THE ECHOES OF THE PAST                                     1

           LIGHTS UP.......(amber).....L. STAGE........POET......offstage(coltrane)
                                                                                 SCENE 1
                                                                                 POET#1   

Phillis Wheatley, the poet and writer,  Phillis Wheatley, the high school  that never dies, the two are legends within their times,      Phillis Wheatley, the poet, writer was a fighter during the  era when to pick up a pen or pencil, for slaves were against the lawbut she survived like a cat scratching  with her paw.  She was brave and set free as a slave,  gave our school her name anbeneathth purple and white walls, we became one of the same, Listen to the spirits of the past, they have spoken for many years and our precious memories are so dear,  Listen to the spirits of the past,  for this evening the echoes can be heard from a  cast  that walked and talked  down the halls of Phillis Wheatley  without breaking any treaties,  minds that have traveled in far away lands  to return to the sound of their true band,  laughing, rejoicing and  remembering where they all  started, marching proudly  with smiles to Phillis Wheatley High School  for letting them sat awhile on it’s stool  without breaking stride of any pride,  the echoes of the past will always be,  because Phillis Wheatley High sits beyond the purple and white sea......We owe our Alma Mater thatand none of us gonna scat!   You are the echoes of the past and your spirits will forever last........

LIGHTS  FADES
LIGHTS UP....DANCE#1
MUSIC:  Sam Cook.......sweet sixteen...........CD#1.....#1

                                                                              SCENE 2
         LIGHTS  UP.....CENTER. STAGE.....MONOLOGUE.......OLD LADY(dress purple)

An older lady named  Betty  Johnson  walks slowly on the stage hobbling on a cane.  She stops and looks around.  She looks up at the building.  She taps the cane on the brick walls of the building.  Betty shakes her head  and laughs.  She slowly sits down on a nearby bench. 

                                                                       BETTY
  Lord have mercy!  How time passes.......I remembered when I walked through those heavy double doors of this old school.   The only colored high school in Fifth  Ward.  We didn’t care nothing about that......We just loved Phillis Wheatley High School.....As the saying goes,  “we love it’s dirty draws.”   White folks had their  segregation and we had  Phillis Wheatley.  Hallelujah!   You see I graduated in 1957.......Now I didn’t say that for you to figure out my age......You see I’m  like  my old school here.  I never grow old.  You know what I’m saying?   To me “old” is just a figure of speech or some metaphor  or something.  I can still shake a leg or  two when ever I please.  Anyway I’m just a little more seasoned than the young     ones.....Don’t let this cane fool you!  Yep!  This old school is a neat piece of     history  like it’s  “the echo of the past.”   Listen!  Shhhh!  I hear them voices  calling  us to class.......I better sit down and listened.........Do ya’ll hear that?!
 LIGHTS FADES                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             2

MUSIC:  Jackie Wilson.......Talk That Talk.......CD #1...#2......(dance)#2

                                                                           SCENE 3

LIGHTS UP...blue wash.....R. STAGE......POET#2                  

                                                                            POET#2

A funny and humorous man he was,  and sometimes one question was his test,   catching you not at your best,  “SMOKE OUT,”  he would write on the board and     ask one question, while you felt desertion,  he would lean over his desk, sitting,     staring in your faces as some bent down to tie their shoe laces, his left shoulder cocked to one side as we looked at each other out the corner of our eyes,  one question he asked a student,  if one stutter from the student’s mouth, Mr. Bradford would lean closer to his desk and say,  “F”  you can rest for the remainder of the  day,  funny he was and everyone rushed to his class like  shifting a clutch.
LIGHTS  FADES

MUSIC:  Cook......You Send Me.....CD#1....#3........Dancers#3

                   
                                                                           SCENE #4

LIGHTS UP......CENTER  STAGE......4mics

Eight men are sitting around  playing dominoes. Their  names are Robert,  Leff,  Toli  Ball,  Art  and  Bates, Happy Cappy and Ralph.  They are arguing over  football and basketball back in the day.

    Man!  Please!  Play  bones!  Forget about what year we won the championship! 

    Can’t do that  Bates!   We gotta settle this right now!  Old Cap know now.

 All  I know is that  year we won something in basketball and football.  Now which  year, my mind went blank......Just can’t remember like I used to Cap!
  
                                                                  (slams domino on table)
    Shut up!  And give me twenty!......

                                                                    (looks at his hand)
    I still say Cap is wrong.......fifteen on your wrong ass......

                                      .                           CAPPY                                              3                                                                   (slams the domino)

 Okay!  You think so, huh?   Well, why you thinking,  scratch  this on your pad.  Thirty!   And another thing,  Happy Cappy  ain’t wrong.  In 1955, we won the state in basketball and we won state in football,  in 1954.....Now I got     proof.......Are you a betting man?........

                                                                     RALPH
    Hey,  Toli!  I wouldn’t bet him......The man is a walking history book on Wheatley.

                                                                      CAPPY
No!  He thinks I’m wrong......Come on Toli.....Put your money where your mouth is........I’m not a betting man, but just to prove to you I’m right......I’m putting fifty big ones on the table......

                    (Cappy  goes in his pocket and lay fifty dollars on the table)  

                                                                            CAPPY
     Does any of you have your  year book?............

                    (Everybody  kind of look down)
   
That’s what I thought!   Listen, if you did,  you would know  the years we won state champion in basketball and football.  We not only won the state in football in 1954, but for ten years straight we won state in basketball up until  1956.........

                                                                                 TOLI                                           4
Next, you gonna tell me you still got your sweaters.........Take your fifty dollars off  the table......I pass on that bet.....

                                                                                CAPPY
                                                   (Opens up a brown paper bag under the table)
    As a matter of fact,  I’m glad you asked that question.........

                    (Pulls two purple and white sweaters out)
    Here they are..........One for basketball and the other for  football.  What do these patches say?.........

                    (Everybody leans over to take a look)

                                                                            EVERYBODY
    Well!  I be damn!  1954!  Phyllis Wheatley  State  football  Champions and 1955 State Basketball  Champions......

                                                                              CAPPY
    Ya’ll thought old Cap was lying, didn’t you?........I cherished  these things for years.
                   
                                                                             RALPH
                                                                            (smiles)
I don’t know when the last time I’ve seen my sweaters...........Now I do remember  that game.  I played Safety......returning  punts.....yeah!  I remember running down the side line.
 
                                                                             BALL
    Yeah!  I remembered now!.....I played on the line.....We kick some ass that night!

                                                                             CAPPY
                                                               (looks at his domino hand)
    And another thing I wanna tell ya’ll........

                                                                           EVERYBODY
                                                                                What?.......
                   
                                                                           CAPPY
                                                              (slams domino on table)
You see,  gentleman......Even though I’m from the class of 1956,  I am a walking history book on Phillis Wheatley High School......and a master at dominoes......Domino!   Give it up!   Give it  up!  Class of “57.”

                    (Everybody  gives Cappy their dominoes as he counts them out)
                   
                                                                                LEFF
    I bet you even know the score of that game and who we played........                                                 5
   
                                                                               CAPPY
                                                       (smiles as he counts the dominoes)
 Scorer!  Put fifty down on that paper!.......That historical night,  the score was 14- 0 and we played Waco.  They had a left handed Quarterback  named Alvin Jackson.  Later after college,  he signed as a pitcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates.......

                                                                      TOLI
                                                             (shakes his head)
    Cappy, man!  You missed your calling......You should have been a Historian.......

                                                                     CAPPY
                                               (counts dominoes score from others)
    Thirty!....I am.......On Phillis Wheatley High School.........Now in 1929-----

                                                                EVERYBODY
    We’ve heard enough for now......Time out Ref!....Shuffle the bones!

