Volume 27
The Further Saga of Alemany ‘66:
As Revealed by The Shadow
with minor assistance from
F.J. Bonaccorso and
Photo Wizards R. M. Johnson and D. P. McMahon
And
With a special vignette from Shadow Guest Ghost Writer:
CBJ
Subtitle: What’s That Up In The Sky?
Second Subtitle: Fungos in Fenway.
Congratulations to Trivia Contest Winner for Volume 26:
Annie Gattuso Monthaven who identified Morro Bay
Runners-up were Leo Restrich and Christi Brecht Moore
Swimming Pool, SS Pterodactyl
Teri Arteaga: Well I think it was quite decent of Captain Durazo, to concede that dogs have a place on the cruise. Look at how much Louie enjoys swimming. Stay out of the deep end, Louie.
Captain Durazo admitted that without Louie he could not have knocked out the Nepalese assassin. As a reward he opened the pool to all dogs on board.
George Duggan: And no longer do I have to worry about losing my job if the Captain, found out about my little Cookie. Of course, we are honor bound to only exercise our dogs on this deck.
Chris Incaudo: And what did you say was the name of this deck, George?
George: Rather appropriately, we are on the ‘poop deck’, Chris.
Cindy Parcel: Oh, that is precious! (She shouts to her dog). Spooky, stay away from that llama! How did you come up with that name, George?
Thomas Tracy: If I may explain with your permission, George, the poop deck is the nautical term for the stern superstructure of a ship. The term goes back to very early days in the British navy.
Carol Trifiro: Oh dear, hand me that pooper scooper please, my Bowser just did his business.
Denise Werner: Say to whom does that tiny ever so cute chihuahua belong?
Donna Shields: Would you believe that that little guy belongs to The Shadow?
Lamont Cranston: Good day, ladies and gents. Did I hear my name spoken?
(A huge splash is heard and Lamont in his white sports coat and white linen slacks is soaked. A great dane has just jumped into the pool and is licking Louie in friendship.)
Suzann Raiche: Oh, poor Lamont. You are soaked. You had better go change. I will keep an eye on your doggie. What did you say its name was?
Lamont: Hercules. And thank you, I do believe I will go change.
Bridge, SS Pterodactyl:
Art Durazo: It is a pleasure having another Captain aboard who appreciates how much work there is in captaining a ship, Paul.
Paul Pichotta: Of course this ship is a bit larger than mine, Art. Say, Art, what is that off the bow?
John Depew: (looking through binoculars.) Strangest thing I ever saw. It is a lady riding a dolphin!
Art: Nonsense, give me those binoculars.
Rita Marie Desiato: (Also with binoculars). She’s waving, trying to get our attention. I can swear that I recognize that woman.
Diane “Dee” Dow: Ree, let me have a look. (She pulls binoculars that are still around Ree’s neck and focuses).
Rita: Hey take it easy, that’s my neck, Dee.
Dee: Well, if that ain’t the cat’s meow. That’s Kathyrn Martin Rahmn. Captain, you have to stop this ship right now, and let Kath aboard!
Art: I cannot just stop this ship to pick up a latecomer on a porpoise. I would be the laughing stock of the cruise fleet.
Coach Ann Foster: (Blows her coach’s whistle loud). Captain, that is an Alemany volleyball letterwoman. You will pick her up.
Art: I give in. (He picks up the phone to the engine room.) All engines, stop. First it’s dogs and now its dolphins! Retirement is looking mighty good to me, Paul.
Paul: Take it easy, Art. All in a days work on top of Davey Jones’ Locker.
Chris Incaudo: And what did you say was the name of this deck, George?
George: Rather appropriately, we are on the ‘poop deck’, Chris.
Cindy Parcel: Oh, that is precious! (She shouts to her dog). Spooky, stay away from that llama! How did you come up with that name, George?
Thomas Tracy: If I may explain with your permission, George, the poop deck is the nautical term for the stern superstructure of a ship. The term goes back to very early days in the British navy.
Carol Trifiro: Oh dear, hand me that pooper scooper please, my Bowser just did his business.
Denise Werner: Say to whom does that tiny ever so cute chihuahua belong?
Donna Shields: Would you believe that that little guy belongs to The Shadow?
Lamont Cranston: Good day, ladies and gents. Did I hear my name spoken?
(A huge splash is heard and Lamont in his white sports coat and white linen slacks is soaked. A great dane has just jumped into the pool and is licking Louie in friendship.)
Suzann Raiche: Oh, poor Lamont. You are soaked. You had better go change. I will keep an eye on your doggie. What did you say its name was?
Lamont: Hercules. And thank you, I do believe I will go change.
