The Green caldron - University Library

October, 1957
Nature set to work. One day I put my books down and discovered that
everyone had grown five inches. I no longer looked down my nose at my
classmates. I looked them straight in the eye and discovered that they weren't
making fun of me. I was not a tall girl any more, just average.
THE
The Craziest Event of My Life
S. Ward Hamilton, III
Rhetoric 102, Theme 11
ACTION AROUND MY HOUSE WAS THE LEAST WHEN
I kicked off for the corner pool hall. Down at Side Pocket Sam's there
was a little buzz on. The cats were in heated verbal airing over the
crazy caper that Duke had just pulled.
When I walked in, Sam, the head barkeep and owner, was about to give
Duke the heave-ho for creating such a racket.
It seemed that Duke had conned his way into a fast game of slop. He
was just pocketing the money he had collected from the two cubical persons
that he was playing when Sam broke up the game. Sam was one of the most
respected boozes dishers on Twelfth Street, so Duke could only pick up his
chips and bug his way to the street.
It wasn't that Sam didn't like Duke, but the local arm had been putting
the heat on. Sam later pitched me the word that the head boss had not been
getting his weekly keep. Sam said, "The election is not far ofif and therefore
all books, cards, and local action must douse the glimmer."
As Duke and I made our way up the gutter he asked me for the news
about my latest kicks. I laid it to him cold that I had been very frantic lately.
We stopped in front of the corner drug-store and took in the latest sights.
It was then that Duke brought from his pocket a brown leaf. He asked me
whether I would like one. I tried to play it cool. Once again Duke oflfered
the tube to me. This time I was afraid that if I didn't take it he would think
me a chicken.
This was the first time that I had ever been offered the hop. The most
important event of my life was at hand. I had seen many people with monkeys
on their backs, and this was usually always the first step. From the golden
leaf they became users, first to snif, then to slow-ball horse, and finally
main line.
I gave Duke the wave. No, I wasn't going to fall into that dark, un-
fathomed cave.
Duke and I cut out and headed for the park. As we walked I hummed
that new tune from the picture that was playing at the Orpheum, The Man
with the Golden Arm.
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