Jefferson High Hall of Fame Inductions bg Ferde Pacheco - (Continued from page 21) Determined to guard their Putting down the milk bot- secret with his life, Ferdie tie, Leona wiped her hands on rolled over in his bed, putting her apron, and took Ferdie's bis leg on the window sill try- hand in hers. She smiled mg to get as much of a breeze as he could on his legs. He fell a beautiful smile, her eyes asleep, his a blu of im-: crinkling in an attractive way. asleep, is md a blur of im- Ferdie could see that she was ages. The row of dingy houses, happy to meet him, yet she did Sam's White Palace, the fright- happy to meet him, yet she did ening man next door, the fresh ening man next door, the fresh not speak. aroma of the front room, the "Nabout ths bonus.ly got one le smell of cedar furniture polish, about this bonus. If I hear and the magnificent, mon- from your mamma that you are strous grand piano. At last, not eating the evening meal, to see the fabled grand piano that you are not wiping up the to see the fabled grand piano that you plate, then the bonus after a lifetime of hearing about supper plate, then the bonus it. Yes, it existed. It was even "No problem about that grander than he had imagined. Sam. We don't eat about my house The pictures, ghosts of Sam's Sam. We don't eat at my house past, were clearly in his mind. until Papa comes home, and past, were clearly in his mind. that ain't until eight, most But Where was Leona's picture? "Isn't," said Sam, placing a Questions, until sleep came generous piece of the fresh pie and the last thing he thought gen his mous piece of th, and wipin about was Leona. How beauti- The Thomas Jefferson High School Alumni Association held its Ninth Annual with the mlean napkin g t ful she was. How soft were her Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Friday November o at TECO Plaza. Ferdie had trouble sleeping hands, how lovely her smile. New Hall of Fame inductees are: Adel Sanchez '63, M.G. "Manny" Alvarez that night, his head reeling He was aware that she had '51, Sebastian "Buster" Agliano '52(his wife, Mirta, accepted a posthumous with the images of what he had not spoken, but she had com- award on his behalf), Elvira Garcia '52, Ted Wittner '46, and Joseph E. Diaz seen, and his stomach aching municated her exact feelings to seen, and his stomach aching him; Wordless communiction, '53, Also honored was Joe Garcia (a Jesuit alumnus) who was awarded a from the full supper he had like the dolphins he played Distinguished Service Award by the TJHS Alumni Association. Mostly thouh, Frdie felt a with at the beach. And finally Mostly though, Ferdie felt a he realized that only J.B. had sense ofaccomplishment. He evermet Leona, ad now, Sam, had been taken into an adult's ever met Leona, and now, Sam, confidence. Notjust ny adult his friend, had trusted him to confidence. Not just any adult, meet Leona. not an uncle, or one of J.B.'s meet Leona. friends, but the most impor- Summer was coming to a tant one in his immediate life, close, and the boy was already Sweet Sam. close, ad the boy was already First and foremost was his regretting starting school and TA awareness that Sam had taken having to give up the daily IIIJ I A a big cwareneshat Snce am ha taken rounds with Sweet Sam, and his chme. The implication th the luxury of the late afternoon showed a real and palpable onus. evidence of friendships that J.B. was happy that the boy were not lost on the yungha had responded so well to the were hno lost on the young t work of the summer. Instead boy. He had never thought that of laying with his friends, friendship of this kind existed of playing with his friend in between a b0y and an adult, Ferdie had to ride around in between a boy and arn adult, a hot truck and make deliver- and also between a white boy ies, and more surprising, he and a black man. seemed to relish the time spent M onica Sr He was bursting to tell some- with Sam. Already J.B. had one of his aftemoon of discov- detected a marked change in rcu urt Judge eby. He would telh Manolin, his his vocabulary which he attrib- best friend at the garage, but uted to his accelerated reading. he would tell his parents, and With Sam he had gotten to see that would definitely spell the a surgical operation at Trelles' Certnl, J.B. or hnus afternoons. Clinic, had seen an autopsy at could not be told. Not only Tampa General, and met most would that result in unemploy- of the important doctors and ment for him for the rest of the druggists in the town. Surely mmet for him for the rest of te this was one of the brightest summer, but it could go hard ideas Sam had ever had. After Bhtersmrrer onthis summer there would be that Sam could have possibly tno do subt that thereoy would be Fu ngTapas GrOith Snce 1931. cleared it with J.B. never en-- tered his mind. (Continued on page 23) Happy Holi'ays A Successful 2007 A special thanks to Congressman Gus Bilirakis and Commissioner Mark Sharpefor allowing us to represent therm in the 2006 elections .from MPA Consulting, Inc. ' "Grassroots Organizational Professionals" 813-689-5659 Tis the season for A kindling tihe fire of 'hospitality in the hall, the geical Pire of charity iin the heart. Happy Holidaqs Th LAys Gaou, LLC KEVIN WHITE County Commissioner District 3 [