Bridge, SS Pterodactyl:
Art Durazo: It is a pleasure having another Captain aboard who appreciates how much work there is in captaining a ship, Paul.
Paul Pichotta: Of course this ship is a bit larger than mine, Art. Say, Art, what is that off the bow?
John Depew: (looking through binoculars.) Strangest thing I ever saw. It is a lady riding a dolphin!
Art: Nonsense, give me those binoculars.
Rita Marie Desiato: (Also with binoculars). She’s waving, trying to get our attention. I can swear that I recognize that woman.
Diane “Dee” Dow: Ree, let me have a look. (She pulls binoculars that are still around Ree’s neck and focuses).
Rita: Hey take it easy, that’s my neck, Dee.
Dee: Well, if that ain’t the cat’s meow. That’s Kathyrn Martin Rahmn. Captain, you have to stop this ship right now, and let Kath aboard!
Art: I cannot just stop this ship to pick up a latecomer on a porpoise. I would be the laughing stock of the cruise fleet.
Coach Ann Foster: (Blows her coach’s whistle loud). Captain, that is an Alemany volleyball letterwoman. You will pick her up.
Art: I give in. (He picks up the phone to the engine room.) All engines, stop. First it’s dogs and now its dolphins! Retirement is looking mighty good to me, Paul.
Paul: Take it easy, Art. All in a days work on top of Davey Jones’ Locker.
Kathryn Martin Rahm and Flipper
Cristine Kelsey: Monique, on behalf of all Alemany 1966, these roses are a token of our appreciation for organizing the cruise. It has been so, so, so interesting.
Monique Lussier Padberg: Oh, these are beautiful. But Claudia deserves as much credit as me, Claudia, I insist you take half of these to your cabin.
Claudia Haugh Stepan: No, no. It was your idea to have a class reunion cruise. The most credit goes to you. I’ll just take one.
Pamela Raine: Say, did you girls hear the latest gossip?
Kathleen Phelan: No, what happened?
Pamela: Kathryn Martin was riding a dolphin off the front of the ship and waved the Captain down to pick her up. But Art did not want to stop. Fortunately, Coach Foster was on the bridge and made him stop the ship.
Monique: Poor Kathryn missed the ship in San Pedro. Well, then according to my records, every living Alemany student of the class of 1966 is aboard the ship.
Patti Sellers: We are all together again. Remarkable!
Jean Roth: Then we should have a special party tonight.
Later that night……
The Following Story Is Contributed By
Ghost Guest Writer, Beej, aka CBJ
The Commissoner of Baseball, Bud Selig, with Red Sox
General Manager, Gyoengyi Molnar Quinn and World Series MVP, Mike Lowell
Captain’s Table, SS Pterodactyl
(Seated at the Captain’s table are Captain Art Durazo, Cece Duffy Essin, John Errea, Gyoengyi Molnar Quinn and Patrick Hayes. The centerpiece on the captain’s table is the 2007 World Series Trophy)
Captain Durazo: I am truly honored by our distinguished guests tonight. Ms. Quinn, you do me great honor by agreeing to be my dinner partner.
Gyoengyi Molnar Quinn: Captain, how gracious you are.
Captain Durazo: I have never been seated this close to a true sports icon. Tell me about your duties as General Manager of the Boston Red Sox.
Gyoengyi: The season never ends for those of us in the front office. When the last out is recorded in the last game of the season, our work is just beginning. Even on this Reunion Cruise my cell phone rings constantly with trade possibilities and salary negotiations for our returning players.
Captain Durazo: Not a moments rest for those trying to stay on top in the ultra competitive sports world, I guess.
Gyoengyi: So very true, Captain. My work continues even on this lovely cruise. By the way, Captain, I have been looking for a gypsy fortune teller that I hear is aboard, Madame Zazza, but I haven’t seen her since the cruise began.
Captain Durazo: Ah, yes. Madame Zazza is a very elusive woman. Perhaps I can have one of my officers assist you in finding her.
Cece Duffy: Arthur…I mean, Captain, what a lovely centerpiece. I would like to take it with me as a planter for my solarium.
Captain Durazo: I don’t think Ms. Quinn would part with it…you see it’s……
John Errea: (interrupting, and holding the trophy) Cece, don’t you know that this is the World Series trophy.
Cece Duffy: I was never really into sports.
John: I always wanted to be a professional baseball player, but I couldn’t see from homeplate to the pitcher’s mound. You may remember that I wear glasses, which I seem to have left in my stateroom.
(John sets the trophy on the edge of the Captain’s table where it teeters precariously)
Patrick Hayes: In high school there was nothing wrong with my eyesight, but I couldn’t hit the durn ball. I still have the perfect batting stroke… (Swinging his arms wildly, he sends the trophy spinning through the air)
(Gyoengyi’s eyes grow wide and she gasps….)
