by Peter Martin
Then, right on cue, his uncle came in, Aunt Violet behind him, saying, ‘Ready for the off?’
Billy looked up and calmly said, ‘No.’
‘Pardon?’
‘I can’t go there again, Uncle.’ Billy stared straight at one then the other, waiting to see their reaction. No one could make him go if he didn’t want to.
CHAPTER 8
Following a few seconds of silence, each appeared dumbstruck. Billy watched his uncle’s neck redden.
‘Billy, what’s going on? What do you mean, you’re not going again? If there’s a problem at school, talk to us about it.’
‘I’ve told you – I can’t face it any longer.’
‘You can’t not go, son. Everyone has to go to school whether they like it or not. It’s the law, and if you don’t, we’ll all be in big trouble,’ Uncle James said, undoing the buttons of his coat.
‘You can’t force me, Uncle, no matter what they do.’
James frowned, looked across at his wife for help, but for once she sat there stunned. Billy knew when this had started: the day Katie died. It had knocked the stuffing out of him, and when his dad killed himself it was the final straw. He’d lost interest in everything, and wanted to be left alone to grieve.
‘Come on, son, you’ll be late. I agree you’ve had a lot of upsets recently, but for God’s sake don’t let it hold you back. You can’t throw your education away like this.’
There he goes again, calling me son, Billy thought. Why does he keep doing that? But all he said was, ‘It’s my life; I’ll do what I want. I won’t go back, whatever you do.’
‘I hear what you’re saying, but why?’ Uncle James said. ‘Why the sudden hatred of school? Has someone upset you or bullied you? Or did you start off on the wrong foot with one of the teachers? Whatever it is, we’ll sort it out.’
‘There’s no one reason. It’s everything. I miss my family so much.’
‘We miss your family too, Billy. It’s life and we have to move on, no matter how hard it is. Think they’d be happy at what you’re doing? I don’t think so. I can see I shall have to pay a visit to the school myself and find out what’s what,’ James asserted, turning to his wife.
‘It’s looking that way,’ Violet agreed. Then to her nephew she said, ‘You know, if you play truant, they’ll take you away from us. Is that what you want? To end up living with strangers?’
‘I don’t care what happens!’ Billy said grouchily, putting his feet up on the table, triggering James to comment, ‘And you can take those off the table. That’s one thing you’re not getting away with.’ In a more amiable tone of voice, he carried on, ‘You say you don’t want to go to school, but you have to. You need an education. And you’ll achieve nothing, and what will you do with yourself all day? You’ll be bored silly. To throw your schooling away is such a waste of your undoubted talent.’
Billy turned from them, saying, ‘It’s my life, I’ll do what I want. Now can you please leave me alone.’
James seemed perplexed and glanced at his wife, who looked as flummoxed as him. Aunt Violet spoke first. ‘Billy, please don’t do this. You might get away with it for now, but eventually you’ll have to fall in line, it’s the law.’
He shrugged his shoulders. ‘I don’t much care any more.’
‘Why make it difficult, son? You could have a lovely little life with us – you’re spoiling it for yourself.’
His abrupt reply was, ‘I’m not your son, and I’m not listening to this.’
‘This has gone far enough,’ his uncle said. But Billy wasn’t interested; he got up and walked out.
He headed for his bedroom, leaving the sound of his uncle’s distraught voice behind him. After slamming the door shut, he flopped down on his bed hoping that would be an end to it and that nobody would come in trying to tell him what to do.
No one did follow him, and ten minutes later the front door closed. Uncle James going to work or to the school, Billy supposed. Billy lay back with his hands underneath his head and in the quietness of the room heard the faint noises of Aunt Violet doing the housework. He’d often wondered what she did at home; she’d told him she did the accounts for her husband’s grocery business, but she must still have a lot of time on her hands. Although it didn’t matter to him how she spent her day, so long as she left him alone.
As the hours passed, he got bored and hungry.
