. Maybe only a West student can appreciate the beautiful fun of it.