LIGHTS FADES

MUSIC# 4.....Wilson.....Whispers.......CD #1...#4.....Dancers#4
                   
                                                                     SCENE 5

                                                                            CONTD                                                   6

                                                                               BARBARA
                                                                                (sits down)

                                                                               SHIRLEY
                                                                                (laughs)
    Wasn’t talking to myself,  just thinking out loud, that’s all.........

                                                                              BARBARA
                                                                              (curious)
    Now I hope you’re not answering yourself out loud  too,  because I will call 911 in  a heartbeat.    
                    (They both look at each other and burst out laughing and pointing )           

                                                                              SHIRLEY
                                                                             (laughing)
    I’m not ready for that yet-----now maybe fifty years from now!

                                                                              BARBARA
                                                                               (laughs)
 You haven’t changed a bit since the time we were in that old building over there.....I got to admit though,  Phillis Wheatley had it going on........I’m going to always remember it that way.......Have you seen Joyce?  She told me that she was  going to meet us out here.

                                                                               SHIRLEY
                                                                            (in disbelief )
    Now Barbara, you know darn well that Joyce was just talking......She doesn’t even want to walk outside to water her own lawn.....And to walk out to the park?       Please!  Give me a break!  It’s not gonna happen......

                    (Joyce  walks up  behind the bench)
    What’s not gonna happen?   Are ya’ll  gossiping  behind my back again?........

    Oh, no!  We were just talking about our 1957 class reunion coming up.......

                                                                                  SHIRLEY
 That’s a lie!......We were saying that you don’t even like to walk out the house and water your own lawn  more less than trying to walk to the park........
   

       
                                                                                BARBARA
    Well!  I know you didn’t go there!

                                                                                SHIRLEY
    Please!  Don’t bring that part  of our school days up.....Jesus Christ!.....Let’s just reflect on the good times........

    Yeah.....You’re  right,  Shirley.........

    You know.  We’ve been friends for many years.  I’ve  never understood  why Barbara  and I disagreed so much......I mean,  right until this day......

That’s easy to figure, Joyce......We both have always been stubborn and bull- headed.......Always have to have the last word......... 
                   
    Amen!  On that!........
             
    They really have fixed Finnegan Park up.......It was really  going down several  years ago........The canteen  was right over there......That place used to be so crowded on Friday nights, you could hardly see between the crowd......

    What was the name of that real slow song they played and every boy would rush to dance with the girls........


    Oh!   You remember  that song?!   That was  ‘The  Clock’  by Johnny  Ace.
    
               JOYCE
That  song seemed like it played forever...........The boy would have you in a back break and  sweat would just be dripping from his face.......     
      

    I had to  really like a boy for me to slow drag off  “The Clock.”    It ‘tic-tock’ too long for me  and them boys just squeezed a little bit too tight.......

Yeah......Old Johnny Ace  just blew himself away  right before our second year at  Wheatley.......It was a sad day for all of us.......1954,  December  25, playing     Russian & Roulette.........What a waste.......
   
    Let’s walk  over by the baseball field.......I really did liked baseball.   I remembered a left handed pitcher Wheatley had .......They won City Co-Championship in baseball,  tied with Yates  in 1955......He played basketball too........He used to pitch for Bros  Henry’s  summer  league  team  at this park.  It was a lot going on at Wheatley and Finnegan  Park back then.  You remember how we used to stand  by the pool and watch  Harry Torry  and other swimmers do their  swan and jack knife dives off  the high and low  boards?  They were just as good as the Olympians.......How can we mention  Phillis Wheatley  without remembering Finnegan  Park?..........It was a blessing away from home and school......How can     we mention either without  giving Fifth  Ward it’s Props?   They are all connected.  Most  all of Wheatley  basketball  players  played in  the Park’s  gym......
 
 Listen......Are we going to walk over to the baseball field or we just going to sit  here  talking about  Phillis Wheatley?.......Now I love Phyllis Wheatley,  but we going to have to move and talk  at the same time........Anyway, why didn’t ya’ll wear your walking shoes?.........I came over here for exercise too...........

                                                                                 JOYCE
    I just came because Barbara  insisted  that we get together-----now walking for  exercise---well----

                                                                            BARBARA
                                                                            (impatient)
    Just come on,  Joyce......And  Shirley, my shoes are fine for walking........Wait!  I  just remembered a song, but  I recites it as poetry.......

    I guess you ’re a poet now!   Come on here, woman......

                                                                       BARBARA
    No!   Listen!   You just might remember........

                    (Barbara  begins the poem)

    Our Alma Mater stands today,  a beacon light to guide the way------

                                                                       JOYCE & SHIRLEY
    Of those whose path will lead someday,  to the goals of their ideals,  the lesson given her youth of knowledge, loyalty and truth.

                                                                              SHIRLEY
    Inspire us all, we need the call,  Wheatley makes to one and all.
                 
    Her stately walls ring out with cheer,  she calls to all from far and near to join her ranks , we need not fear.

                                                                                 JOYCE
    She welcomes them so heartily,  her royal purple,  matched with white,  an emblem blazing forth with might.  

                                                                              SHIRLEY
    Will ever lead to great deeds,  Wheatley, how we honor thee!

                                                                          EVERYBODY
    Our Alma Mater,  we strive to be,  faithful, true, and ever loyal to the dreams inspired by thee...........Yes!  Yes!

LIGHTS FADES

MUSIC:  Doo-Wop.....You Cheated.....CD#1.....#5

                                                                             SCENE  6

LIGHTS UP.......CENTER STAGE.......

Eight  1957  classmates are sitting and playing Bid-Wisk  cards at  Lil’s house.  The others are named  Pearlie Marie,  Janice,  Clara,  Raymond, David,  Leroy and   Jimmy.  They are playing at separate tables.

       
    Four-low-no!

    You sure about that partner?.......

    Does  a  monkey have a tail?.......Sure he does.....Did I graduate from the best high school in the world in 1957!  Sure I did!  Now play!

    Girl!  You haven’t change since you wore bobby socks......Ya’ll know she bluffed her way all through high school......If she got a four-low-no hand, my last name is Moore...... 


    Now why in the hell did you have to mention his name?   That man stole my     thunder a many of days......I can see him now walking down the hall  twirling his gold watch chain around and around.  And those big white teeth between his thick lips.....Man he ate everyone of my pies one day as I was slipping back on the campus from the Pie House.

                    (Everybody laughs as they continues to play cards)
   
    Yeah!  He was something else----and the thing about it, he took them pies with a  smile.  Now that old saying about ‘ice water in your veins,’......well, old V.P. was a good example.......
 
    Then sometimes he would have nerves to say,  “thank you,  you just made my breakfast,  I must say.”   Man!  I would spend my last penny on them pies.......

    I wondered many times after I graduated  in 1957......What would it have been like  without Wheatley in our community?......

    I don’t even wanna think about no shit like that.........They probably  would have bused us to Jack Yates.......Can you imagine that?   No  Turkey  Day!......During our time, not to have  Turkey  Day  Classic  would have been a total sin in God’s eyes.......Could you believe that?!   

                                                                               EVERYBODY
    Not really!  But Yates was the only  black high school in Houston  at first.......

    Well, we better give thanks to  Mr.  E. O. Smith.. He was that beacon light  that  led to success at Wheatley.  He was our first principal in 1927, and a black graduate from  Fisk  University.  Wheatley was the third black high school to open.   Ya’ll should know the others, Booker T. and Yates.......The  Classic between Wheatley and Yates began  in 1927  as the ‘Armistice Day Fray’  and  was played in mid-November of each year.
   
