United States -- Social life and customs -- 20th century -- Fiction
"Here," said Carl, "give the thing to me. My adviser was a good scout
and wised me up. This P.C. isn't paper cutting as you might suppose;
it's gym. You'll get out of that by signing up for track. P.C. means
physical culture. Think of that! You can sign up for track any time
to-morrow down at the gym. And E I, 7 means that you're in English I,
Section 7; and M is math. You re in Section 3. Lat means Latin, of
course--Section 6. My adviser--he tried pretty hard to be funny--said
that G.S. wasn't glorious salvation but general science. That meets in
the big lecture hall in Cranston. We all go to that. And H I, 4 means
that you are in Section 4 of History I. See? That's all there is to it.
Now this thing"--he held up a printed schedule--"tells you where the
classes meet."
With a great deal of labor, discussion, and profanity they finally got a
schedule made out that meant something to Hugh. He heaved a
Brobdingnagian sigh of relief when they finished.
"Well," he exclaimed, "that's that! At last I know where I'm going. You
certainly saved my life. I know where all the buildings are; so it ought
to be easy."
"Sure," said Carl encouragingly; "it's easy. Now there's nothing to do
till to-morrow until eight forty-five when we attend chapel to the glory
of the Lord. I think I'll pray to-morrow; I may need it. Christ! I hate
to study."
"Me, too," Hugh lied. He really loved books, but somehow he couldn't
admit the fact, which had suddenly become shameful, to Carl. "Let's go
to the movies," he suggested, changing the subject for safety.
"Right-o!" Carl put on his freshman cap and flung Hugh's to him. "Gloria
Nielsen is there, and she's a pash baby. Ought to be a good fillum."
The Blue and Orange--it was the only movie theater in town--was almost
full when the boys arrived. Only a few seats near the front were still
vacant. A freshman started down the aisle, his "baby bonnet" stuck
jauntily on the back of his head.
"Freshman!"... "Kill him!"... "Murder the frosh!" Shouts came from all
parts of the house, and an instant later hundreds of peanuts shot
swiftly at the startled freshman. "Cap! Cap! Cap off!" There was a panic
of excitement. Upper-classmen were standing on their chairs to get free
throwing room. The freshman snatched off his cap, drew his head like a
scared turtle down into his coat collar, and ran for a seat. Hugh and
Carl tucked their caps into their coat pockets and attempted to stroll
nonchalantly down the aisle. They hadn't taken three steps before the
bombardment began. Like their classmate, they ran for safety.
Then some one in the front of the theatre threw a peanut at some one in
the rear. The fight was on! Yelling like madmen, the students stood on
their chairs and hurled peanuts, the front and rear of the house
automatically dividing into enemy camps. When the fight was at its
hottest, three girls entered.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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