He left his room and ventured across the hall towards the kitchen. His aunt stood at the sink, sleeves rolled up, washing up. She glanced back and watched as he came in and sat down at the table.
With a tremor in her voice, she said, ‘You all right, Billy?’
‘Yes, can I have something to eat?’
‘Of course. Sandwich? I have ham, chicken or cheese.’
‘Cheese.’
She nodded, and made him the sandwich.
‘If you’d like a drink, you know where the orange squash is,’ she said, handing him the plate.
She never mentioned the earlier fracas and carried on as if nothing had happened. He guessed she hadn’t the nerve to say anything and might even fear him. And he doubted his uncle would confront him either; he’d tried to be strict but had soon backed down.
Once he’d finished the food, he sloped off to his room again to listen to the radio.
He mulled over what his uncle might have done. If he’d telephoned the school, it would have been to make the excuse that Billy was ill, or maybe he’d spoken to his form teacher.
Life wasn’t panning out as he wanted. Other than his dislike of school, he hadn’t thought past refusing to go, and the trouble it might bring. What of the future? At some point, when his uncle returned from work, they would discuss his problems. Another ordeal he dreaded facing.
After they’d eaten their evening meal in a tense atmosphere, Uncle James said in a serious tone of voice, ‘Billy, this situation won’t go away. I had to phone the school to tell them you were ill. That’s all right for one day, but it’s the last time I’ll lie for you. You must go back tomorrow, whether you like it or not.’
Billy closed his eyes and shook his head.
‘We have an obligation to make sure you attend school. And while we can’t physically force you, if you won’t be persuaded, there will be trouble for us as your guardians. As your aunt tried to point out to you this morning, you could be taken into care, and that’ll be a lot worse than living with us, believe me. It’s up to you.’
Billy said, ‘I ought to leave, anyway. I’ve caused enough upset for you.’ James looked bemused, and stared at his nephew as he carried on, ‘I’m not going back to school, but I don’t want to get you in trouble.’
His uncle and aunt didn’t know how to handle the situation. After a few seconds, James said, ‘Don’t you want to do well? Make your dad proud of you.’
‘What for? No one’s left to see it. And besides, Mum was more interested in going off with another woman and Dad killed himself rather than be here for me. If only Katie was still alive, we could have helped each other. I cry for her every day. We were close you know, me and my kid sister. I miss her so much.’
‘For all you know, they might be looking down on you, feeling so upset at what you’re doing,’ Aunt Violet said.
‘Oh, sure they are,’ Billy said, getting to his feet. ‘I can’t take this any more of this.’
‘Don’t talk to your aunt in that tone. Where are you going now?’
‘Nowhere. You’re not my Dad. You can’t tell me what to do.’ He dashed out, slamming the door shut, heading for the back garden. If James came after him, he’d run away the first chance he got.
They’d be talking about him. Well, they’d got more than they bargained for, taking him in. But Uncle James had already phoned to say he was sick. Perhaps if he continued to be awkward, this pretence might carry on even longer.
The situation did continue for the rest of the week, and by Friday Uncle James gave up his attempts to wake him.
On Sunday
afternoon Uncle James broached the subject again, saying, ‘Billy, a word please.’
‘What now, Uncle, I’m trying to watch the football!’
‘Well, it’s like this, I phoned the Headmaster on Friday and arranged for him to visit us tomorrow.’
‘Well, I’m off out if he comes.’
‘It won’t be as easy as that. You’ve stayed away from school for a whole week – supposedly ill – and I’ve gone along with it, but I don’t intend lying for you any longer. If you’re dead set against school, you must face up to the consequences.’
Billy didn’t reply, but he was shaking inside.
James continued. ‘You’re under age, and it’s the law of the land that everyone has to go to school until sixteen years of age.’ He waited for a response, but his nephew still wouldn’t answer. ‘The authorities will deal with this. It’ll be out of my hands.’
‘Maybe, maybe not.’
A stalemate of sorts prevailed, both sides wondering what the outcome would be.
He’d made his position quite clear, but come Monday morning, once again he was shaken awake.
