RED, BLUE AND GREEN

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21802, 6 June 1936, Page 2 (Supplement)

RED, BLUE AND GREEN

Newbury school was famous for its foik-dancing, and'there was excitement over the interhouse competition. Just what happened , and who won the cup is told in this exciting story by 3 Mate Tarawera.

Newbury school was in a hubbub of excitement.- The- folk-dancing competitions were at hand, and everyone was practising hard. The competition was an ihter-house. one, and Blue House, Red House and Green House all meant to win the little silver cup . that had been presented by the sports mistress. Blue House, in particular, hoped for the honour.. Then something happened. Have you ever noticed that whenever there is anything important on hand someone breaks an arm, twists an ankle, catches measles, or does some foolish thing? Well, the inevitable happened! Ngaire Bradshaw slipped on the floor and sprained her ankle! She . could scarcely, walk a step, and had to be taken home in' a car. Of course, the girls were all very sorry for her, and nobody dared say a word in her presence. It was with difficulty, however, that they restrained signs of their annoyance. When she had gone, loud and angry was the uproar! At length, it was decided, after much discussion, to call for volunteers to take her place. A notice was pasted on the board, and all girls who could folk-dance were invited to apply for the vacant position in the team. Brenda Silverton was at last chosen. Not that she was considered a very good dancer, but the others were still worse, it was thought. After school, the girls practised find practised, but always Brenda. Ngaire’s substitute, was wrong. The house had -not a ghost of a

A School Story for Girls

chance of winning that cup! Poor Brenda was almost in tears. She did no homework that night! She danced and danced. She even rang up a friend to see if She had a certain step right! Morning came, and Brenda wras up very early. She danced again, and oh, joy, she wras “step-perfect.” She hurried light-heartedly to school, but alas, those silly girls greeted her with. “Sure you know it, Brenda? Don’t forget when to do the arming!” and foolish remarks to that effect. Poor Brenda’s brain whirled, and she hadn’t the slightest idea what was right and what was wrong. The schoolgirls did not do much work that day, and luckily, the mistresses sympathised with them, especially with the Blue House team members. At night, there was a crowd of visitors. The teams wore sashes with their respective house , colours. When the judge came in and took her seat by the sports mistress, a bell rang and Red House trooped in. Red House danced, and the judge observed the team closely. Once more the bell rang for silence. Green House now! Blue House wondered if they could better that performance. It all depended on their dancing and the judge. They duly clapped; the fateful bell pealed; and it was Blue House’s turn. Brenda was the last to appear, and the girls in front seemed to walk so slowly. Her mind whirled again, with silver cups, armings and sidings and twisted ankles. The girls stood poised on their toes waiting for the music to start. Brenda’s toes positively ached. At last, they were off. In a dream, she danced. She did net wake up until she heard a deafening roar, or so it seemed to her. The team marched out quickly. Their private verdict of their own and Brenda’s performance was “marvellous!”

The judge and sportsmistress entered into a lengthy confabulation while the dancers lined up on the platform, a member in each team holding the House banner. The schoolgirls sat or stood silently, flushed with excitement, too keyed up to talk. Finally the judge spoke and what a lecture that was! Would it never end? The judge little knew what malicious thoughts these innocent-looking little girls harboured against her. When she asked them, after half and hour’s talk, about no House in particular and the dancing of the whole world in general, if they would like to

hear the results, the girls breathed a heartfelt sigh of relief and chorused “Yes!” as one person. “I’ve decided to give first place to—” Pause. The silence hurt one —“Blue House with 96 points!” Bedlam! The noise nearly killed one. The captain of Blue House was presented with the little silver cup, and Brenda was sure it winked at her. After the competitions, a weary troupe of girls scattered to their various homes, but, late though ib was, Brenda telephoned to Mrs Bradshaw. “Yes, Ngaire was awake, wondering who had won. Her ankle was a little better and she would be back at school in a week.” Ngaire and Brenda fell asleep, happy thoughts racing through their minds, Blue House had won, the little silver cup was theirs, and Ngaire would be back at school soon! —’MATE TARAWERA, M.G., L.8.H., Spreydon. FALLING I The autumn days are calling, calling, And coloured leaves are falling, falling, Gone are the warm summer days,

Gone are the sun’s bright rays, Winter days are near, so near, A winter which the birdies fear. —JUNE HILL, St. Albans.

THE FLOWER-SELLER

There was once a fairy flowerseller And her name was Ella; In the summer her flowers were many, Now she hasn’t any. —WENDY CAMERON (aged 7). 132 Esplanade, Sumner.

MY CAREER

A Typist When I grow up I w6uld like to work in an office and do typewriting. I love talking over the tele-

phone, too. In an office you do not have .to add in your head but on a machine, which is easier. —FAY SINCLAIR (aged 9), Dunedin.

A Broadsider

When I grow up my idea is to be a broadsider. I hope to go through school, and learn all I can about cars and motor-cycles. I mean to save all the money I can to take me to England, and keep me until I obtain work. I will do my utmost

to show what I can do, and it courage and good health give me a chance I shall be happy, and then will be able to look after my grannie in return for all the help she has given me. —BILL YOUNG (aged 11),

The Mission Fields

My ambition is to become a nurse. I would like to go Into one of the big hospitals for my training. I would like to enter the mission fields

and work among little children and old people. While I am attending to them and nursing them I will tell them all about Jesus and His love. —BETTY VALLANCE (aged 12), Rotomanu.

“Poultry For Me”

When I grow up I would like to look after hens. I would build houses to hold 400 hens and chickens.

I would feed them well and gather plenty of eggs in the winter to sell. —INEZ VALLANCE (aged 9). Rotomanu.