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Authors: Maureen Lee
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‘Before you grab a desk, this will be your form room for the next year. Wherever you sit, it’s where you’ll stay. I want no chopping and changing in the months ahead. If you fall out with the girl next to you, then it’s just too bad.’
There was a chorus of urgent whisperings. ‘Can I sit by you?
Please!
’
As Jeannie knew no one, it didn’t matter where she sat. She chose a desk in the middle and not long afterwards was joined by a pretty girl, healthily tanned, with warm brown eyes and dark hair plaited in a thick pigtail halfway down her back.
‘Hello, I’m Elaine Bailey. Do you mind if I sit by you?’
‘I’m Jeannie Flowers and I don’t mind a bit.’
‘That’s a pretty name!’ The girl threw a shabby leather satchel on to the desk. Her gymslip wasn’t new and looked like a hand-me-down, as did her blouse, which had a frayed collar.
‘Elaine’s pretty too,’ said Jeannie. She reckoned her new companion must be very poor, but when they remained together in the dinner hour, eating their sandwiches together in the canteen, it turned out Elaine’s father was a doctor and she was the third of six children – four brothers and a sister called Marcia. Elaine’s uniform had belonged to Marcia, who was in the fifth form of the same school, and she didn’t mind that the gymslip was too short.
‘Mine’s too long.’ Jeannie grimaced. ‘My mother wanted to take it up a few inches, but Dad wouldn’t let her. He said there’d be a mark when it was let down.’
‘And she let him
stop
her,’ Elaine gasped. ‘My mum doesn’t take a blind bit of notice of Dad. Mind you, gymslips are the last thing on his mind. It takes him all his time to remember our names, let alone notice what we’re wearing. Oh, gosh!’ She clapped her hand over her mouth. ‘Did that sound rude? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to criticise your mum and dad.’
‘That’s all right,’ Jeannie said stiffly.
‘Oh, look! I’ve hurt your feelings. I’m terribly sorry, Jeannie.’ Elaine was genuinely upset. ‘In fact, your gymslip looks very smart, almost the New Look.’
‘The New Look went out years ago.’ Nevertheless, she smiled. She liked Elaine and had already made up her mind she would make a very good friend.
At her old school, Jeannie had always been top of the class, but she quickly discovered she was nothing out of the ordinary when compared to Elaine Bailey, whose brain power was prodigious. She only had to scan the pages of a book and be able to remember every relevant detail, whereas Jeannie had to read it over and over, making notes, then study the notes before she felt she knew it properly.
Elaine wanted to be a doctor, like her father, but specialising in psychiatry. She was quietly studious and didn’t show off by always putting up her hand when the teacher asked a question, as some girls did, though Jeannie didn’t doubt she knew the answer.
Despite her phenomenal memory, Elaine was terribly absent-minded. She consistently forgot to bring the right books to school or the homework that was due to be handed in that day. Fortunately, the Baileys only lived a few minutes away in Walton Vale, so there was usually time to rush home for whatever Elaine had forgotten.
The two girls formed an unspoken partnership. Jeannie, who arrived early at school, waited by the gate for Elaine and checked she’d brought everything, while Elaine explained to her the more obscure points of algebra and geometry.
At the end of the second week Elaine invited Jeannie to tea after school the following Wednesday.
‘I’d love to, but I’ll have to ask my dad first.’
‘What’s her name again?’ Tom wanted to know when Jeannie told him about the invitation.
‘Elaine Bailey. She lives in Walton Vale, only a little walk from Orrell Park. She’s terribly clever.’
‘I’m sure they’re a very respectable family, Tom, if their daughter goes to Orrell Park Grammar.’ Rose was watching the proceedings
There was a chorus of urgent whisperings. ‘Can I sit by you?
Please!
’
As Jeannie knew no one, it didn’t matter where she sat. She chose a desk in the middle and not long afterwards was joined by a pretty girl, healthily tanned, with warm brown eyes and dark hair plaited in a thick pigtail halfway down her back.
‘Hello, I’m Elaine Bailey. Do you mind if I sit by you?’
‘I’m Jeannie Flowers and I don’t mind a bit.’
‘That’s a pretty name!’ The girl threw a shabby leather satchel on to the desk. Her gymslip wasn’t new and looked like a hand-me-down, as did her blouse, which had a frayed collar.
‘Elaine’s pretty too,’ said Jeannie. She reckoned her new companion must be very poor, but when they remained together in the dinner hour, eating their sandwiches together in the canteen, it turned out Elaine’s father was a doctor and she was the third of six children – four brothers and a sister called Marcia. Elaine’s uniform had belonged to Marcia, who was in the fifth form of the same school, and she didn’t mind that the gymslip was too short.
‘Mine’s too long.’ Jeannie grimaced. ‘My mother wanted to take it up a few inches, but Dad wouldn’t let her. He said there’d be a mark when it was let down.’
‘And she let him
stop
her,’ Elaine gasped. ‘My mum doesn’t take a blind bit of notice of Dad. Mind you, gymslips are the last thing on his mind. It takes him all his time to remember our names, let alone notice what we’re wearing. Oh, gosh!’ She clapped her hand over her mouth. ‘Did that sound rude? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to criticise your mum and dad.’
‘That’s all right,’ Jeannie said stiffly.
‘Oh, look! I’ve hurt your feelings. I’m terribly sorry, Jeannie.’ Elaine was genuinely upset. ‘In fact, your gymslip looks very smart, almost the New Look.’
‘The New Look went out years ago.’ Nevertheless, she smiled. She liked Elaine and had already made up her mind she would make a very good friend.
At her old school, Jeannie had always been top of the class, but she quickly discovered she was nothing out of the ordinary when compared to Elaine Bailey, whose brain power was prodigious. She only had to scan the pages of a book and be able to remember every relevant detail, whereas Jeannie had to read it over and over, making notes, then study the notes before she felt she knew it properly.
Elaine wanted to be a doctor, like her father, but specialising in psychiatry. She was quietly studious and didn’t show off by always putting up her hand when the teacher asked a question, as some girls did, though Jeannie didn’t doubt she knew the answer.
Despite her phenomenal memory, Elaine was terribly absent-minded. She consistently forgot to bring the right books to school or the homework that was due to be handed in that day. Fortunately, the Baileys only lived a few minutes away in Walton Vale, so there was usually time to rush home for whatever Elaine had forgotten.
The two girls formed an unspoken partnership. Jeannie, who arrived early at school, waited by the gate for Elaine and checked she’d brought everything, while Elaine explained to her the more obscure points of algebra and geometry.
At the end of the second week Elaine invited Jeannie to tea after school the following Wednesday.
‘I’d love to, but I’ll have to ask my dad first.’
‘What’s her name again?’ Tom wanted to know when Jeannie told him about the invitation.
‘Elaine Bailey. She lives in Walton Vale, only a little walk from Orrell Park. She’s terribly clever.’
‘I’m sure they’re a very respectable family, Tom, if their daughter goes to Orrell Park Grammar.’ Rose was watching the proceedings
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