Lowewood Academy

It was silent in the changing rooms of the gym. Cassie, Violet and I were all in our games kit, as instructed. The clock ticked round to 7pm. None of us really wanted it to get there, but the second hand ticked round inexorably.

I tried to control the butterflies in my stomach. Was it worse going second? I’d tried to talk to Felix and Charlie today about what had happened to them yesterday, but they would say nothing. But Felix’s white, closed face made me fear the worst.

I’d been caned before. How hard could it be?

Looking at Violet and Cassie’s scared faces; somehow I knew that this wasn’t going to be your usual type of punishment. They’d been here longer than me, had heard the rumours about previous councils. I cursed myself again for letting things go so far. Because I knew, that without my encouragement, these two would never have gone as far as they did. Why did I have to take so many risks?

The minute hand arrived at 7pm, and like a cuckoo out of a clock, Rosemary Woodward opened the door of the gym.

“You’d better come in.” she said sternly.

Fuck.

(more…)

‘Dear Cassie,

Off to London for the G20 protests, we have not forgotten your plight at Lowewood but have bigger fish to fry!  Expect a visit from me over Easter and don’t forget to drink the healing tea I gave you.

Clare’

I read it once, read it again and swore.  Healing tea, she’d be attempting to palm me off with woolly socks before I knew it!  It was typical that when I actually needed her she had gone off in pursuit of some other cause.  My plan to get her to take on the combined might of Dr Probeum and Matron in order to get me out of my annual medical was now a definite no-go.  Bollocks!

“Ah, Cassandra, leg all in one piece this time I see,”  Dr Probeum jested and I gave him a forced smile.  The fact of the matter was that we both knew full well that I was as strong as a horse and this was just an opportunity for the old git to get his rocks off.  I’d heard all about sixth form medicals…

(more…)

“Let’s go everyone, last circuit, up up up!”  I shouted, going for upbeat enthusiasm despite my own shaking legs.

“We normally only do two circuits, I’m going to die!”  Abigail moaned.  I’d kept her on the squad as a peace gesture but if she thought that meant I was going to cut her any slack she had another thing coming.

“Better die fighting than live on your knees!  Besides, do you want to keep losing to Cheltenham bloody Ladies?  Let’s go!”  I retorted; breathing a sigh of relief as she sulkily started doing the most half-arsed squat jumps I’d ever seen.

“Thighs parallel to the ground…with a proper jump!” I gasped between my own crunches.  I’d been over the moon when Claudia had told me that she was appointing me Rowing Captain but it was hard work.  It was unheard of for a lower-sixth girl to be put in charge of a team, so a pretty big deal and I was determined to make the most of the opportunity.  Daddy was pleased as well, which went some way to making up for Clare’s irritating habit of turning up mid session and tutting at me!

(more…)