    Wait a minute, Lily.....I thought  that Wheatley and Yates Classic  were always on Turkey Day.

    Are you sure about that , Lily?......I do have respect for your knowledge, but I never heard this piece of history before......

    I’m sure unless HISD archives are wrong......You see,  Wheatley and Washington  were  the Thanksgiving Day  Classic.......Yates and Washington were the Christmas Day Gala.   Yates and Wheatley first became,  the Turkey Day Classic on Thanksgiving Day  back  in 1934 ending the regular season for each team.    

                                                                          LEROY
    Well  I be damn!  You just don’t get too old to learn what you should have known anyway.......And just think, them  white folks cut  the tradition off plus  transferred Doc. Codwell, our principal  and many Wheatley  teachers  over to Yates  who  were our  rivalry.  How cold can you get.   I heard  those  were sad times........

    Hold up,  Lily!   You talking some history I knew nothing about......I need to take another swallow of Miller on that note.....and salute to my 1957 classmate for being so  historical..... 

                                                                            LEROY
    Now ya’ll know the girl been smart all her life........Cap and  Lily  are  walking computers when it comes to Phillis  Wheatley.......They probably remembered  what the menu was for lunch each day in the cafeteria........

    Man.....They’ve  been trying to close  Phyllis Wheatley  down for years......We have to let them know that our school is a historical piece that’s everlasting and we are going to put up a fight to keep it’s walls in tact.  You know what I’m  saying?    


    Only one thing,  Houston does not care about historical  values......Look what they     did to the Shamrock and Rice Hotel......Now they are saying that they want to make Wheatley a technology school  by tearing down the old one and building another one on the track and football field area.......

    To 1957  class......I just wanna say that I’m glad and blessed to have been a part      of  the history because we could have been  a Lion instead of a Wildcat.  Can we     toast to that and the new up-coming Wheatley!!

    Cheers!  To Phillis Wheatley!   Cheers!   Cheers to  Principals  E.O.  Smith  and     Doc.  Codwell  for paving the way........  

LIGHTS FADES

MUSIC:  Thunder........CD-B.....#1


LIGHTS UP.........LEFT STAGE......POET#4......TURKEY DAY POEM(offstage)

    The hour had come, the parades have begun,  cheers echoed  through out the night getting  ready for the dog fight,  between two rivals  in the stadium trenches, that seated forty thousands students,  parents, cousins, uncles, grandmothers and other fans on it’s  very hard benches,  turkey was smelling in the air as folks rushed to see a game between red crimson  and purple, white  after a sleepless night, praying that purple white would win the fight,  it was nothing but a game to those who couldn’t feel the emotions and tradition of two schools  who didn’t want to lose, the hour had come,  the parades had begun,  cheers echoed through out every house as old folks sat out on their porches waving pom-poms to the sound of the  drums,  ’HAIL, HAIL, THE GAMES ARE HERE,”   folks all dressed up like a     fox and children sporting their purple,  white bobby socks,  while Wheatley and Yates were getting ready to have a serious debate,  knocking heads and wishing no one came up dead, forty thousand cheering for their team as the crisp cold Turkey Day chilled their bones as some snuck a shot of scotch, hoping nobody watched, the hour had come, the parades have begun, everyone screaming and yelling from     the top of their voices, wanting  victory from their choices,   tears covered benches  when one or the other lost in the cold  and sometimes muddy trenches,  but what a game ,  what a tradition between two schools playing their hearts and souls out  to be number one while forty thousand  screamed to the top of their lungs and thank God, didn’t anybody come  up lame,   the hour had come,, the parades had begun, traffic jams  lined the streets while others  run for blocks  to get the best seat,  the two teams  looked like Pros as the  Thanksgiving’s  sun warmed bodies  that were chilled, glowing colorful helmets below as pigskins sailed through the air  like a bullet out of nowhere,  the event of the year,  Miss Wheatley  and Miss  Yates always  looked so dear at  half time during their show,  waving their hands to all     the cheering  folks  as cheer leaders  shout and danced  to the sound of  Sammy Harris’s  band,  the hour had come, the parades had begun  and  Man!   Didn’t we have some fun  on so many cold Thanksgiving days  in the sun  and our lives weren’t threaten by the gun!   

LIGHTS FADES

MUSIC:  Thunder....CD-B


LIGHTS UP.......L. STAGE........six cheerleaders

Six  Cheerleaders  comes out in a hurry yelling and screaming  cheers.  They are all dressed up in purple and white cheerleaders uniforms.

LIGHTS FADES
MUSIC:  THUNDER....CD-B                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
LIGHTS UP.......CENTER STAGE.......DOMINO  PLAYERS 

Domino players are playing  dominoes.  Their names are Cappy,  Ralph,  Leff,  Bates, Art  and Robert.

    Ya’ll ready for another ass whipping!

    Not this time Cap!   Today is me and partner here lucky day!  You just keep     shuffling them bones.........



    No!   Me and my main classmate of 1957  here!.....We gonna  send you home crying to your  mama......    

    Hold up!  Let’s  leave Mama out of this......it makes me have flashbacks  of how     that woman  put a hurting on  my  behind.......

    I remember running home to Mama crying telling her that the teacher whipped me.......Mama would bend down and look me in the eyes and asked,  “what did     you do,  A. J?......I would down my head and say,  “nothing.”   Mama would say,      “huh, huh.”  Then she would disappear outside.  I thought  the conversation was over  until I saw Mama coming through the door with a willow  switch.  I started     crying before she even landed a lick..........

                    (Everybody laughs as they pick up their domino hands)

    Yeah!  I remember those days.  In the eye sight of our parents, the teacher was always right.......If we got in trouble at school, we were in trouble at home.......


                   
                   
                                                                                 BATES                                            15
    Not like that now......If a kid is in trouble at school,  the teacher might just have to bring her boxing gloves to school or come packing!  You know what I’m saying?
                (Everybody laughs)
                   

    Big  six!........

    Fifteen!........  On all the Mamas  and Daddies  for keeping us in line!

    Give me five......And I second that motion.............

    All in favor of  Mamas in the fifties!  Say  “I.”
                  
    “I.”
                                                                                CAPPY
                                                                         (slams domino)
    Thank you very much......And give me twenty!  Downtown!
 
    What?!  Huh, huh!  You think you bad, huh?  Well....Swallow this twenty  five on  your place where the sun don’t shine.......

    Scorer!   And while you at it!   Give me twenty  where the sun does shine....On     your nappy head!

    Class of 1955!   What’s all the fuss about?!  One day we all gonna die!  And that ain’t no lie!  Fifteen up your you know what!
                   
                    CAPPY
    Well  now.....Ya’ll  talking a little trash.   But what about this?!  Domino!  Bring me the cash......               

    Okay......You bad this time......Just wait!

    Wait, huh?  Just like you waited on Snag  to throw you that pass in 1955  on Turkey Day......It never happened.......

    Don’t get me wrong now.....Frank Walker was a good  coach.  But he ran the same dam plays year in and year out.  We needed some kind of trick play to fool  Yate’s  defense.......

    Yeah!  You’re right........Frank believed in the same dang plays........

                   
    What are ya’ll fussing about?   Pat Patterson  just out coached  Frank most of the     time.......We didn’t lose that game!   That was one hell of a game!   Both coaches      locked heads that day.  Remember?.......The game winded up being a tie.....I’ll take     that any day over a loss......

    How easy we forget, gentleman........

    Scorer!   I got twenty-five here!  

                    (The scorer writes the score down)

    Forget what Jeff?!

