Read Online Mavis Belfrage by Alasdair Gray - Free Book Online Page B

three o’clock a no longer young, slightly plump teacher stood in an open doorway gazing at the dial of his wristwatch. He concentrated on the second hand to avoid facing a chattering queue of twelve-year-old boys who chattered and jostled each other in ways he despaired of preventing.
    â€œControl yourselves, keep in line,” he told them, “no need for impatience. Every one stand still beside your neighbour. If you aren’t standing by your neighbour when the bell rings I’ll make you …”
    An electric bell rang and the queue charged from the room. As the boys poured past he muttered, “All right,off you go,” then closed the door behind them.
    â€œWell McGrotty,” he said striding briskly to his desk, “this is the end of the week and no doubt you’re as keen to leave as I am. Let’s get rid of the painful business fast. Put out your hand.”
    He took from the desk a leather belt which forked at the end like a snake’s tongue. Raising it till the thongs fell behind his right shoulder he approached a small poorly dressed boy who stood with shoulders hunched close to ears, hands thrust deep in pockets of shorts.
    â€œHand out!” said the teacher again.
    â€œNaw sir,” muttered McGrotty, thrusting his hands in deeper.
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œI was just picknup a pencil.”
    The teacher sighed and said, “All right, McGrotty, since you seem in no hurry to leave we’ll review your case once more. Did you hear me tell the class – the whole class – that nobody must leave their seat without first putting up their hand and asking my permission?”
    â€œYes sir.”
    â€œDid I also say that whoever left their seat without permission would get three of the belt?”
    â€œYes sir.”
    â€œAnd then you left your seat without permission. Yes or no?”
    â€œYes sir.”
    â€œSo put out your hand.”
    â€œNaw sir.”
    â€œWhy
not
?”
    â€œCos I was just picknup a pencil.”
    The teacher sighed again, sat at his desk and spoke with the belt draped over his knee.
    â€œMcGrotty, I realize as well as you do that there is nothing wicked – nothing antisocial – nothing criminal in leaving a seat to pick up a dropped pencil. But we had anarchy in the classroom today. Anarchy! Pellets were fired, someone threw a book while I was getting rulers from the cupboard, whenever I turned my back somebody did something horrible to someone else. I heard you squeal loud enough. Who kicked you? You didn’t have that when you came to my classroom this afternoon.”
    The teacher pointed to a livid bruise below McGrotty’s dirty left knee cap. McGrotty glowered silently at the floor.
    â€œDid Sludden do that?”
    McGrotty said nothing.
    â€œDid McPake?”
    â€œI didnae do anything.”
    â€œI am perfectly aware, McGrotty, that you are neither a troublemaker nor a bully. But I cannot protect you from troublemakers and bullies in a class where nobody sits still and nobody does what I say. That is why I announced that I would give three of the belt to the first boy who left his seat without permission. Sludden and McPake knew I meant it. Why, McGrotty, why in the name of goodness didn’t
you
?”
    â€œI was just picknup a …”
    The teacher struck a crashing blow on the desklid with the belt, sprang up and roared, “Hand out McGrotty! We’ve no witnesses here! If you don’t take this belt on your hand you’ll feel it where it lands on you!”
    He advanced wielding the belt over his head. McGrottybacked into a corner, shut his eyes tight and stuck a hand supported by the other hand as far out as possible. His face, screwed into agonized expectation of worse agony, upset the teacher who paused and pleaded, “Be a
man
, McGrotty!”
    McGrotty stood still with outstretched hands and tears sliding down his cheeks. The teacher flung the belt onto his