MONDAY 11th FEBRUARY 1980

We are supposed to use the medical room to study this afternoon, this proved impossible for various reasons. The sooner we get that study centre - the better. Even for pupils with the best of intentions, studying in what is basically a room with a bed in one corner and a wash basin in the other in hardly ideal. Mark and Diane have decided that since they cannot work they may as well amuse themselves in other ways.



TUESDAY 12th FEBRUARY 1980.
A message from Orme - she is worried about the level of vandalism in the boy’s toilets in the west wing. She wants the prefects to keep an eye on them. She makes it known that we are to post a permanent member in the loo to keep an eye on things. She even suggests that I might like to hang around in one of the cubicles and when the vandals appear apprehend them.

It doesn’t take a genius to work out than hanging around a Gaynesford toilet - in an operation which Mark quickly christens “Turd Watch” - and then leaping out on malefactors is not going to do my reputation much good. It probably wouldn’t do my health much good when my face gets ground into the floor by some fifteen year old Neanderthal who thinks that I am trying to bugger him. Gaynesford might tolerate the psychopathic and the semi-homicidal but tended to frown on (and then beat to a pulp) anyone not building-worker heterosexual.

I complain to Coldman, but when it comes to open opposition to the system he is as always as much use a chocolate teapot. He says that it is a very bad idea, but does not go as far as actually countermanding the order or offering to speak to Orme. I decide to ignore the suggestion - I prefer to live.



WEDNESDAY 13th FEBRUARY 1980.
Jane Dann, history teacher is proving herself to one very strange lady. Today I was taking notes about the Holy Roman Empire in the company of Stuart Jones.

Dann was dictating, as was her practice. She had perched herself on the edge of her desk in a position that made it almost impossible for either of us looking up not to see straight up her knee length skirt. She is sitting with her knees apart which negated any possibility that we might not get the full panoramic view of her gusset.

I fully admit they were very nice knickers, as knickers go (not that I can claim any great expertise on the subject) but it did make it rather difficult to concentrate on the activities of Empress Marie Theresa when someone’s fanny is three foot from your face. I have no idea whether she intended to do this or it was simply someone not thinking about anything else other than dictating. Either way, it was most odd.

By some unconscious and embarrassed agreement neither Stuart nor I speak of this.



THURSDAY 14th FEBRUARY 1980.
I find myself walking home in the company of Mark, a little in front of us Beverley is also striding homewards and I find myself in the happy position of being able to watch her bottom as she walks. Not for the first time I commend Steve on his choice of intended partner and say as much to Mark. He is non-committal but suggests more by what he doesn’t say than what he does that any appreciation of Beverley’s hindquarters would be in some fashion disloyal to Diane.

It suddenly occurs to me to find out how Steve is faring assuming that Mark was more likely to be getting updates than I was.

“She won't go out with him.” Mark replies in answer to my question.
“How come?” I ask
“Claims she already has a boyfriend, somebody called Rob.” Mark replies.
“Yeah, that’s what I heard, but I thought she was pretending.” I say
“Maybe, she is.”
“You reckon?”
“Ever met this guy?”
“Nope!”
“Wanna bet that goes for Steve as well.” Mark offers.
“Not really.”
“And she is usually there for a motz, isn't she?” continues Rumpole of Gaynesford still leading the case of the prosecution in Regina versus Simmons.
“Yeah?”
“Odd sort of relationship then?”
“You reckons Steve is being kept at arms length then?”
Mark nods. “Steve is fun at GHS but maybe not so good in the real world.”

I ponder Mark’s words, if what he suggests is true then the future does not look for Steve. He is in love with Beverley. No it's more than in love; he has shoved her on a pedestal so high I am surprised he can even see her. Steve has not even considered sex - to do so would soil the relationship between them.
When I once speculated on how good Beverley would in bed, Steve accused me of everything from philistinism to sexual deviancy!

I really don’t understand this, Beverley is attractive but there are girls in the sixth form and fifth formers who are easily her equal. It’s more than a physical attraction. Something about their relationship calls to his romantic soul. In a few short weeks, she had become his muse and his curse all rolled into one five foot four-inch package. It is developing into an obsession, one that is made worse when I assume that Mark is right and this will not end well.

And when the fall-out hits I wonder where I will be?