No Looking Back – School’s Out and Life Begins (Pt VII)
Chapter IV – 1969 – Intermediate (3rd Year)
Another wonderful holiday over and back to school. This year I found myself in a two bed dormitory, downstairs in the old original house at the bottom of the school (the same building where the Over 70s luncheon had been held). To access this dormitory and the one with three beds next door (which used to house a TV and table to sit on), there was that very steep flight of steps.
The discovery that I was in the two bed room, with one of the most popular girls in the boarding house – also an extremely nice girl – well, that sort of softened the feeling of returning to school for another year. Again, to give staff credit, this was planned intentionally. I was really happy – or as happy as I could be – but in hindsight do feel a bit of sympathy for the other girl as I know all the other girls certainly felt sorry for her – being ‘stuck’ with Lannah.
And it sort of worked. We got along pretty well for the entire year. Although she often used to go and sleep in the other dormitory and I was left to my own devices, so maybe our friendship wasn’t as good as I had thought. But that didn’t bother me – I was a tad used to it by this stage.
This was the year that I fell down those stairs twice. The first time I was pushed but have no idea who the culprit was. And probably could not narrow it down – since almost the entire year hated me by this stage it really could have been anyone. Miraculously, all I did was make a lot of noise but I wasn’t injured at all, not physically anyway. Same with the second time I fell down all by myself. This second time was on the night of our school ball. One of the older girls happened to be passing by as I was about to go downstairs and she complimented me! She told me I looked really nice. I was so stunned and I turned to thank her and missed my footing on the top step. And down I went. Roly poly all the way down but again, no injuries. Not even psychological this time, after all, the reason it happened was because I had been complimented and that didn’t happen a lot when I was at this school. Actually, that could have been the only compliment I received!
This was also the year that I was pushed into a cupboard in our classroom and could not get out. There couldn’t have been a lot in that cupboard as I was able to fit in it. All squashed up, maybe, but the girls pushed me in there and were able to shut the door. I don’t think it was actually locked but I was unable to open it from the inside. I was left in such a position which would not allow for leveraging the door at all. I will never forget that. The teacher who was to take us for our first lesson after lunch finally let me out. She did not ask how I came to be stuck in there. In all probability, I would not have told her anyway as the last thing I wanted was repercussions.
Another memory from that year. I was not often hill and did not spend a lot of time in the sick bay but when I did I was really sick (except for the time mentioned above when I was trying to avoid that exam). However there was one occasion when I really was ill – so much so that the school doctor (a local GP) was called. I cannot remember what was wrong with me but it seemed that the best cure was penicillin. Either the staff or the GP did the right thing and rang Mum to make sure I could take it. I have no idea what was going through Mum’s mind at the time, but apparently she told them to go ahead – there was no problem. So they prepared to. I must have been feeling really bad as I knew I wasn’t supposed to have it but I figured Mum knew what she was talking about and I have a feeling I was beyond worrying. I just wanted to get better.
What happened next could be in a movie – and best in slow motion – or fast. Having received the green light from Mum, the staff proceeded to prepare the penicillin to give me. In the meantime, Mum must have woken up and realized what she’d done. So she called the school immediately and the staff member who answered the phone dropped the receiver and ran as fast as she could to the sick bay – literally just in time to stop them giving it to me. It must have been done by injection as the needle was actually touching my arm. You know – in the nick of time – just like in the movies. Once that was over and the needle removed, the staff member rang Mum to reassure her that all was well – and then that person rang the GP, to explain what had happened and that I couldn’t have penicillin after all. The GP was furious. In his mind, Mum should have rung him first. However, had that happened and she had done that, it would have been too late and I would have had the penicillin. So Mum had done the right thing. I have had penicillin once and it made me very, very ill – far worse that I was with the ailment that I had been given the medicine to cure. I was told, at the time, by the specialist, that I would not survive if I had it again. So I haven’t. And I wear a MedicAlert bracelet at all times.
This was also the year that I excelled at a sport – sort of. Well, it was part of spots day and my team won whatever we were competing in. I was just so proud. We had won – whatever it was. We walked to the winners’ podium, or whatever it was, to the cheering of our school faction (or ‘house’ as we called them) and not stopping – everyone else walked to the front and stopped where they should have. But not me. I was so proud and was so busy looking and smiling at all the cheering – lapping up the attention, if you like – and promptly walked straight into that podium. I don’t think I did any damage, except maybe to my pride. Just gave everyone a bit of a scare and then the entire school started laughing. And I think they were laughing with me – not at me. That’s what I tell myself anyway.