(At First Officer George Duggan’s adjoining table, Jim Dantona leaps toward the plummeting trophy, making a perfect head-first slide with the trophy cradled in his arms.)
Jim Dantona: Dis’ shoulda been da Cubs…dis shoulda been da Cubs.
Gyoengyi: Jim, you are my hero. If anything had happened to the trophy I could never have returned to Boston.
Jim Dantona: Let me hold it for just a little longer, please.
Gyoengyi: Jim, dear Jim, the Cubs time will come. Until then, you can visit the trophy whenever you’re in Boston. Captain, forgive me, with all this excitement I think I should retire the trophy for tonight. Would you ask one of your officers to return the trophy to my stateroom?
Captain Durazo: Yes, of course. (snapping his fingers)
Gyoengyi: And Captain, please do not forget my desire to meet Madame Zazza.
Captain Durazo: I shall see to it, Ms. Quinn.
Now back to Commentary from The Shadow…..
Upper Deck, SS Pterodactyl
George Duggan on loudspeaker: Now hear this, now hear this. Lights on the upper deck will be dimmed in five minutes for stargazing. All interested parties please proceed immediately to the upper deck.
Tom Carnegie: Hi everyone. What a great turnout and as you can see we have a clear sky and billions and billions of stars and heavenly bodies to observe. Well the lights are pretty dim and after 41 years, I might not recognize you. So let’s go around the circle an introduce ourselves and ladies use your maiden names because those are the ones we will recognize. I am Tom Carnegie, Chief Astronomer at the Keck Observatories in Hawaii. Let’s go around to the right.
People name themselves: I’m Susan McKay. David Heidt, here. Bonnie Mikolyski. Yo, Jane Murphy. Hi, Linda Hughes. I am Father William McHugh. I’m JoAnn Schnelldorfer from the Alemany Alumni Office. Patricia Feely. You may know me as Coach Mike Vaccaro. Hello, I am Margaret Wurster. I’m John Ferry. Philip Contrieras. Hello, everyone, I am Barbara Kane. John Walters. I’m Cece Duffy. Sharon Byers. Al Graci, I used to teach algebra to some of you knuckleheads like Car-neg-ee. And my name is Adrienne Poirier, I work with Tom at Mt. Keck, and I will be happy to help answer questions and show you some wonders of the sky through our telescope.
Tom Marsh: Ouch, stubbed my toe in the dark, sorry I’m late.
Mr. Graci: Late again, Marsh. You haven’t changed a bit. That will be a citation you can collect after star watching class.
Tom C.: Let’s get started. If you will follow my laser light you will see a cluster of seven stars in a W-pattern. It is the Pleiades. This star cluster is also known at the Seven Sisters or to astronomers as M45.
The Seven Sisters known to the ancient Greeks and many other cultures were mentioned in Homer’s Iliad and again in The Odyssessy.
Tom Carnegie: The nine brightest stars are hot blue stars and represented the Seven Sisters of Greek mythology as well as the parents, Atlas and Pleione. The Pleiades lies within the constellation Taurus and is one of the nearest star clusters to us here on Earth. It formed a mere 100 million years ago.
Tom Marsh: So it is nearly as old as Mr. Graci.
Al Graci: That crack with get you a second citation, Marsh. You are only one citation away from detention hall which I am personally conducting tomorrow afternoon with Coach King.
Tom Carnegie: (Chuckles to himself). Getting back on the topic, the Pleiades are 118 parsecs from earth. The distance to the Pleiades is an important first step in calibrating what is known as the cosmic distance ladder, a sequence of distance scales for the whole universe. The size of this first step of the ladder and has been estimated by several methods. Accurate knowledge of the distance allows astronomers to plot a Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram for the cluster which, when compared to those plotted for clusters whose distance is not known, allows their distances to be estimated. Other methods can then extend the distance scale from open clusters to galaxies and then clusters of galaxies, and a complete cosmic distance ladder can be constructed. Ultimately, understanding of the age and future evolution of the universe is influenced by our knowledge of the distance to the Pleiades.
Father McHugh: And I hope you all took notes on that because there is a quiz afterwards. (Laughs from the crowd).
Jane Murphy: Tom, could you translate that into English? (More laughs).
Adrienne: Ah, Tom, maybe we can lighten up a bit and just appreciate the heavenly bodies for their beauty. Folks, if you would like to take turns looking through this telescope you can see the rings of Saturn.
Bonnie Mikolyski: Wow, is that ever cool.
Barbara Kane: My turn next.
