Page 45 - 1969
P. 45
Senior Stories
As I leave Buckley, I am thinking of several about yesterday. They had told Peter that while
things. I think that this is the biggest day of my they were playing in the hills at the edge of town,
life, but I know it isn’t, really. Graduation from
prep school and college, the day I get a job, they had stumbled upon the entrance to an old
marriage, the day I go into the service, will all be mine. It had begun to get dark so his friends
much more significant events in my life than decided they would go back to explore the mine
graduation from grammar school. Then what does today. They had asked Peter if he would like to
graduation mean? come exploring with them. Peter wasn’t sure if he
Perhaps the significance in leaving Buckley is should.
that it marks a close of one period in my life. It “It’s not that I’m chicken,” he thought to
could be that graduation from Buckley is actually
himself. “It’s just that it could really be dangerous
fraduation from childhood. As I grow older, I will with those fallen timbers. I guess I’ll probably end
e able to put this event in better perspective.
Maybe I will be able to see that Buckley and up going, after all.”
childhood are synonymous, and that graduation After church, John and Kent Nelson went to
from Buckley really marks the close of one very
important period of my life. Peter’s house and asked him again. This time
Peter gave a definite answer. He had decided to
John Devendorf, Senior IV
go.
I think this year in Buckley has been an “Listen,” said the taller twin, John. “We re not
important year for everyone. The school has taken
going to tell anybody where we’re going ‘cause
definite steps forward. First, there is they probably wouldn’t let us go.”
communication between the faculty and the
“O.K.”, said his brother without hesitation.
student body; that factor is one of the most However, Peter wasn’t so sure.
important things in running a school. Another
point is that there is a student government with “Look,” said John. “Do you want to come or
elected officers. Through this organization,
suggestions and grievances may be discussed, and don’t you?”
a valuable conclusion may be drawn. “Well, all right,” said Peter doubtfully. “We
Now under construction is a new library. The won’t tell anybody.”
old library was insufficient for the size of the An hour and a half later, the three boys arrived
school. Because of generous contributions from
parents, alumni, and friends, the school is able to at the mine’s dark opening.
improve its curriculum. “I’ll go in first,” offered John. Kent and Peter
I think these steps forward are invaluable in followed. Once inside the mine, they couldn’t
contributing to make Buckley a better school. believe their eyes. It wasn’t like any other mine
they had ever seen. In fact, it didn’t even seem
Lowell Palmer, Senior IV like a mine. In the middle of a long rocky
My views on leaving Buckley are probably the corridor, a stream of what looked like steaming ink
same as any other person who has come all the gurgled into a huge underground lake. Stalactites
way up from kindergarten to ninth grade. It’s like and stalagmites grew from the roof of the cavern
a group of stepping stones that stretch from one and from the floor. Bats flying through the air and
bank of a river to the other side. Buckley is the
first step after childhood at home, or the bank of the sound of the gurgling stream made a
the river. Of course, the first stepping stone is frightening echo. The boys thought they had
slippery and hard to grip, but soon one learns how
to keep his balance and what to expect ahead. stumbled into a living nightmare.
From the first stepping stone to the other bank, “I’m leaving,” cried Peter. “I’m so scared that
there are many individual stones of different sizes
and shapes. One slip on the rocks can interrupt nothing could make me stay. If God ordered me
the trip across the river and the strand of rocks
that symbolize life: the river wins, and the bank is to stay, I wouldn’t. If you two aren’t coming,
never reached. Buckley has provided a small bit of you’re insane.”
the security in getting across the slippery rocks to
the waiting banks ahead. One hates to leave the As Peter turned to go, a horrible scream pierced
safe ground to reach the other side, but one knows his ears. John had just fallen into the inky stream.
it must be done. The river surges around and up Peter ran to Kent and grabbed him.
upon the rocks, trying to pull the unsuspecting
person down, sometimes winning and sometimes “He’s drowning,” soboed Kent.
losing. “We can’t save him; the water’s too hot,” cried
Peter.
I am grateful for the knowledge Buckley has Kent suddenly broke away from Peter. He ran
provided for me, and I know sometime ahead of far down the corridor, then turned to Peter and
me, I’ll wish I were still there, on that first rock. yelled.
Bruce McDermott, Senior IV “My brother is dead. This cave is one big horror
All through church, Peter Harland wondered house. I’m going to keep on running until I fall
about something two of his friends had talked down dead.
“Come back, Kent. You’re crazy.”
It was too late. Kent fell from the corridor’s end.
Peter walked very slowly out of the cavern. When
he reached the outside, he picked up a pebble and
threw it in his face to see if the.pain would wake
him from his nightmare. The pain was there, but
he didn’t wake up because it wasn’t a dream. It
was a reality worse than a nightmare. How was he
going to tell his parents and the twins’ parents? He
Fell to his knees and prayed.
Vicky Boughton, Senior III
