Field Trials

Our form master’s office was between the senior rooms
a converted storeroom he called his den
to which pupils were summoned
for discipline
in those days of corporal punishment
signs of ill temper anxiously scanned for.
Or encouragement
evidence of ability but effort is lacking etc etc
his
“you’re a V8 running on five”
or
“you’re a racehorse pulling a cart”
Much imitated. Much repeated.

The tone was solemn
he would like to see me – now
in his den
not to worry about class
he would write a note.

Guilt, wildly imaginative
credited teachers with supernatural detection
age knows as seen it all before experience.
Had he found out about…..?

This was a traditional school
we both knew that
“and shouldn’t be doing this during lesson time”
but
he was speaking in his capacity as football coach
“a lot of the guys were back from last year
there were fewer vacancies than normal
the competition better.”
“You…..you……..aah
you……
don’t need to come to training any more.”

For the back story click Backstage
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