As I recalled in the summer of 1966, I had entered pre-preparatory programs. There were at least 75 students. Only person I knew well was Richard Brooks, a classmate of mine at New York School for the Deaf (NYSD).
Then we met two “not so nice guys” from Philadelphia. They were Walter Camenisch and Randy Fisher. Richard and I sighed. We felt like customarily 2 vs. 2.
Note: (Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (PSD) and NYSD had a long history of rivalry’s sports competition. The administration of schools tended to blame their players for denying (always) some parts of damaged properties in the dormitory.)
During our leisure times, four of us were involved in pestering and mocking, even at bedtime, at the cafeteria and outing trips. We were wrestling, at most times, we were struggling hard! That had continued for several weeks.
Near to the end of the programs, most students participated in playing a tennis table for tourney. It must be 2 out of 3 games to win the tourney.
I beat others all so easily without a single loss. Until reaching the finals, I was in. Who else? Walter was in, too! I sighed again. Both of us had not yet lost any games. Then we continued our battle. First win, I got. And then Walter won the second game. We were even! We had a heated battle in the last game. Finally, I won! It proved me to be the best player of all summer programs!
No matter what we did so far! Overall, they were good wonderful guys so I enjoyed being a classmate of 1971 in my moments of the years.
My little profile: Lois Chan from Hong Kong for 21 years, travelling, trekking, and lap swimming. Leading ASL for Seniors in the community.