    Ya’ll can talk that talk.  Walker’s plays  took us to the state in 1954.......

    And Yates  whipped our asses that year.........15 to 14 before 31,000......

    Tell you the truth,  fellows,  Yates was a thorn in our side  during our times at Phillis Wheatley.....We tied one and lost two......now that record stands......But
                   
    listen to this......Thank God for  Cyrus Lancaster  and fast ass  Arthur  Moore  in 1954  because if it had not been for them,  we would not  have  gone to the state.  Do you follow me?.....Now Yates got by us that year.  But who came out     on top?   That's call  “the means justifying the ends.”

    You right, Cap!   I can see  Cyrus stepping back in the pocket, seconds left in the     game against  Port Arthur, them stinging Bumble Bees........Cyrus is almost crying a river and Arthur Moore  is streaking down the sideline trying to get open for Cyrus,  suddenly he breaks open for daylight and Cyrus hit him with a pass right in stride and he dashed down the sidelines like a wildcat for a touchdown to win the game!   And to beat the Bumble Bees on their own turf  was worth more than a     victory.........That  game took us to the state championship......
                  
    Are we gonna play bones  or just sit here talking about  old times?  I still got some present left in me yet......So let’s play!......Give me twenty-five!

LIGHTS  FADES
MUSIC:  Willie John......Let Them Talk......CD#2......#1


LIGHTS UP.......R. STAGE........POEM......THE HIGH SCHOOL....poet#5
                    POET#5
    Phyllis Wheatley, a dynasty in it’s own time, right in the heart of  Fifth Ward that educated so many  black minds  behind  walls that stood so tall,  teachers were secured and  students  feared if they walked a crooked line ,  their behinds would suffer in those times,  respect was high among our peers even when they brought tears  to young minds who eyes couldn’t see beyond the skies,  demanding  to stand up straight and keep the faith,  Phillis Wheatley, a dynasty in it’s time,  that kept many of us from going blind.....

LIGHTS FADES

MUSIC: Doo-Wop.......Earth Angel......CD#2....#2


LIGHTS UP.......R. STAGE.......AT THE PARK.......

    Barbara  and Shirley  is kind of out of breath.  They sit down as they wipe their  faces with the white towels.  They take a sip of bottle water.


    You wanna  walk another one?......

    Are you talking to me?   Because I can’t hear you......

    Okay!  Okay!   I just thought-----

    Don’t think, Shirley!   It’s time to rest!  Dang!  Girl, you act like you gotta  rebuilt motor in your behind.......

                    (They laughs)  

    Barbara!  How can you just come up and think of  things to say like that?

    From my old Uncle West, my daddy’s brother.  He was the funniest man alive!  He missed his calling too......Flip Wilson didn’t have nothing on him....You     understand.....He graduated from Wheatley way back when........If I’m not mistaken I think he played on Wheatley’s  1929  football team.

    Girl!   You oughta quit!   Now I don’t think  Wheatley had a football team back then........
   
    Shirley!  I’m surprise!   You must be getting old, girl!.........


    Well......Let’s just say I didn’t come up on that history.......

    Well......They sure did......And guess who was the coach......

    Since this here is your little quiz-----I’m going to give you the privilege to tell me.  I don’t wanna rock your little thunder you got going on......

    Like my grandchildren say,  “don’t be  ‘hatin’  because I know something you don’t.......

    Are you gonna tell me or not?   If not, be quiet!

    There you go again......Hatin!

    Barbara!   Please!.......


    Okay!   Okay!.......Doc  John  Codwell......He coached Wheatley’s  1929 Football team....

    Are you serious?  Aw!  I already knew that........

    There you go!   Hatin again!

                    (Joyce walks up with a jogging suit on and the wrong kind of  walking shoes)

    Hey everybody!   I’m sorry I’m late.......I couldn’t sleep for some reason last night.......

    Yeah!  Right!

    Are ya’ll  ready?.......I’m pumped up this morning........

                    (Barbara & Shirley look at each other)

    Ready for what,  Joyce?!

    To  walk!   Of course!.......

    I think you are about two hours late,  Joyce.......

    Good!............. 

 
    We suspected  that!........Joyce!  Why did you come?

    You know......To talk about  Phillis Wheatley......It makes me feel young again.  You know young people act as if we never had a young life.......I almost forgot until I started coming out here with you all.......
 

    Now,  Joyce......That’s the most  sane  thing you have said in a long time that I  agree on........



    I will definitely  sanction that!..........Like Sam Cooke say,  “a change gonna come.”

    And  Joyce has come!   Hallelujah!...........

    Ya’ll oughta quit!   Both of you weren’t no feathers off a chicken either........

    What?  

                    (Both look at each other)
   
    We can’t  believe it!  You hatin!........

    Ya’ll never wanted  to hear me out......Always making fun of  me when I say something......never taking anything I  say seriously.......I was almost a straight “A” student in school.  Ya’ll never gave me one compliment.  I was always on the defense with you.......I came to the conclusion that you were just jealous........

    What?!   We gave you nothing but love,  Joyce......Now let’s be serious even if you  were a little heavy headed at times.......We hung in there with you........


    Maybe we were just a little tiny bit too hard on you......But that’s because we loved you,  J.......Now what are we doing now?

                    (They look at each other)

    HATIN!

    So let’s turn this old ship back around, girls......We too old for this!   Come up with a stroke or heart attack......We got to be calm, cool and collective!  Say it again!

    We got to be calm, cool  and collective!

    Now, lets sit down here and rest our brains.........

                    (They sit back on bench)                                                                 22

    Ya’ll  remembered  all them assembles  we used to have at  E.. O. Smith  and     Wheatley?

    Sure do.......I was glad to get out of class.........

    We  had some exciting ones too.........

                                                                               (curious)
    If you had a choice of choosing the best  assembly  from  E. O.  Smith  to Wheatley,  which one comes to your mind?

    I remembered  one Assembly at E. O.  Smith, there was this guitar player.  I forgot  his name.   Every girl had a crush on him and his brother who played the tenor saxophone.

    I think I know who you are talking about......Uh, uh,  Grady and Roy Gaines!
    I even had a crush on them brothers......Grady  was older.......

    Do ya’ll  remember  when Roy  played his guitar  on  the Assembly  and turned it out?........

    Yeah!   He started playing  and suddenly  he dropped to his knees,  put the guitar behind his back  and  pick  them strings like it was nothing......Everybody were hollering and screaming.......He went on out to L.A.  and recorded a few  tunes.

    I heard that  Roy is dead......But don’t quote me on that.......I don’t like to go on     ‘here say.’

    His brother Grady is still  playing around Houston,  I think........But that was the best Assembly  I remembered.......

    To think about  it, that was a dynamic performance  by Isaac  Bryant.....A  performance that one can never forget.......I hear you, girl........

    What was the biggest  thrill  that made you proud to be a Wheatley  student?

    Girl!   When I saw The  Jazz  Crusaders  on  Arthur  Godfrey  Show in New York!

    Wilton  Felder,  Nesbit Hooper,  Joe Sample,  Wayne  Henderson  and  La-la  Wilson.......Yes!   They  were all from E. O. Smith and Wheatley.......They went out on the west coast and  became one of the best jazz groups in the country with their unique sound.  

    They  won the first  integrated  HISD  talent show  back  in the fifties. 

    You are so right!   They  recorded  many  albums  after  they won  that show.      Opportunities  just rushed into their lives.   The one album that I liked  was  Southern Comfort...........

    That one was a gold  album.......But  ‘Street  Life’  featuring  Randy Crawford  was  ‘crunk,’ girl as my grandchildren would say.

