Fifty years ago: Saturday, 29th May 1976
(Sedbergh School, Cumbria. Age 14)
French: it was a “bring and tell”. I read out a few lines of French from this month’s copy of Penthouse. We have a dorm porn fund back in our House. The article is titled “The Girls of the Lido” and is about Paris cabaret dancers. Entirely educational, obviously. Oh-là -là .
Chemistry: Winnit paused during a multiple-choice test to scratch at an unwelcome lodger hidden between his bum cheeks while the rest of us worked on. I finish before almost everyone else by using the only strategy that makes sense to me: guess the lot. It’s a multi-guess test after all.
Afterwards, he demonstrated something involving hydrogen, and we’re marked again on our practical work. I’m usually good at practicals. It’s basically a game of observation and copycatting.
English with Barmy. A new boy I recognise from Mowden reads a passage from Twelfth Night before we get our marked preps back. He holds back and stumbles over the lines, sounding uncertain and exposed in front of everyone.
Break.
Projects: carving wooden salad servers.
Lunch.
Games: swimming. I’m still not allowed to train with Lane II even though I’m faster than some of them. Hierarchy counts more than talent – ridiculous. I find I’m holding back in Lane III, struggling to swim slowly and lapping the last off in the lane.
Projects again. I work on a cassette rack instead. It feels far more useful than the salad servers.
Game of Squash with the Piano Man. I win. But we decide to form a band. He’ll play all the instruments; I’ll sing up front. Decided.
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