We worked feverishly and hoped that there would be no more disputes
concerning the chairs. Some thought the ones from the dining room
ought to be used; others thought not. The chairs were brought down and
then taken back with much strife along the way. Would anyone want to
play bridge? We wondered. Would anyone bring cards to play bridge
with? We wondered again. The fact that wax was being applied to the
floor caused a good deal of worry, for we were afraid we would fall
and break our necks if too much was put on. However, even in that
predicament, we were determined to be gracious and smiling. Did
everyone know that all the autumn boughs in blue and silver were tied
on with red string? We fervently hoped they didn't, for we were in no
condition to do anything about it if they did. Thus our thoughts ran
as we slammed down tables, tied on table cloths, and practised our
Spanish dance in uniforms and low heeled shoes. At five-thirty we went
home, thankful that we didn't have to wash the windows and clean up
the furnace room.
Much credit must be given to those few guests who realized that the
gym was supposed to represent a cabaret. We greatly appreciate their
penetration. They perhaps didn't know that fortune-telling and fishing
for tin automobiles in the telephone booth were a part of the
procedure at a cabaret dance. But if they didn't know these things,
they had much to learn, for that's what they did at our party and who
were we to spurn their filthy lucre? They also danced and ate heartily
of the ice cream and cake we served. Many thought the popcorn balls
were a holdup, but they refrained from throwing them at us when we
asked ten cents.
An attempt was made at amusement when we gave two dances; one with
castanets and tambourines and much swirling and swooping; another with
Spanish shawls draped on us. This latter one was more or less of a
failure, for we couldn't seem to get into step when we did it a second
time. The audience, however, applauded, regardless of the fact, and
didn't see that the dance was any worse than it had been the first
time. About eleven-thirty it was gently hinted that the time had come
for the party to break up. We went on aching feet, hoping that since
the party had been a success financially, the guests were not making
too many derogatory remarks about it as a social function.
Dawn broke, and blushed to see the sight at Northrop School: packs of
cards scattered in fifty-two different places, tables every which way,
covers off, cake and popcorn balls scattered liberally on the floor. A
few of us came to clean up, and cleaned with many yawns. After a few
hours the gym began to take on its natural air of bleakness, and we
left it to the tender mercies of Clyde and Mullen, hoping that the
Junior-Senior would be a good one.