    And just think......All  that talent came right out of Phillis Wheatley.......

    Hey!   I  gotta go!   My grandchildren are spending the night with me.  I got to  go do a little shopping  at the Super Market......


    Listen......Let’s make this a tradition in our seasoned  lives.......

    Make what a tradition?

    Meeting  here every morning  just for awhile to talk about  ’The Echoes Of The Past“........Let’s  promise.......

                    (They hold  hands and give each other love)

    We promise!   We promise!    From the bottom of our hearts...........

LIGHTS FADES

MUSIC:  Doggett........CD#2.....#3........DANCE#5


LIGHTS UP......L.  STAGE........

   
Six  Wheatley  Alumnus  are  sitting  in the beauty shop  chatting  about the 1955  upcoming class reunion.   They are excited.  The Beautician  is  styling  one of their hair  as others  are sitting under the  hair dryer.  Their  names are Wilma Faye,  Sue  Ann,  Ruby,  Delores,  Jean,  and Rose.

    Sue Ann!  You still got a head full of hair.  I remembered  you in school even     though  I was a freshman at the time,  I used to wish that I had as much hair as     you.......

    When I was younger, it was all black, now it’s only black when you do your     magic......

    I heard that!    And thanks to your creative hands  and a chemical called  ‘dye.’

    Come on now......I think gray hair is a  symbol  of  ’wisdom.’   It’s good to show a  little bit........My brother told me when he went to one of his class reunions, every woman he saw had every color of hair but gray........And he was older than ya’ll...

    Now when I get too old  where  I can’t see myself in the mirror. Well,  I probably go gray.....But as long as I can walk in the door of a beauty shop,  I’m going black or whatever color is available and that’s including weave.......
         
                        (Everybody laughs)
    Now pass that on to your brother!

    Even  my husband have never seen a  strand of gray in my hair  and I’ve been living with him over forty years......
    A-men!   On that!...........

                                                                                JEAN
    Anyway, when I step into that 1957  class reunion,  I wanna be looking like a fox from jump street.  You know what I’m saying?....

    Same here!  Hallelujah!  I might be a little short on cash,  but I still wear my pride in stride.....Like my grandchildren  say,  “can you feel me?”.......

    Girl!  You just put the last nail in the coffin!  Wear my  Wheatley pride in stride!
    A-men!

    My hair might not be purple and white tonight,  but my walk is going to talk that talk!   And it ain’t gonna be my fault,  because it’s Wheatley, 1957 class reunion in pride as I stride.....

    Go on Sue Ann!   I didn’t know you could  rhyme like that......I’m  going to have to pull off my hat and kick back!  Because you are not giving up any slack!  

    Wow!  It’s getting hot up in here!  You old folks, about ready to float!

    Old folks?!  Is this a joke?!  Oh she hasn’t  been told.......We are just seasoned for many reasons.......

    Oh!  Excuse me 1957  with your bad pride........

    You know we need to stop and let this woman do our hair before we all be little old ladies instead of little foxes walking through that door  to celebrate our 1957 class reunion.......

    You know she is right!  Come on,  sweetheart!  Work your magic on these little     foxes to be!   1957  50th class reunion!  Here we come! 

LIGHTS FADES

MUSIC:  Temps......My Girl......CD#2.....#4.....DANCER#5

LIGHTS UP.......L. STAGE.....POEM......Growing Old Gracefully.....poet #6(STOP)
                  
                      
Growing old is something human beings have yet  been able to control, growing old gracefully  is another story,  for one could look back on all the glory, whether small or big, it kept them in the right league,  good memories are always food for the minds  of  the age, for it makes one be thankful everyday,  the wise hangs on to the wonderful past as their hopes and dreams last,  but as times near and their lives are in constant fear, they hold on to the good old days that never brought a tear.......

LIGHTS FADES
   
MUSIC:  Jackie Wilson.....Work Out......CD#2.....#5....DANCE#6


LIGHTS UP.......CENTER STAGE

Three  1957  Wheatley  Alumnus  walk up to the Phillis  Wheatley’s double  doors.  Their names are Doris,  Vernita  and  Margie......They sit down on a bench outside the school.A  man walks by  with a duffer bag in his hand.......He stops in his track  and walk back to the ladies.




    Don’t I know ya’ll?.........

    I don’t know......Do you?

    Your face is very familiar.........

    Yeah!  You played basketball for  Wheatley.......Man!   I had a terrible crush on you......

    Girl!.....

    Well  I did  ya‘ll!   But you were occupied with someone else.......Didn’t  even look my way......
 

    Really?   I don’t remember.....That was a long time ago.......Listen.....Ya’ll  coming to the game?......

    What game?........
 
    Nita!   The game is the reason why we are here, girl!  

    Oh, yes!   The old timers’ game in the gym......
 
    I attended  one Wheatley’s  Anniversary  several years ago.......They always  have an old timers  basketball  game in the gym.......Girl, to see them  older players play them younger players are something to watch.........That year they had Lloyd      Wells on the team......Wheatley celebrates their anniversary  every five years


    Listen.....I gotta go get dressed......See ya’ll  at the game.......

    It is nice to see you again after  all these years........

    Same here..........

                    (The man leaves)

    Dang!   He was fine in school!  I was a year ahead of him......I think they called him, uh.....I forgot   or something........Anyway, can ya’ll believe  that our 50th class reunion is coming up. How time passes........



    Marg.....tell me this.....Is  that man gonna get out there and run up and down the floor with them younger class  of   Wheatley folks.  That’s murder!

    You were joking about Lloyd  Wells playing  several years ago, huh?

    If I’m lying,  I’m dying!........The photographer, himself.......
  
    Now, that Cliche’ or metaphor  was  all right  to say when we were young,  Marg,     but now,  I think we oughta  forget those lines..
                    (Everybody  laughs)

    But really,  Lloyd  played if that’s what you wanted to call it......You see,  they put him in the game......They let him dribble the ball down the floor which took a life time  and nobody guarded him.  The other team just ran back down the floor leaving him all alone to dribble across half floor.  The crowd  laughed so hard  that you couldn’t even hear the ball bouncing on the floor. 

    Was there anybody  representing the older  classes?........Don’t tell me there was somebody during our time.

    Sure!  Take a guess!

    I stop guessing  long time ago, girl!   No need to anymore......

    Nita  is right about that,  Marg.  We’ve done our share of guessing through out the     years......You just gonna have to tell us..........

    Okay, okay!   Calvin of 1955 and of  course  Cappy of 1956 class played!


    Girl!  You lying!........Calvin  Alexander  and  Robert  Hensley.......

    I hope you took some pictures........

    Sure did.......The interesting thing is that the old timers won!

    Girl!  You oughta quit lying!

                                                                              MARGIE
     I  heard that Larry  Hunter is going to play this year. He graduated in 1957........

    Yeah!  I remembered him.....He was left handed......He’s a playwright now.....I saw  one of his plays  at the Music Hall  several years ago.....  Let’s go!   I thinkthis is going to be worth seeing......

LIGHTS FADES
MUSIC:  D. Vikings......Hear The Bells......CD#2.....#6

   

LIGHTS UP........L.  STAGE.......

Margie,  Doris and  Vernita  come out the basketball game laughing.                     30

                   
    Girl!   I can’t believe what I just saw.......Them old men running up and down that basketball floor.......I thought  they were going to have to call the paramedics.  

    Yeah, girl......I was a little scared  for them too

    I went out on the floor before the game started and told  them, ‘don’t hurt yourselves  out here  with  these young fire plugs‘.........

    Nita!   No you didn’t!   What did they say?      

