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Senior Class Prophecy

Mr. Wisdom, now retired from his principal’s job at Reardan High School is relaxing by the fire side in his mansion near the school. Near him is a stack of letters he has just received from the class of ‘57. With tears in his eyes he begins opening the letters as memories of his many years of teaching come back to him.

Here are the paragraphs which he liked best:

BARBARA GODWIN—Jimmy has just gone to work. He is now the president of the Old National Bank in Spokane and vice-president of the Banker’s Association. Last night we attended the Banker’s dinner at the Ridpath Hotel. I just heard the children coming down stairs. Jackie is 5 and Joanne is 3, they are just like Jimmy. Remember what a time you had with him. Of course you remember Joanne Pietz. She's Joanne Davis now. We see each other quite often and at one of our gabfests, we conceived the idea that it would be nice if each member of the class of ‘57 brought you up to date on our whereabouts.

JOANNE PIETZ—Remember during high school when I was going with Lyle Davis. We are married now and own a Dairy near Spokane. Last week we went to see Barbara and Jimmy. The four of us have just as much fun together now as we did when we were in school. Yesterday I received a letter from Barbara, along with the others from some of our classmates. She said she would send me the letters that she receives and asked me if I would send them on to you. So I will include my letter along in this big bundle.

ROBERT BACKER—I just returned last Friday from Ghana, Africa, where our church is establishing a new mission. I’ll be returning in a month, there to serve as a missionary. My sister Dorothy will accompany me and I'll be grateful to have such an experienced nurse. Marcella and the children will come later—after they have been innoculated for typhus, typhoid, yellow fever, and crocodiles. I have a great respect for crocodiles and treat them according to the motto I learned years ago while working at the Grange, “The customer is always right.”

GLENICE ROBINSON—As you recall in our Senior Play, “Cheaper by the Dozen” I starred in the role of mother. At the time I didn’t think too much about it, but now in real life I have a dozen of my own. After graduating in 1957, I married Alfred Smith and we live near Edwall. We have a three-story house, which has a large basement where we gather on rainy days for popping corn and playing games. Our children are as active as the ones in the play, but their father is not quite so time-saving although he wants everything done and ready when it should be. Come and visit us sometime and see our lively bunch, I’m sure they will bring back memories of our class play.

TOM SCHULTZ—I just flew in last week from Pakistan, where I’ve been teaching agriculture in the university. Thanks to the efforts of George Puckett, who once taught at Reardan High, agricultural conditions have really improved in India and Pakistan. After Pakistan even Reardan seems speedy. But it will be swell to get back to the U.S.A. for good. After I get back I hope that I will be able to teach near Reardan.

DONNA COLLIER—I hope the post-mark on this letter doesn’t make you wonder why I am so far away. All of my life I have wanted to travel and here I am in Switzerland. Everything here is quite different, besides the high mountains, the farm buildings are strange, everything is all under one roof. I am only going to stay here a short time and then I will continue my sight-seeing tour. My next stop will be Alaska, where I will come on home to Long Lake, Washington. I have really enjoyed traveling, I’ve visited the Sahara Desert, Hawaii, Mexico, and Washington, D.C.

BOB FRASE—You wouldn’t recognize Tum Tum. As a suburb of Ford, now known as Uranium City, it is flourishing. Jeannette and I are managers of the “EAT AT URANIUM RISK CAFE”. Our specialty is Chamokane trout. Thanks to the fact that we are raising a small troop of fishermen of our own, we have no trouble supplying our many customers with fresh trout garnished with Chamokane watercress. If you’re ever in this neck of the woods stop in and have dinner with us.

MARLENE BERGERON—Do you remember the time during high school when I wanted to be an airline stewardess, well I finally made it five years ago. I have been all over the world. It is really marvelous. About three weeks ago I met my old friend Donna Collier. We are still as mischievous as we were when we were in school together. Neither of us is married. We have too much fun to settle down. I hope you will be able to take a trip sometime and maybe I will see you if you fly in the new jet DC-6. You will really get the thrill of a lifetime.

(from a yearbook held by the Reardan Schools.)