A SCHOOL STORY

Southland Times, Issue 22921, 20 June 1936, Page 2 (Supplement)

A SCHOOL STORY

s — “I say Terry—is it true? have you honestly got a car of your own? The crowd of schoolgirls formed a ring around her with great admiratl°n'“Of course I have,” answered Terry, haughtily. “Dad says it’s a marvel; has a strain of Rolls-Royce in it.” There was a chuckle from the girls. “Sounds like a freak,” laughed Rosie. , ■ Terry stared indignantly at the offender. You re funny. Miss; Rosie, aren’t you? If you like to meet me at the crossing to-night, 111 take six The evening saw six shivering school-girls waiting at the crossing. Their shivering was not due to cold, but to the dread of what was to come. “Can she drive?” queried Rosie anxiously. ■ “I sincerely hope so,” answered Joan. ‘I must say lam a little nervous. I wmnder why she’s so long.” At that moment, along the road came the queerest dilapidated car. me rattling heralded its approach. “Looks like Terry,” joked one of the girls. “It is,” shrieked Rosie. “It is, I’m sure —■’ and it was. _ That night there crawled into bed, six weary, bruised, battered girls. The seventh had been wise enough to pad her portion of the seat with cushions. . ± . Next day, the six lucky ones were asked enviously about their trip. “Oh, simply heavenly,” said Rosie. “Wasn’t it Joan? “Rath-er,” said Joan. “A lovely little car.” “But of doubtful parentage,” said Rosie. —Prize of 2/- to Cousin Mollie Howden (14), Mataura Island. —PRIZE— Tom Muggins, of St. Bruce’s School, commonly called Fatty because of his stoutness —was in despair. . There was famine in the land. Fatty was in the condition which he called “stony.” He went to several persons asking for a loan, but with no result. “I say, you fellows,” said Fatty rolling up to, Johnson and Jones in the quadrangle, “I believe I’ll go under, you know. “Ha! Ha!” , , , , “Oh, really. I say Jones you don’t happen to have a chocolate bar in your pocket ” . „ “Sorry, old boy, no such luck, but I’ve a ball of string. “Ha! Ha!” laughed Johnson. Just at this moment, the postman arrived with a letter for Fatty. It was a letter saying that a tuck-hamper from his Uncle Jim was at the station. Fatty was not very happy, once before, he had received a letter which he believed was from a relation, saying that a hamper was waiting at the station. By dint of much energy and labour, he had dragged it to school, only to find it full of bricks. Now he was cunning, or so he believed. He turned to Jones and Johnson. “Look here, fellows, if you go to the station you can collect my tuck hamper and devour the contents.” Jones and Johnson nearly cpllapsed. They did not ask any questions, but ran for the station. Ten minutes later, they scrambled into their room, with Fatty watching them round a corner. They put down their burden, and commenced to take away the packing. When the straw and shavings had been cleared away, a choice assortment of tuck lay revealed. There was a strangled cry from the doorway and Fatty Muggins dashed in. “Give me my tuck!” “No you don’t old chap, we’ve collected the cash, and it’s ours.” Fatty was repulsed 2nd put outside. Johnson and Jones devoured the eatables, and their plump friend was given a single piece of plum cake to stop his begging. —Prize of 1/- to Cousin Jack McLeay (13), Seaward Downs.

VERY HIGHLY COMMENDED. Excitement ran high, as we Third Formers of the Invercargill School for girls, crowded round the notice-board. The examination results had been posted up that morning. Prize winners had a red star against their names, and shouts of surprise and delight were mingled with groans of disappointment. Soon after, one of the girls came up to the duffer of the school, and told her that she should enter for the swimming prize, because she was a good swimmer. The school was at the seaside. As we girls were going into the classroom the teacher took Monica aside for a moment, and told her to take Dorothy, the duffer, and let her join in our games. The girls were going down to the beach that afternoon. Taking our racquets, we began to play tennis on the sand. I and three other girls playea together, while the duffer, Monica, and two others played their game. After playing for a while they decided to go for a row. Leaving Dorothy alone under a rock, they started off. We soon went back to the school. Dorothy must have gone to sleep when they went, because she woke with a shiver, and it seemed hours later. Heavy, black clouds covered the sky, and the air was so still, that she could hear ducks quacking at a farm some distance inland. Suddenly, the great cloud hanging like a curtain on the horizon, was rent by a vivid flash of forked lightning. This was followed by a terrible clap of thunder. At the same instant, the sea seemed to leap into fury. The tide was coming in, and each wave was higher and stronger. At last the rain came down in lorrents, and Dorothy fled for shelter. She hid in one of the little caves, and for a few minutes watched the waves leaping up to meet the storm. She suddenly thought of the three who had gone out on the stolen joyride. Soon she saw them struggling to keep the boat out to sea, for every wave washed them nearer and nearer to the rocky ledge. There was an ear-splitting crash of thunder, a torrent of rain, and a giant wave lifted the boat up in its arms and turned it completely over. As quick as a thought, Dorothy kicked off her tennis shoes and flung off her blazer: she raised her arms above her head and dived cleanly into the water. Mary and Yily, who had already swum safely onto the ledge, helped to drag Monica out. When the swimming prize was given out the next day, it was given to i Dorothy for rescuing three of her schoolfellows. She also won the Life Saving Medal.

—3 marks to Cousin Elizabeth Kean (11), South Hillend R.D., Winton.