    They couldn’t say too much  because they were just about out of breath  doing     warm-up before the game......They just nodded.  I guess that meant, ’okay.’

    But come on ya’ll.....It was a good game.....I have to respect them older players     for even getting out there on the basketball floor,  thirty to forty years older than some of the  younger players......
  
    I laughed so hard  when they  called out the years of each player.......Larry,  Cappy and Calvin  was the only ones I remembered from the fifties,  of course  Calvin represented the class of 1955.......When  the announcer called out  1955, 1956 and 1957, all the young voices  were silent in the gym......it was almost like they  were in a state of shock..........

    Then just as soon as they were called, another shocker came  when they called out      Earl Livingston  from 1942......They almost fainted.......I was very impressed......The game brought back many memories.  I felt young again..... 

LIGHTS FADES

MUSIC:  Cook.........Having A Party.......CD#3....#1........dance#7

               

LIGHTS UP......CENTER DOWNSTAGE.......DANCERS.....Swing  out.........

Dancers are dancing to the sound of  Having A Party!                                            31

LIGHTS FADES

LIGHTS UP.......CENTER UP-STAGE.......

Vernita, Margie and  Doris  are resting their feet from dancing.  They are sitting at  a table. 

    Girl!  I’m having a ball  up in here tonight.  I feel like I’m  sweet sixteen all over again.....

    Who would have thought that we  would be celebrating our  50th  Class reunion.      It’s almost a dream......Years just passed like that.......

    It’s very real,  Nita.....I can tell  by the way my legs felt on the dance     floor......Can’t make them moves like I used to.......But this is fun........I’m just thankful  we can enjoy  because so many didn’t make it this far.......

    A-men on that!

                     (They smile as they wave at other classmates)

    Isn’t that  Jean  over there?!   Dang she looks young.......I wonder what’s her secret.......

    Have you ever thought about maybe it’s genetic?.......

    Anyway  I think we look pretty young too.  Especially  out on the dance floor.

                                                                             MARGIE
    Yeah.......But that was only for a moment because right now,  my legs are killing  me.......

    You know,  Finnegan Park’s  gym seems so small now...........

    You are right,  Nita.....I thought the same thing.......

    Maybe because at the time we were here at the canteen, we were so young and everything looked so huge.......

    Isn’t that  Dorothy  out there dancing?.......She hasn’t lost a step, girl..........

    She was always a good dancer...........

    I hope no one comes to ask me for a dance......I would hate to act like I’m  hurting too much from the last  one.......

<>

                                         MARGIE

<>

DORIS

<>

<>

                                     VERNITA

            Doris......Do you see who was coming toward Nita?.......

                    DORIS    

          Well....I be dam!  Her  high school boyfriend......She was crazy  about him.  I  forgot his name.....

                    VERNITA                                   33

And, please!  Don’t bother to remember......That’s one part of  Phillis Wheatley that Nita wants to forget......Comprende?!

                    DORIS
                    (laughs)

         Muy  Bien!.............

  LIGHTS FADES

MUSIC: Platters.....Pretender.....CD#3....#2

                   
LIGHTS UP......L. STAGE......DANCERS

LIGHTS FADES

                                      SCENE 17

LIGHTS UP.......CENTER STAGE......

Shirley,  Joyce and Barbara  are  walking fast on the stage.  They are at Finnegan Park, their usual exercise meetings.  It is morning time......

                    BARBARA
                    (looks around)

    Where’s  Joyce?.......

                    SHIRLEY
                    (sits down on bench)

    There she is, sitting down on a bench  over there.......She made about ten steps and just sit.......She’ll be on......

                    BARBARA
                    (laughs)

    I thought  she was right behind us.......

                    SHIRLEY
                    (wipes her face with towel)

    She was.  But that was before she walked them ten  steps......

                    BARBARA
                    (laughs)

    That woman,  I’ll tell  you......She hates  exercise.........                             

    That ain’t all  she hate either........

    What’s that?......

    She hates for us to tell her anything.........

                     (Joyce walks  up)
               

    Hey!  I’m sorry......Ya’ll act as if you  on one of Phillis Wheatley’s  relay teams back yonder.......I’m  too old for this......If ya’ll want me to keep up,  you have to slow down....

    Joyce!  Don’t worry about us!  Just finish the walk at your pace.......

    Why did you stop walking?

    I don’t know......Just happened to look over toward  Wheatley  and saw the track where all those good track teams used to practice.   I just sat down and reminisced on all those good relay teams  Wheatley had during our times......It was a beauty of art to see them pass the Patton to each other and sprint up the track.   I  remembered  this  boy who used to run the high and low hurdles.  He was a piece of art as he stretched  his body  out over them hurdles with perfect form.......

    His name was Ralph Jones.......

    I used to love to see  Phillis Wheatley’s  relay teams......They could sprint. 


   
    Why did  the good times have to pass  so quickly?.......

    Only God knows,  Joyce........

LIGHTS FADES

MUSIC:  Willie John.....Fever.....CD#3....#3.....DANCER#8


LIGHTS UP......L.  STAGE.....POEM......HOME.......COLTRANE....CD-A

Fifth Ward is my home, a place where I used to  love to roam,  streets were safe and old folks always  invited  me in for a piece of cake,  Fifth Ward  is my home where black businesses flourished and didn’t have to watch  out and worry,  families were strong  and didn’t  tolerate any wrong,  neighbors were sisters and brothers, for they looked out for each other,  Fifth Ward is my home and I ain’t ashamed because I remember the days of fame  beneath my feet on Market Street,   segregation times were strong, but Fifth Ward,  in those times were safe and we felt  belonged,  one high school was all we had , handed down to grandparents, moms and dads,  but  our lives were not a gamble,  talented folks  have gone their own way, some never looking back on how Fifth Ward  was a resting place for their heads to lay,  no more night clubs where the beat of jazz  used to rang in my ears as old men sipped on a Pearl  beer,  we had our own little fortune and fame before time rushed in and we all changed,  but even so,  good spirits are left behind and I remembered when everyone was so kind.      

LIGHTS  FADES(stop to end)

MUSIC:  JACKIE WILSON.....Reet Petite.......CD#3.....#4......dancers#8


LIGHTS UP.......CENTER STAGE.......

Sue Ann,  Wilma Faye,  Rose,  Jean, Ruby and Delores  walks in  Helen’s  Beauty  Shop.
The Beautician, Helen is surprise.

                    THE BEATICIAN
                    (surprise)
    I just did all ya’ll hair  yesterday!   Why are you here first thing this morning.

    I don’t know about them, but I dance too much at the sock hop and my hair sweated all back......I need a quick fix  for our banquet  tonight.

    What about the others here?.....

    Same here!  Too much sock hop!

    You know what?......I’m going to do this for the 1957 class because ya’ll are my  elders  and graduates  of  Phillis Wheatley.   You don’t have to pay a penny.  It’s on me this time....We are family.....

    Oh!  Thank you so much!

    Now  which one of you seasoned ladies want to be first.......

                    (Everybody rush for the chair)

    I mean one at a time.......

    I’ll be first  if that is okay with all of you.......

    Yeah!  Right!  Why not!   You are sitting in the chair, huh?..........

    Ya’ll  just sit and relax......Check out  the African  American Newspaper.  They  have an interesting  article on Wheatley’s History......Some things I didn’t know......On page  one.........
          
     (Everybody gets up and takes a paper from the rack stand)
                 
    Would you mind giving me one?
                  
    (The Beautician  takes her paper and gives to  Sue Ann)
                                           
    This is interesting.  I didn’t know that January 31, 1927,  Phyllis Wheatley  High School  was  established  in the old  McGowen  Elementary  School  building  at  3415 Lyons.........

