After Visiting Friends by Michael Hainey

Author:Michael Hainey
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Scribner
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

The front-page headlines:

JUNIORS HONOR SENIORS

A piece by Bob Hainey about the spring dances: “The gaily bedecked North Ward auditorium was the scene of the banquet which featured an enchanting ‘Stardust’ theme. The equally thrilling spring prom was regally garbed in a ‘Showboat’ surrounding. And Skippy Anderson’s orchestra provided a melodious show of its own.”

EIGHTEEN MHS STUDENTS FARE WELL AT FINE ARTS

A report on a music and speech competition at the University of Nebraska.

BISON SALUTES JR. BISON

A brief, unbylined thank-you to the incoming staff.

TYSON SUFFERS HEART ATTACK AT CAMBRIDGE HOME

News of Mr. Noel Tyson, biology and American government teacher. He hopes to come back to give out report cards and to attend the senior convocation.

HAINEY WINS SCHOLARSHIP

Also unbylined. “Bob Hainey, MHS senior, is the recipient of a $450 scholarship to the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., according to an announcement made last week by Carl Kuehnert, scholarship secretary at Northwestern.

“Hainey attended the annual high school institute held on Northwestern’s campus last summer. He was judged the best feature writer at the session and was awarded a scholarship at the time. This award was based upon scholarship, citizenship and participation in extra-curricular activities. Hainey will use the grant to study radio news writing and reporting.”

The rest of the front page carries column fillers—aphorisms as well as what passes for wit in 1950s Nebraska:

Q: Do you know the difference between a sewing machine and a kiss?

A: One sews seams nice and one seems so nice.

I turn the page.

PROGRAM OF THE SIXTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL

COMMENCEMENT

OF

THE McCOOK

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

TUESDAY, MAY 20, 1952

MCCOOK CITY AUDITORIUM

8:00 P.M.

There is an announcement of the speaker: Richard W. Hainey riding in on the Burlington Zephyr from his job at the Chicago Tribune.

Other features include the SENIOR WILLS, news about the next year’s group of cheerleaders (the Red Peppers), as well as about the new class officers. There also are the results of the POPULARITY CONTEST, including: BEST DANCER (Bob Hainey); MOST STUDIOUS (Bob Hainey); MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED (Bob Hainey); MOST POLITE (Bob Hainey); BEST DRESSER (Bob Hainey).

The last story is headlined SENIOR CLASS PROPHECY:

The morning sunlight seemed more golden than usual that day in 1975 when I stepped from the Burlington Zephyr onto the station platform. Here I was, Bob Hainey, foreign correspondent for the New York TIMES. The only thing foreign about my job was my attitude toward work. Finally, in an effort to get rid of me, my editor assigned me to cover the commencement address at my old alma mater, MHS.

My father works in the name of every one of his classmates, seeing them in careers from janitor at the local train station (Merit Bell) to secretary of agriculture (Stew Karrer). He ends with:

After a few hours in the old haunts, I decided that even though I was wrong on many counts when I wrote the class prophecy years ago, I still found that everyone was happy and a big success in his own right. I realized that the belief that I had cherished years before had come true.

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