‘Now then, are you going to school today or not?’
Billy shook his head, but from the resolute look on his uncle’s face, he meant business.
‘This is your final warning. If you don’t go, the Headmaster will visit us and make arrangements for someone – God knows who – to intervene and you might be taken into care. I’m asking you this one last time.’
Billy sighed. He didn’t blame his uncle; he only did what he had to do.
‘I’ll have to go, won’t I?’ he said, realising he had little choice in the matter, and guessing if he didn’t comply they’d take him to a special school which he’d like even less than this one.
‘Yes, you will.’
Billy got up, put on his uniform, found his books, and went into the living room to wait for his uncle to give him a lift.
A few minutes later Uncle James came in. ‘Are you ready then?’
‘If I must.’
‘Glad you’ve come to your senses, son. In a few years’ time when you’re a hotshot working for a big company, you’ll thank us, I promise you.’
‘Oh, sure I will.’
At the front door Aunt Violet gave him one of her affectionate hugs. ‘Good luck,’ she said, no doubt relieved all their troubles were over.
The journey took longer than normal as James insisted on dropping him directly outside the school gates. He also made a point of watching him go into the building before carrying on to work. Billy glanced back and watched his uncle drive away.
He walked over to the form room, to the surprised looks of not only his classmates but the form master. After registration, while the rest of the class continued to their first lesson, Billy quietly slipped out to the park where people walked dogs, a few took an early-morning stroll, and on the far side a group played bowls. He took off his blazer and pushed it into his school bag.
He passed the play area resisting the temptation to try out the recently erected keep-fit equipment, then travelled across the lush green grass, down towards the man-made lake on the far side. Several well-established trees dotted around the perimeter provided shade to the benches below. Billy sat down, strangely relaxed and at peace. Maybe he’d visit the family grave later, half wishing he could be wherever they’d gone to, if there was such a place.
After a time, a little hungry, he made for the nearest chip shop, bought a bag of chips with his bus fare money, and sat on the wall outside to eat them. Then, worried he may see one of his mates, he rushed back to the park to find a secluded spot and sat down, eventually dozing off. He awoke with a start. It was four o’clock, after the time he usually started back. Better get a move on. He’d spent his bus fare, so he’d have to walk, but he’d say the bus didn’t turn up.
And when he returned, Aunt Violet smiled, saying, ‘And how did your first day go?’
‘Fine thanks. Got a lot of catching up to do,’ he lied, ‘but I’ll get there.’ Thank God she hadn’t noticed he was late.
‘Hope so, Billy, for your sake,’ she remarked.
At tea time when Uncle James came in from work, he smiled at Billy, looking relieved his nephew had agreed to return to school.
Afterwards Billy rushed to his room on the pretence he’d got homework to do. And as usual he carried on the charade when his uncle checked up on him later, and he had various text books scattered about.
And, having got away with it on that first day, he assumed he could carry on. For the rest of the week he went to school for registration, got his mark and sneaked out without going to any classes. His main ports of call after escaping school were the shopping centre and the park, where he was inconspicuous. Sooner or later he’d be found out, but he didn’t care.
The days passed and, on the whole, Billy was contented if a little bored. No more nagging from the teachers or his uncle and aunt. And the weather was mild and dry too.
But on Friday afternoon, four weeks into the autumn term, on leaving the cinema, he saw it was already getting dark. It was well after his usual time and he’d spent what bit of money he had on the afternoon’s entertainment. Damn, he thought, running towards home.
As he entered the kitchen, Aunt Violet looked first at the clock and then at him.
‘Sorry I’m late, Aunt, I stayed behind for football practice.’
‘That’s fine. Just let me know the next time, will you?’ she said.
‘Okay.’ He shrugged his shoulders.
Billy got changed, wondering why she was in a mood. He was only thirty minutes later than normal, for God’s sake.
At dinner the atmosphere was tense with little or no conversation. But his uncle’s raised eyebrows and aunt’s pursed lips spoke volumes. Straight away he feared they’d cottoned on to his charade, so no sooner had he finished his meal than he got up to leave the table.