    And it says that,  the school was organized to accommodate high school students living in Fifth Ward area.......They   even had adult  evening  classes.......Just think what it must have been like having to be housed in an Elementary school.....

    It also states that the faculty consisted of  nineteen teachers and  one  principal,  Mr.  E. O.  Smith.
    

    And  an enrollment of  490  students the first year......

    This is  interesting......Listen......The lyrics and music of the school song  were composed  by Mrs. IIma L. Smith and Mrs.  Mattie Overton Roberts.......

    Wow!  Mrs.  Overton was my choir  director  and I used to wake up  to her organ that she played at  6:00am  from Simpson Baptist  church.  She was like our alarm clock. I didn’t know she was that old at the time.  She composed the song in 1928.

     Read a little farther.  There’s more.  We were living  history and didn’t even know     it.  First black  high school  in Fifth Ward and all......It’ll tell you more.....Go on and read more......

    It says here that the junior  school remained  at the old site  and was named E. O.  Smith  Junior  High School.  Phyllis Wheatley Senior High moved to it’s new and present location at  4900 Market Street, where it  continued  to strive for survival and major goals  as stated in the school  motto and Alma Mater.........

    And they talking constantly  about tearing all this history down.  We were walking on the grounds of  “The Echoes Of The Past“.......

    Come on Sue Ann......You are making me cry.......

    Bless those who paved the way for us.......I’m going to tell these stories to my grand kids.   Even if they tear down Wheatley , it  will not eliminate the  spirit of  the past.......It’s  going to live through us.....through us......because we are one big family that’s stretch  out all over the country and world......
 
    Yes!   Yes!....................
                                           
    LIGHTS FADES                                                                                              39

MUSIC:  Moonglows.....Sincerely......CD#3.....#5

                    SCENE 20                   

LIGHTS UP......R. STAGE........POEM.......COLTRANE

Phillis Wheatley, the purple and white, for us,  all her life, she put up many a fights,  keeping her doors open to give us knowledge without  a fuss.   What would  it have been like  with no Phillis Wheatley High  to take us to our goals above the sky?  She nurtured  our  young minds  back there in times,  where hate ruled  from the other race  in our face  without debate,  even so,  year after year,  Phillis Wheatley  was a milestone  in our little zone,  producing some of the finest  students  behind her walls, Spring,  Winter  and Fall,  musicians,  politicians, educators,  athletes  and sometimes under hostile condition.......We made it through the rain  regardless of all the suffering and pain......We are just another class  that graduated in 1957  that’s   keeping  the spirits and memories of  Phillis  Wheatley High alive........There were so many  before us that’s gone to shore,  leaving Wheatley’s  pride behind  to cherish  in our times.  Now Barbara  Jordan  planted her seeds  right here, the first  black congress woman from the  south,  without a doubt,  she dance to the tune  of our wildcat blues,  graduated  from behind  Wheatley  doors  in 1953 while seeking to educate more young minds.

LIGHTS FADES

MUSIC: Berry......Louie, Louie......CD#3.....#6......DANCER#9
                   

LIGHTS UP......CENTER STAGE......

An  older  man is sitting on  a bench at Finnegan  Park.  His name is AL.   He is laughing to himself.....Two women walks up, stop and stare  at AL.  He doesn’t notice them.  He just continue to laugh........ 

    Is  he laughing at us?......

    I think he is having a good time with himself.........
   

    Girl......Let’s just tip right on by him........
                                           
    Wait!.......Isn’t that Al?!   He graduated  in our class of  ‘57’

    Alvis!.......I don’t know no Al,  Helen!   Let’s go!

    Girl!  How can you forget  Al!  Remember  Mrs. Whittaker’s  class!

      Mrs.  Whittaker’s  class?.......

    Yeah.......You know  her favorite  cliche’ of  words........

    Oh, yeah!   “Young  man!  Your mind is out the window!  Go catch it!”

    And this boy got up, went to the window, opened it and played like he was  catching his mind......
                    (Al is still laughing to himself)

    And  Mrs.  Whittaker  shouted out,  “sit down you fool.”
                    (They both laugh)
               
    But what does that have to do with the laughing man, here?

    Al is the boy..........
      

    Dam!  Sure is!   Maybe he’s just laughing at some of the old stories  and all the names  he gave teachers from E.O.  Smith to  Phillis Wheatley.......

    Let’s say something to him.....He seems to be having a good time with himself.
      
    You just go right ahead.....I’m  going in the opposite direction........
                    (Lucy turns to leave, but Helen grabs her arm)

                   HELEN                           41

    Girl......He’s  our classmate!   He’s family......Come on......

                                           
                    (They both walk over to Al.  He is still kind of  laughing  and starring  at Phillis Wheatley  High                         school across the street)
                   
    Don’t I know ya’ll......Yes!   Helen and Lucy!

                    (He stands up)

    We took English classes together,  Mrs.  Whittaker.........Ya’ll probably thought I was off my rocker  sitting here laughing......I was just reminiscing on some funny things and jokes that happened in  that old  building across the street......

    We figured  you were having fun with yourself......

    Yeah.......I was.......There is so much to remember........

    Like calling,  Mr.  Scott at E. O. Smith,  “Tickle Britches.”
                    HELEN
    And  that other teacher  at E. O.  Smith,   I forgot his name.   Anyway  I  remembered you called him  Question Mark  because his head was shaped like a question mark......Man!  You were hilarious!

    Yeah!  I was  a devilish  young boy back  then,  I tell you..........But I’m in the ministry  now......
    

    Now that is a big change.......

    But it doesn’t stop me from remembering  all the fun we used to have in that building over there.........Like Mrs.  McDonald.......

    The candy  Teacher.......

    “Monkey see,  monkey  do.”

                    (They all laughs)
 
    “Peanut  Brittles  and peanut patties!  

    She kept all that candy  in her desk drawers......I forgot how much she sold them     for.......But one day I went in her room to buy  a peanut brittle......She made sure     no one was looking , then she handed me the peanut brittle.  I took off toward the     door, not knowing to hide the peanut brittle in my pocket......Before I opened     the door, she called me back to her desk......She said,  “Boy!  Put that peanut brittle in your pocket and if the principal or vice catch you, I don’t know you.....Do you here me?

                    (They all laugh)

    And it looked like she was eating up all her profits  because she had peanut brittle crumbs all  over her lips...........

    Yeah......We had some characters  for teachers.......Remember Mrs.  Milligan with the neat Bangs.  She primped all  day long with that little pocket mirror......

    Now that Civic teacher  was something else......”I want you to write  200 times,  “I  will not talk in class".........

    And if you tell her how pretty she look, she just might wave  that demand......
    And Mrs. Plummer!  She had a shape that turned all the boys head----and probably some women too!

    You’re right about that!

   

    Now don’t leave out Mr.  Bradford......Sharp as a tack.....Dressed down in  Ballestein’s  clothes.  Suit, tie, shoes and all......Every Tom, Dick and Harry  almost  broke their legs and twisted their ankles to get to his class........Never picked up a pencil.....It was suppose to be a Social Problem’s class.

    It’s a funny thing......I can’t remembered  what I did in  Mr.  Bradford’s class......

    SMOKE OUT!
 
    Oh yeah!   A “F”  for those who didn’t answer the question quickly that he wrote on the board.......even that was a joke........I just used to admire his clothes......

    And Mrs.  Dicie  Cleveland!   Didn’t she have  a strut  when she walked down the  hall  wearing her  purple and white......

