Lowewood Academy

“Hip hip, hooray!
Hip hip, hooray!
Hip hip, hooray!”

The Dashwood sixth form contingent joined in the cheers heartily. It was a long-standing tradition, this, for each house to commandeer the Prefects’ Common Room for a night in the last week of term for a house celebration. Dashwood’s turn had eventually come around, and here we all were. It’s meant to be a genteel occasion – no drunken debauchery here, just enough fizz for a flute each with which to toast Dr Higgins and Miss Golding – and for them, in turn, to wish us all the best.

Alex had led the toasts, as House Captain, and I stood proudly by as I watched my husband – husband!! – do his duty. I’m sure in two months’ time, when we move on to a rather larger educational establishment, it will feel a little strange to be small fish in a big pond, rather than the other way round, but of course I’m looking forward to it – anonymity can be a good thing too!

My thoughts were interrupted by a tap on the shoulder.

“Penny for them?” asked Miss Golding, smiling at me.

“Oh, just thinking about Uni, Miss. Wondering what it’ll be like to be somewhere where you don’t know everyone, where you can keep secrets, where you’re just part of the wallpaper, really.”

“Oh, Pippa, I hardly think you’ll be part of the wallpaper. Either of you,” as she nodded over at Alex. “But tell me, do you know your syllabus yet? Who you’ll be studying?”

“Well,” I replied, “assuming I’ll get the grades for Durham…”

“Yes, I think we can safely assume that, don’t you?” she said,  and then poked her tongue out at me.

I pulled a ‘not-counting-my-chickens-just-in-case’ face and continued.

“…then the first term is Odyssey 2, 4, and 9, some Hesiod, with Ovid and Cicero on the other side. Plus, you know, History and Philosophy and unseens and prose and… Goodness, it panics me a bit and then I have to force myself to remember I won’t have all the other lessons to do as well!”

“A good job, by the sound of it,” Miss Golding laughed. “But don’t worry, there’ll be plenty of time for other things too. If I can give you some advice, from an old crone, it’s to do lots of other stuff as well as studying. The more you put in, the more you’ll get out – so take part. Join clubs and societies – and *go* to them. Meet people, try new things, and see what takes your fancy. I’m sure it’ll be all too easy to stay wrapped up in Alex, but honestly, Pippa, this is your time too – make the most of it, eh?”

I nodded. “I’ve already checked out the debating society.”

“Good, good. But don’t just stick to what you know, eh? Try Circus Soc too. Or Wine Soc. Or…”

She was interrupted by a loud crash, as the door to the common room flew open, rebounding heavily from the stopper with such force it was lucky it didn’t bash the entrant on the head.

Actually, on second thoughts, it was unlucky. For staggering into the room came William de Lacey.

“Speaking of Wine Soc…” muttered Miss Golding, who excused herself and made her way smartly to Dr Higgins’ side, quickly engaging him in conversation.

She wasn’t wrong. It was plain to see that William had had more than just one flute of champagne this evening. Far more.

He swayed over to the drinks table, and could soon be heard muttering under his breath as he picked up each empty bottle in turn, shaking it and then casting it roughly aside as he realised they were all empty. Faced with the prospect of orange juice or sparkling mineral water, which were all that was on offer, he then seemed to abandon the idea of a drink entirely, turning his back to the table.

His eyes scanned the room. I wonder how he felt, realising that all eyes were on him? Dismayed? Proud? He probably didn’t even notice, given his combination of narcissism and inebriation…

Finally he spotted his target. Which happened to be Alex. Marching up to him he finally stopped when they were nose to nose. Alex, wrinkling his at the smell of booze coming from his peer, took a step backwards, but clearly William was up for a confrontation, merely stepping forward to fill the gap once more.

“Where’s the booze, boyo?” he slurred, and laughed at his own humour – never a good sign.

“Inside you, by the smell of it,” replied Alex, in measured tones. “There’s none left here though, so I tell you what, old chap, why don’t you just go back to whichever party you’ve just left and carry on there?”

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” replied William, nodding fervently. “Oh yes. Just get rid of William. Just in case… just in case… You think you’re so fucking clever, don’t you?”

There was an intake of breath from the room at the swearword – I’m sure we’ve all used it before, but we were all conscious that there were teachers present – but William seemingly didn’t notice, as he carried on.

“So high and mighty, so above us all? With your Head Boy and your House Captain and your sports teams and your good grades…

“…and your wife,” he pointed at me, “and your bastard son. Well, you’re not all that now, are you, Alex ap Iorwerth?”

And he span around and faced the rest of the room, grinning.

I don’t know what he expected. Shock? Uproar? Outrage?

Who knows.

I’m sure he wasn’t expecting indifferent silence.

“Feel better now, William?” piped up Claudia. “Now you’ve got that off your chest?”

“Feeling like a man now, are you?” added Harry. “Instead of the vicious, spiteful little boy you so clearly are?”

William quickly looked from face to face.

“But… but…” he stammered.

“They know, William,” said Alex, quietly from behind him. “We told them. At the Leavers’ Ball. About our marriage,” and he flashed a quick smile at me, “and about my ‘bastard son’, as you so politely put it.

But you wouldn’t understand, would you? You wouldn’t understand why everyone was happy for us, and wished us well.

It’s because they like us. Because we’re friends. And when you’re friends with people, when you like them, and they like you, then even when they make choices and travel down paths that might look strange, and wouldn’t be what they’d choose, they still support you, and cheer you, and wish you well.”

Alex drained his glass, moved slightly so he could look de Lacey in the eye, and continued.

“I feel sorry for you, William. Your life is so empty. All you have is bitterness and hatred and dislike and revenge and plotting and nastiness. I’ve got love. I’ve got the love of a wonderful little boy, and a fabulous young woman. My life is full of love, and it’s pretty fab. And there’s only one thing that will make it better… and that’s in two days’ time, when I never have to see your nasty little face any more.

What you just did was despicable. Yes, everyone knows about me and Pippa – but you didn’t know that. You were clearly setting out to cause harm and pain and grief - and for what? To bring everyone down to your level? Not possible, de Lacey, not possible.”

William tried to sneer, tried to look like he didn’t care. But he failed, miserably. It was plain to see he was shaken, unused to being stood up against this way. Then, realising that the whole room agreed with Alex, he blustered, “You’ll get yours, Alex ap Iorwerth!”

“No. No I won’t, William. You’ve got nothing over me any more. And nothing over anyone. Once we finish school in two days’ time, that’s it for you. You’ll be a nothing, a nobody. Out there in the real world, full of adults who’ll stand up for themselves, not schoolkids who put up with too much for too long, you’ve got nothing.

Now I’d suggest making yourself scarce. You’re not wanted here. I’d keep a very low profile from now until the end of term, if I were you. Otherwise, perhaps we’ll find another lower sixth girl to put you in your place, eh?”

It had become common knowledge over the last few days that Cassie had given William a rather physical taste of his own medicine, and the general consensus was that it was well deserved (and that none of us intended to cross her, either!).

This was clearly the final straw for William, and without another word he fled the room. Immediately there was a loud buzz as everyone started talking about what had happened, but Alex and I just hugged each other briefly, wordlessly.

We’ve all grown up, now. Maybe there’s some still to do, more for some than others, clearly. But it’s time to move on and, as Alex put it, go join that real world.

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