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Authors: Andy Mulligan
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children sat back, wrapped in duvets, surrounded by the debris of their
celebrations. Nobody could dance another step. Nobody could take another mouthful, solid or liquid. Brother Doonan had been welcomed and a frost-bitten Father O’Hanrahan had been wheeled in
briefly. Flavio had been introduced, but had left immediately to sort out the animals. There was only one thing left and an expectant hush had descended.
‘Well, boys,’ said the headmaster. He pulled off his beard and hat, and stood before his school. His eyes were shining. ‘Boys and Millie. What adventures we have had together .
. . And here we again, facing new ones. Who knows what is about to happen this term . . .’
‘Sanchez, sir?’ said a young orphan.
The headmaster raised a hand. ‘There were times last term when I said, “That’s enough, Headmaster! The Ribblestrop dream has died!” But it was you who relit the candle
and took the candle to the torch. It was you who showed me that a true Ribblestropian never gives up, and never says, enough – indeed, that could be a second motto, couldn’t it? Never enough! We are ready, aren’t we?’
‘Yes, sir!’ shouted everyone.
‘I am so glad. You will be aware, of course, that we have been fortunate in acquiring a zoo within the last few hours. Our thanks must go to Sam, Oli, Millie, and Ruskin for that
sensational piece of foresight. I am awarding each of them a house point, which is just one of the new initiatives this term. House points will be awarded for acts of care, courtesy and courage.
Indeed, any act that develops Ribblestrop as a community will be eligible for a house point, for a community cannot—’
‘Time for the film, sir?’ said Captain Routon, quietly.
‘Yes! I just want to add, before the excitement of the video . . . that we will be holding Speech Day in a tent, at the end of this term. I have had a very quick consultation with my
colleagues here and we feel that the term should climax in a circus.’
There were immediate gasps.
‘A circus in which you will be the performers, of course. So I will be inviting all of your parents . . . I know that some of you don’t have parents, but that should not
prevent you taking part and . . . receiving your prizes.’
The orphans looked confused.
Professor Worthington touched the headmaster’s arm. ‘Time for the film, Giles.’
‘Yes. So I want you to think about that and ask yourselves, ”What can I do for Speech Day?” Now I am going to hand over to our newly appointed Head Boy—’
There was another, louder gasp of excitement.
‘No, no – not in the flesh. As I explained, Sanchez is in South America—’
The excitement broke into disappointment.
‘I told you that! He has been delayed by family business – quiet, please. However, his friend Millie Roads – who travelled with him intrepidly through the mountains of Colombia
– has brought a videotape, on which I believe he has recorded some wise words. Is that right, Millie?’
‘Yes, sir.’
Millie had sent her luggage ahead from the airport, but the one item she had not let out of her sight was the Sanchez video. She had helped him make it. She had been sworn to secrecy and not
mentioned it to anyone except the headmaster. She produced it now, wrapped in tinsel and foil.
‘And Millie,’ said the headmaster. ‘I wonder if now is the time to announce to the school that just as we have a Head Boy, we also have a Head Girl.’
Millie blinked. ‘What?’
‘Yes, we’ve done a lot of planning over the holidays, and as a staff, we went into this very carefully. You are Ribblestrop’s Head Girl.’
Sam started to clap and very soon the applause was deafening.
‘But I’m the only girl,’ said Millie.
‘We think that you and Sanchez will provide the necessary leadership. We could think of no better role models.’ He stood to shake her hand and pressed a small enamel badge into her
hand.
‘What am I supposed to do?’ said Millie.
celebrations. Nobody could dance another step. Nobody could take another mouthful, solid or liquid. Brother Doonan had been welcomed and a frost-bitten Father O’Hanrahan had been wheeled in
briefly. Flavio had been introduced, but had left immediately to sort out the animals. There was only one thing left and an expectant hush had descended.
‘Well, boys,’ said the headmaster. He pulled off his beard and hat, and stood before his school. His eyes were shining. ‘Boys and Millie. What adventures we have had together .
. . And here we again, facing new ones. Who knows what is about to happen this term . . .’
‘Sanchez, sir?’ said a young orphan.
The headmaster raised a hand. ‘There were times last term when I said, “That’s enough, Headmaster! The Ribblestrop dream has died!” But it was you who relit the candle
and took the candle to the torch. It was you who showed me that a true Ribblestropian never gives up, and never says, enough – indeed, that could be a second motto, couldn’t it? Never enough! We are ready, aren’t we?’
‘Yes, sir!’ shouted everyone.
‘I am so glad. You will be aware, of course, that we have been fortunate in acquiring a zoo within the last few hours. Our thanks must go to Sam, Oli, Millie, and Ruskin for that
sensational piece of foresight. I am awarding each of them a house point, which is just one of the new initiatives this term. House points will be awarded for acts of care, courtesy and courage.
Indeed, any act that develops Ribblestrop as a community will be eligible for a house point, for a community cannot—’
‘Time for the film, sir?’ said Captain Routon, quietly.
‘Yes! I just want to add, before the excitement of the video . . . that we will be holding Speech Day in a tent, at the end of this term. I have had a very quick consultation with my
colleagues here and we feel that the term should climax in a circus.’
There were immediate gasps.
‘A circus in which you will be the performers, of course. So I will be inviting all of your parents . . . I know that some of you don’t have parents, but that should not
prevent you taking part and . . . receiving your prizes.’
The orphans looked confused.
Professor Worthington touched the headmaster’s arm. ‘Time for the film, Giles.’
‘Yes. So I want you to think about that and ask yourselves, ”What can I do for Speech Day?” Now I am going to hand over to our newly appointed Head Boy—’
There was another, louder gasp of excitement.
‘No, no – not in the flesh. As I explained, Sanchez is in South America—’
The excitement broke into disappointment.
‘I told you that! He has been delayed by family business – quiet, please. However, his friend Millie Roads – who travelled with him intrepidly through the mountains of Colombia
– has brought a videotape, on which I believe he has recorded some wise words. Is that right, Millie?’
‘Yes, sir.’
Millie had sent her luggage ahead from the airport, but the one item she had not let out of her sight was the Sanchez video. She had helped him make it. She had been sworn to secrecy and not
mentioned it to anyone except the headmaster. She produced it now, wrapped in tinsel and foil.
‘And Millie,’ said the headmaster. ‘I wonder if now is the time to announce to the school that just as we have a Head Boy, we also have a Head Girl.’
Millie blinked. ‘What?’
‘Yes, we’ve done a lot of planning over the holidays, and as a staff, we went into this very carefully. You are Ribblestrop’s Head Girl.’
Sam started to clap and very soon the applause was deafening.
‘But I’m the only girl,’ said Millie.
‘We think that you and Sanchez will provide the necessary leadership. We could think of no better role models.’ He stood to shake her hand and pressed a small enamel badge into her
hand.
‘What am I supposed to do?’ said Millie.
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