    Wheatley spirit  was written all over her  and them cheerleaders.   If you didn’t     have Wheatley spirit, you couldn’t be a Wheatley cheerleader.......                                                  
  
    You had to walk that walk  and talk that talk  for Dicie  Cleveland.......All her girls strutted like stallions, come game time, and especially on Turkey Day.
 
    Now  Ya’ll see why I was laughing so.  Just starring at that old  Wheatley High School over there made me  act like a crazy man......so many funny memories. I don’t do this often now. This may be the last time I lay eyes on old Phillis Wheatley.......
   

LIGHTS FADES

MUSIC: Doo-Wop....Summer Nights.....CD#4......#1


LIGHTS UP.......CENTER STAGE.......
                                                                                                                                  44

Cap,  Ralph,  Art ,Robert  and Leff  are sitting playing dominoes.  Leff  is marking scores.
           
    You mean to tell me, ya’ll came back for another whooping------Give me twenty!

    Not this time motor mouth!  I done went the school  on you........

    Dam!  I pass.......

    Come on partner!   The game just started........
 
    Give me five!......And Cap,  finished  telling us that story  about  Frank Walker and Bradley, the chemistry  teacher......
 
    What ’re  trying to do, mess with my concentration,  huh?   Fifteen on you.......

    I’ve heard that hunting story  a million times,  Robert.....Come on let’s play bones...
 
    Just hold your horses, Ralph.....But nobody tells it like old Happy Cappy.......Let  the man hear the way I tell the story.........You see,  Frank Walker and Bradley went on a hunting trip with  two of Bradley’s  old coon dogs.  Right?   They were hunting for any  small  eating animal that moves,  squirrels,  rabbits, wild hogs or  whatever......

    They probably  had little fire water in them too.............

    Now I ain’t gonna  tell that lie......but maybe.......Anyway  Frank saw something     moving in the bushes......He raised his old rifle  and ’Bang, bang!’  Frank Walker      fired.......And guess what happened?.......

    I already know........

    He missed  whatever was in the bushes and it got away.......

    That’s not even close, Robert.........
<>
                                                                                          CAPPY
Give me twenty five.........Now let old Cap  finish.......Frank and  Bradley tipped over to the bushes thinking they had them a squirrel  or rabbit.  Bradley  trampled  into the bushes.  He looked down and started crying........

    I was just thinking  about  them fine cheer leaders  we had  during our time at     Wheatley......Man!

    Fine!  Brother!   They were Stallions!  

    And  them  Majorettes  came out  at half time prancing up the field like they own the world......

 When them drums sounded,  The Purple and  White  Squadron  strutted  out on     the field marching to the tune of the band and the majorettes  leading the pack,     moving everything  on their bodies.....Man!  Mrs.  Dicie  and Sammy Harris had them ready for every  game......Man!  Them girls were fine as a nice glass of vintage wine.....

    I had a crush on one of them,  but I won’t tell........

    Might as well......It doesn’t matter now anyway.......We’re too old for secrets any     more......Just spit it out, man!  Who cares?

    I just let that secret stay where it is  for now......Domino.....and  twenty!
    Give it up!
                    (They turn in their  hands)

    And twenty five more.......

    That’s game........Ya’ll game for another one........

    Naw!   I gotta  go get my clothes out the cleaners  for tonight’s Banquet.

    Yeah!  Tonight is the night  we celebrate  our 50th  class  reunion........

    Yep.......How time passes.......

    I can’t believe  fifty years ago we walked down  the halls  of Phillis Wheatley.......

    I can see  the student council  folks  standing  down the  middle of the hall  while we  walked to our classes......Student  Council was a big deal back then.......
 
    Yep!  Them were  our glory days.......We had rules to abide by  and they kind of molded our lives.........God bless the young today......I wonder where are they headed.............But thank God  we are still here  to tell  the stories.
 
    Amen!.......

LIGHTS FADES

MUSIC: Aretha......Think.......CD#4.....#2.....DANCER#10


LIGHTS UP.....R. UP STAGE.......

Sue Ann,  Wilma Faye,  Rose,  Jean,  Ruby  and Delores  are  stalling to walk in the Banqet......They are primping , patting their hair,  brushing  their clothes  with hands.  They are kind of nervous about meeting their old classmates........

    Now, listen ya’ll......Do I look all right!

    You look just like you looked fifty years ago, when we were in the Cosmopolitan  Club,  Sue Ann.......
                    (Everybody laughs)                                  
                                                                                                                                 48
                   
    I didn’t mean for ya’ll to exaggerate.......Anyway  it doesn’t matter.......I know I look good  even if I’m not sweet sixteen anymore.....Can you feel  me?

    Uh.....Yeah!........

    Look now!  I’m not gonna be doing no frontin.  You understand?   They just gonna have to accept  that  this  60 years plus and 1957  graduate of Phillis Wheatley  is just that and nothing else.......Older  but can still rub some shoulders......And I’m  not in the Cinderella Club  anymore.....

    Ain’t that the truth!  And I’m not a  Loveable  Troubadour  either.....

    Then what are we talking about?........

    We talking about pride here, girls?!  Wheatley  pride!  We just can’t help  it!
     
    Are ya’ll ready  to stop that talk  and walk that walk?
 
    Yes!   We  are ready!
    

    Well......Let’s just get on up in there  with a huge  smile like we haven’t skipped a beat......Class  of  “57,”  here we come, well,  spry  and  dead alive  with  a whole lot of that  old  Wheatley spirit pride  in stride..........
                    (Everybody struts off stage primping)

LIGHTS FADES

MUSIC: Cook.....Twisting.....CD#4.....#5.....DANCER#11

LIGHTS UP......CENTER STAGE........COLTRANE....CD-A

    Betty  is sitting  on a bench.  She is looking through  an old Wheatley Annual.  She  slowly turn the pages.
   
                                                                                                                  49
     
 These are happy tears, not  sad tears,   how wonderful it was back in my years,  this old building still stands,  but  they want to move it from this land,  these are happy tears, but not sad tears,  the building may go,  but  the echoes  of the past will always last, looking down on those who cherished  the  moments,  the excitement, the education,  behind it’s walls, paved the way  for successful  politicians, educators, artist, technicians and musicians that made contributions to  our nation,  these are happy tears, but  not sad tears,  tears  of  joy  for proud Wheatley’s girls and boys,  we  weathered the storm  and dear old Wheatley  sure doesn’t stand alone.......Purple  and White will always  ride high in the clouds  because those colors  symbolize  a school  that long after time will be remembered as the first to quince  our thirst........these are happy tears, but not sad tears, how wonderful it was back in my years........Bless  you Phillis  Wheatley.......We will  never break  your powerful  treaty,  that bonded  us  as family  from 1929 to the present time.  Thank you for the organizations    that kept up our concentration,  like The Student Christian  Union  and Book Lovers  Club,  The Y-Teens  that stretched our dreams,  The  Loveable  Troubadours  that embraced our hearts  with true faith,  The  Esquire  Club that  molded  our young  boys to be bold,  The Girl   Scouts that prepared  our girls to be explorers  beyond  the crystal  sea,  The        Cosmopolitan  Club  that introduced  another world where our girls’ minds could twirl,  The Beau  Brummell  Club  that taught our boys  to be gentlemen  as their lives  rushed around the Bend.  “Thank you” Phillis  Wheatley  for being a friend. 

LIGHTS  FADES
LIGHTS UP
SONG....THE WAY WE WERE.....SHIRLEY SERVANCE
LIGHTS FADES
LIGHTS UP
                    CURTAIN CALL
MUSIC......GOSPEL.....WE GOT OVER
                   
LIGHTS UP   
THE ALMA MATER......CAST  &  AUDIENCE