| Parkway Fencing Club
St. Louis, MO |
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Twas Club Night at Parkway Twas club night at Parkway and all thru the school, not a fencer was fencing, no blade crashing duels. The members filed in and stretched to prepare, in hopes that the coach and machines soon would be there. The weapons were nestled all snug in their sacks. While everyone hoped, their points, grips, and cords were intact. And I in my Uhlmann and Rick in Prieur had just started betting, first to fifteen for a beer. When, out in the drive there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the strip to see what was the matter. And what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a red GMC filled to the roof with fencing gear. Weapons in hand and keys to the truck, I knew in a moment it must be Coach Chuck. More rapid than eagles, his fencers they came, and he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name: Hey, Daniel, Hey Brad, Hey, Bo, Danny and Sam: take in these wires, reels, and scoring box stands. From the trunk of the truck, at once they commenced they set up the strips and we were ready to fence. As I drew out my weapon and was turning around, Over the strip Coach Chuck came with a bound. He was dressed in black leather from his head to his feet and his clothes were covered with point marks, as if he’d been beat. A handful of gear with extras to spare and a few that poor Jeannie would have to repair. His eyes how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!, but I knew we were in trouble when he called out mal- parry. He started the drills for both footwork and speed, and that’s when I thought I saw Ruth start to leave. We survived all the drills and were starting to bout. Then we looked at the clock and saw time had run out. The foilists took off, leaving the strips all intact. The remaining club members were left to re-pack. They spoke not a word, but went straight to their packing, and filled all the crates ‘til the plastic was cracking. We followed Coach Chuck out to his truck, and fit everything in, with a whole lot of luck. He jumped in the cab, turned the key on, and burning up rubber in an instant was gone, but, I heard him exclaim, as he careened out of sight,.....” I’ve a lunge drill prepared for next Monday night!” |
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