Com men f a r y — by Stephanie Wiebe Regular readers may recall a column I. wrote (August 31) * about little boys, prompted by a letter from Mr. Henry Wiebe from Kitchener,: Ontario. I described them as ‘‘dirty little , beasts’? and accused Mr. Wiebe of originating from that species known for flushing washcloths, spitting, and digging up worms. Well, Mr. ‘Wiebe has requested equal time, in defense of his own kind. “<1'll admit that you’re pro- bably right about my missing front tooth, or about my hug- ging my dog, Rexie, whom I lov- ed very much, or about the sleeve nose-wiping. Out looking for a cow that had calved and was cunningly hiding with her calf in the thickest part of the B.C. bush, and. it raining, a spider-web over your face, a spider down your neck, and a twig-lash across an open eye, you couldn’t always wait for clean linen or a kleenex. Also, how could you catch the prickly catfish at the Mountain Road Dam in Hammersley Prairie, near Agassiz, without a good supply of worms, the best worms always to be found under the manure pile. ‘“‘But, Stephanie, you’re wrong about the boots in the bath. I would never have got away with that, with my dear Mom scrubbing my back in our warm kitchen beside the Me- Clary woodstove of a Saturday night. And you can’t flush in an outhouse — just sprinkle a cup of lime into the pit. ~~ “Little boys. They’re. so cheerfully noisy, busy, en- trepreneurial, optimistic, and so vulnerable. “First day, of school, September 6, I — who don’t go to school anymore — watch them trudging by with their packsacks in two’s and four’s. So innocently unaware. Doc- tors, preachers, teachers, salesmen, soldiers, husbands, lovers — eventually retirees. I don’t want anyone to see that just then I have to wipe something, a midge, from my eye. “What wins little boys my sympathy is that they’re so unaware of what fate has in store for them — especially at the hands of little girls. Plans begin for Riverboat Days TERRACE — A-new executive for the Riverboal Days Commit- tee was elected Monday night, and according to Joan Cox they are already getting organized for an event which seems to get bet- ter every year. Elected to the 1989 committce were: Joan Cox, president; Daisy McAlpine, vice president; Gayle Holtom, treasurer; and Mary Ann Burdett, secretary. Also elected as directors were Sharon Taylor, Gladys Oliver and Cliff Bolton. Cox says about 12 people al- tended the mecting and. four ‘clubs and local organizations were _ represented. She adds, however, that every group in “About little girls, little boys - -could write volumes... I guess some of them do. They’re the lit- tle goody-goody-two-shoes, butter-doesn’t-melt-in-the-silly- sweet-little-mouths-of. They’re the teachers’ pets, the ones who do all their schoolwork on time, who always earn the best marks, who never get into trouble. But lurk to do it to little boys. ‘Tf they’re a sister, and in the next grade, but still in the same room, they come home with “Do you know what He said to the teacher?’ or ‘Do you know what he did in school today?’ ‘“‘As, for instance, the time in Grade Two that my one-year-— - older sister, Sue, told Mom and ’ Dad that I’d been in trouble with the principal again — Miss Smart, of course — because I’d lassoed pretty,. fourth-grade Olga Stepaniuk, whom I ad- mired, by the leg, and the older boys telling me an amputation was going to be required. _ “There was a licking at home — in the barn, after milking. Bent over a milking stool, Lhad a good look at the: straw fresh and clean on the floor where Squirrel (a cow) stood. But | didn’t blame or resent sister Sue. I love her dearly. I guess I knew I deserved what I got — was perpetually in trouble anyway. Nor did I resent Miss Smart. I thought her pretty, and smart- . looking with her dark bobbed hair — something like my wife Barbara. That’s what little boys are like — noble — and sweet: ‘Love ya, Mom’ (with a hug). “Masochists are what little | boys are. Growing older, they just grow up into older masochists, the little boy. still there beneath the camouflage of age and ‘wisdom’. And they keep on marvelling at the wonderful creatures into which the little girls grow, when their figures begin to go in and out in all the. right places. Keep wondering at the way they (the little girls) can drive them (the little boys) crazy. Little girls — and little ones grown older — keep doing it to the little boys all the time. Although, since when has that changed much ‘in the scheme of things’? ‘The miracle is that the little girls grow up into mature women — wives and mothers — town should be thinking about Riverboat Days right now. She explains that the more dhat is known about what events will be included, the better. the Chamber of Commerce Infocen- tre can do in promoting the evenl, The first event — the Kit- sumkalum. Salmon Barbecue which Cox says altratts visitors 4rom all over the world -- was put on the: list, during the mecling, and she hopes ‘that others will follow soon. Cox says that next year’s event will -run for. five days, beginning on - ‘Aug. 3 anid ending on Aug. 7. - Tremblay and McDonald's enroute to that stage, even delight in their reverting occa- sionally, ‘perversely, to the earlier little-girl state — aS you do. As long as one of them is kid enough, compassionate enough, beautiful enough to be willing to share her life with one Of the lit- tle boys — willing to give him her love, to permit him to wor- . ship her, to try to make her hap- py. . “But next time you're looking at yourself in the mirror, putting on whatever makeup you put on, whatever primping you do to . keep your husband waiting, just - remember, Stephanie, that beau- ty is in the eye of the beholder. Which means that what matters is not'what you do.to your face © but what’s in’ the. eyes — and heart of that little boy who has the good fortune to be your hus- band. it - o “And still you'll have the last word, Can’t win!”’ You’re right, Mr. Wiebe. The last word is ‘‘Thanks’’. -INTERSECTI TERRACE — After reviewing an.RCMP report, the city has decided that a four-way stop at the Lazelle-Sparks intersection is not necessary. The report was requested because it was felt the intersection may pose a safety hazard — Lazelle is the only street north of Lakelse Ave. ‘Steven, 6, was enjoying s afternoon kindergarten at ome rather damp swinging before ( Kiti K’Shan Schoo! last week. He. says he likes rain because it makes mushrooms grow. . __ which is a through road at Sparks St., and it is the only in- | tersection on Sparks at which motorists must stop. According to the RCMP in- vestigation however, the in- tersection is well-contructed with clearly visible stop signs, ON DECLARED SAFE and an excessive number of ac-. cidents have not occurred at the intersection. Their report shows: _ that there were three accidents in. 1986, four in 1987 and four in’ 1988, and they say this is ‘‘not in excess’’ of the average for other: intersections in the city. A $2,000 cash donation from McDonald’s Restaurant, combined with several other recent contributions, brings the Terrace Fire Safety House sever above are McDonald's public relations officer Karen al steps closer to reality. Pictured. Focker, Terrace firefighter Ray & manager Malcolm Hilcove. Fire Safety House donations build | Terrace firefighter Ray Tremblay says that businesses and organizations are solidly behind the Terrace Fire Safety House and the project is coming together nicely... “The most recent contributors are: Terrace Builders, all interior ‘paneling; Cedarland Tire, four tires; GM Industries, $100 plus a special discount on - steel local | framing; Terrace Interiors, all paint and wood preservatives; Elker Auto Supply, 12-volt elec- trical system and brake controls; Emco Supply, exhaust fan and registers; Skeena Wood Pro- ducts, three exterior doors; Ran- dy Haigh, door locks and passage sets; CMO Carpets, all carpeting ‘including installation; Convoy Supplies, exterior siding, roofing and insulation; | E.B. Horsman, 110-volt- elec- trical panel and a roll of wire; and Repap, all framing lumber. _. Tremblay says that Northwest Community College should start putting the frame together this week, and they hope to see it. completed by the spring. He said the value of the completed Safe- ty House will be about $25,000.