‘Billy, please sit down. I’d like a word with you.’
Alarms bells rang in Billy’s head at the sound of his uncle’s loud voice. He turned from the door to see a beckoning finger.
‘What have I done now?’ he said, standing there in a slovenly manner.
‘Sit down,’ James ordered.
‘Is this going to take long? Because I’ve got loads of homework to do.’
‘Oh, really. And what homework would that be? Since you haven’t been to school for God knows how long.’
‘Eh?’ Billy said, feigning innocence.
‘You heard me. What are you playing at? Thought you were being clever, didn’t you? Getting your marks and then disappearing. Well, not any more. The school have written to us, and we’ve spoken to the Head on the phone.’
Billy looked up and down. ‘And?’
‘Is that all you can say? You’ve lied yet again. What’s the matter with you?’ Uncle James said. ‘Just what do you hope to achieve?’
‘Nothing, but I hate school.’
‘Look, love,’ Aunt Violet soothed. ‘Not many kids like school, but they still have to go.’
‘I’m not like them. They haven’t been through what I’ve been through. Nor have they lost their Mum and Dad and sister and seen the things I’ve seen.’
‘Yes, but this isn’t about that sorry episode. And your aunt’s right, most children would prefer not to go to school, but they do go. From now on, I’ll be escorting you in and out of school, and when you’re there, a teacher will take you to and from each lesson. This is your last chance, Billy – any more trouble and I wouldn’t like to think what will happen to you.’ He jabbed a finger in his nephew’s direction and went on, ‘I don’t know what your parents would say, I really don’t!’
Billy groaned but remained silent.
‘And no more sneaking off to your room pretending to work. Your homework will be done here’ – he prodded the dining table – ‘where we can keep an eye on you. We want to see what you’re up to.’
‘This is pathetic,’ Billy moaned. ‘Why ca
n’t you leave me alone? What does it matter to you, anyway? You aren’t my mum and dad. You don’t care about me.’
‘Ah, but we do care – that’s the point,’ Aunt Violet said. ‘We wouldn’t be doing this if we didn’t. Make something of yourself, Billy, before it’s too late. You have the brains to do anything you want, if you put your mind to it. How tragic would it be if your life was wasted like your dad’s?’
‘I’ve had enough of this,’ Billy said, moving towards the dining room door.
Uncle James got up in a flash and grabbed hold of his arm. ‘Where are you going?’
‘To my room, but if you don’t let go of me I’ll go a lot further than that,’ Billy warned, trying to wriggle free.
‘James, let him go.’
Uncle James persisted for a little while, but at last Billy got free. ‘You try to stop me once more, Uncle, and you’ll regret it. I’m going out and maybe I won’t come back.’
‘Billy, don’t do this.’
He was sick of them going on at him all the time; he didn’t answer or glance back. In the hall, he put on his coat, opened the front door and was gone. Not even stopping to shut it. With his collar pulled up against the cold wind, he hurried down the road. He turned his head around, but no one followed. Thank God.
How he hated people trying to get him to do things he didn’t want to do. They had no idea what he’d gone through in such a short space of time. He wanted to run away and never come back. But he had nowhere to go, no friends or family to turn to. He only had his aunt and uncle, and they were obsessed with him being the best at everything, which he could never be.
He shivered, put his hands in his pockets and headed towards Dexford, now emptying of people, shoppers and workers alike. As he took the familiar route to the town, the question uppermost in his mind was: where could he spend the night? The last thing he wanted was to return to his aunt and uncle’s.
Not the shopping centre or library; if they were still open, it wouldn’t be for long so he walked to the park. Although the light had faded he could still go in. As usual of late he passed the play area, making for the far side to the lake where he sat on a bench skirting the water. He watched the ducks and other water birds, all busy in their own worlds. Close by were a flock of Canadian geese who would soon up and leave. What uncomplicated lives they all led.