Image from Hubble Space Telescope, courtesy of Thomas J. Carnegie
The Comet Lady, Adrienne, scoping things out for Alemany.
Tom C.: While people are waiting to look at Saturn, up here is the constellation Scorpio, one of the largest constellations visible to us………
Joanne Snellendorfer: Say, Tom, what is that bright light up in the sky over there. It seems to be moving.
Tom C.: Maybe we can put the telescope on it. I would say it is a human craft or satellite of some kind moving at that speed.
Adrienne: I am putting the scope on it now, Tom. Oh, you wouldn’t believe it!
Tom: What is it? Space shuttle?
Adrienne: No. Have a look yourself.
You Trekkies will recognize this craft going boldly where no man has gone before:
an Alemany Reunion Cruise.
USS Enterprise far above SS Pterodactyl
Mr. Scott (not the Alemany Mr. Scott, the other Mr. Scott): Thank you for identifying those Vulcan bat specimens for us. It is a big help in our cataloging the creatures of the universe. Now we will drop you off at your destination, laddie. Are you ready for transport, Dr. Bonaccorso?
Frank: (Gets a nod from Chris Gilmore). We are ready. Be sure to say goodbye to Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock for us. Beam me down, Scotty.
Chris and Frank disappear.
On the Upper Deck of SS Pterodactyl
Chris Gilmore: (walks from the darkness of the Upper Deck). Hi, every body. What is going on here?
Father McHugh: We are observing the heavenly bodies. And where did you two just come from?
Frank: You might say we have been observing the heavenly bodies too, Father. Mr. Graci, why how are you?
Mr. Graci: What have I done to deserve this? First Marsh, and now Bonaccorso, who never could tell a hypotenuse from a hippopotamus. I think I might go down to the main deck for a nightcap. Would you care to join me, Father?
Father McHugh: Well, I wouldn’t want a man to drink alone. Lead the way, Al.
Trivia. Trivia. Trivia.
Here is this week’s Alemany Monarch Trivia Contest Question:
This week we have a riddle to be solved:
It cannot be seen, cannot be felt,
Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt.
It lies behind stars and under hills,
And empty holes it fills.
It comes first and follows after,
Ends life, kills laughter.
What is it?
Each contestant may submit one and only answer.
And only members of the 1966 Alemany H.S. Monarchs and their teachers are eligible.
First correct answer to: bonafrank@yahoo.com
Wins: Collector Edition Johnny Walker Red
Now back to our story…….
“A” LEVEL CORRIDOR – SS PETRODACTYL
(A soft, tinkling sound is heard as a dim figure disappears into Cabin 66A)
Gyoengyi: (To herself.) Could that be Madame Zazza?
(As Gyoengyi nears Cabin 66A, the door flies open.)
Madame Zazza: Ahh, we meet at last!
Gyoengyi: Do you know me?
Madame Zazza: Only that you have been seeking my counsel for many days without success. My intuition tells me that you are Hungarian, by birth, and perhaps of noble blood. Are you not?
Gyoengyi: Yes, but…
Madame Zazza: No matter (waving her hand), I know why you are here.
Gyoengyi: Will you help me?
Madame Zazza: Perhaps. Confirm for me the complete nature of your requests.
Gyoengyi: Only two things, Madame Zazza. I will be brief. First, my position with the Boston Red Sox requires me to negotiate player deals during the off-season. We need another starting pitcher, preferably a left-hander. Can I possibly sign Johan Santana who now plays for the Minnesota Twins?
Madame Zazza: Hmmmm. Asking the cosmic forces to intercede on such a mundane matter….I don’t know if I can help you.
Gyoengyi: Madame Zazza, baseball is in my blood. I so desperately want our team to succeed.
Madame Zazza: (closing her eyes, and humming an eerie mantra. After several minutes her eyes open) Very well…you will sign this Santana on very favorable terms. And your second need?
Gyoengyi: Madame Zazza, we Bostonians suffered through 86 years of frustration and futility before winning the World Series in 2004. Now, we have won again in 2007. Will we be able to repeat our championship in 2008?
Madame Zazza: For this I will need my crystal ball. (As the room darkens a circular light flares from the corner table) (Madame Zazza conceals the shining orb from Gyng’s view)
Gyoengyi: Madame Zazza, tell me what our future holds, please, oh, please!
(several minutes elapse, then…..)
Madame Zazza: My crystal is very dim tonight, my dear. Some things must not be revealed, but are best left to the vagaries of time. You shall see….you shall see, but not tonight.
Madame Zazza’s Secret Prognostication for 2008
World Series Championship
Until next time,
God Bless You All,
The Shadow
P.S. Fooled you Christi, this week’s trivia question is somewhere in the middle of the story. Scroll back up.
