by Grace Davies
“Good morning students.’ He begins.
“Good morning, Principal Foundry.’ We collectively reply back in monotonous tone.
“I’d like to inform everyone that tomorrow afternoon, classes with be disbanded as we are having a very special event for the parents and guardians of all you lovely students. This will be a perfect opportunity for you to make connections with other wealthy families and for you families to hear how well you’re doing during your time here from our wonderful staff. Invites have been sent out to all your parents so no need to worry about that, just make sure you’re all dressed presentably in classy attire.” His eyes find me as he advises us how to dress.
“Have a great day and enjoy your breakfast,” he steps down from his little podium, which I never noticed him standing on, and quickly exits the hall.
“A gathering for our families, this is exciting! I can’t wait to meet everyone’s parents.” Lola gushes.
I look down at my breakfast, pushing baked beans around the plate. “I bet my Mum doesn’t even have an invite. You heard what he said, the perfect place to meet other wealthy families, we’re not included in that.”
“She has to be invited; she is your Mother. I know he’s an ass but that’s too far just to not invite her. She’ll be there, I know it.” Angelica smiles, reaching across the table to squeeze my hand.
“Thanks guys, I’m probably just overreacting.”
We finish up breakfast and go to our first lesson: French. Professor Dellanoy teaches us all about the past and future tense and how to switch between the two. I’m picking up the language quicker than I thought I would, to say most of my class had learnt basic French in the previous schools. Teddy and I work together on various exercises, me relying on him heavily. I’ve haven’t spoke to Teddy much recently. I don’t know if that’s been me being distant or him. He looks as though he’s internally struggling with something but I’d hate to bring it up and make him feel uncomfortable. After completing our tasks, we sit making meaningless chatter until the end of the lesson.
Our next lesson was Maths but I’m not gonna bore you with that. It was just Professor Montgomery droning on about decimals and fractions: how mind numbingly boring. It’s now time for English. Professor Sharma is just finishing up with a class so we’re waiting patiently outside the classroom. I’m looking at the various posters stapled on the board outside room 204 when I see a head of curly hair appear next to me.
“Good morning acquaintance,” Roman smiles at me, cheerily.
“Good morning to you,” I reply equally as cheery.
“So now that we’re acquaintances, does that mean you’ll be sitting with me once again in English?”
“Well, I did tell Professor Sharma I would only sit alone till my foot was healed and you know, now it’s healed so I’m guessing she’ll force me to sit back next to you. Why do you ask? Does that mean you want me to sit next to you?” I tilt my head, cocking my eyebrow at him.
“I don’t care, I just wanted to know if you’d be taking up all the room on the desk,” he feigns interest.
“Is that a joke about my weight?” Time to have some fun.
Panic shoots through his eyes. “What... no... that’s not... I mean..” he stutters. I bite my lip, restraining myself from laughter. He suddenly notices I’m messing with him, looking physically relieved.
“You know, it’s fun to watch you sweat.” I laugh.
He glares and me flipping me off.
I return the gesture and as I playfully bump into him on my way into the classroom.
I walk straight over to my original assigned desk, purposely sitting in Roman’s chair, my feet on the chair next to me. I feel his presence behind me as I turn around looking as innocently as possible at him.
“Yes?” I ask in a sickeningly sweet voice.
“You know what. Get out my chair.”
“Oh, your chair? I didn’t know you owned it,” I mimic him from our argument at the tree.
“Ha ha, very funny.”
“Why thank you, how kind.” He’s too fun to mess with.
I hear a deep sigh behind me before two arms wrap round my waist hoisting me into the air. My arms and legs flail about, begging him to put me down. Roman tickles me slightly, placing me gently on the other chair pulled out from under the table. I turn to face him, mock anger spread across my face. To be honest I’d be angrier if I didn’t secretly love what had just happened.
“Yes?” He asks in a much to high voice, clearly attempting to imitate me.
“Arse,” I nudge him with my elbow as Roman chuckles before turning our attention to Professor Sharma. I think I’m going to enjoy this class slightly more now.
Chapter Twelve
The inspiring Life of althea Knott
The dorm room is utter chaos, everyone rushing around trying to find their most presentable outfit for this afternoon’s parents’ event. I’m the only one not rushing about but that doesn’t mean I’m not stressing. Being poor means you don’t have many outfits, and the few you do have are not the type you’d wear to an important event. I wouldn’t usually care about dressing up for something as trivial as this but I know how the professors, especially Montgomery, are when it comes to wearing the appropriate attire. I’m currently wearing, what I’d say is my best outfit: a simple denim dress, beige pumps and a pearl headband. It isn’t by far good enough, but it’s all I have so it’ll have to do.
Lola flops down on the bed next to me, dressed impeccably in a pink pantsuit and wedged black boots. It’s times like this that I really feel the divide between me and my best friend. She tilts her head looking at me, question in her eyes.
“What’s wrong? You look sad,” she grips my hand.
“I feel out of place. I don’t have the clothes to match you guys. I just know Montgomery will have a problem. I don’t even know if my mother is invited to this event and even if she is, we will stick out like sore thumbs. I’d debating just staying here and hiding in bed till it’s over.” My eyes begin to well with tears.
“She’ll be invited, I know it. You won’t stick out; I won’t let you.” She stands abruptly crossing over to our joint wardrobe, sifting through it. She pulls a few pieces out before turning back to me. “Here,” she places the clothes on my lap.
I look at her with confusion, then down at the clothes on my lap: a navy blue midi dress. It has mid length sleeves, cinched in at the waist then flows out slightly, below the knee of course. She’s also given me a cropped black cardigan and a pair of black kitten heels. “What’s this for?”
“For you to wear. You said you didn’t want to stick out, so here you go.”
“I couldn’t possibly, I’m fine in this. Honestly I don’t -”
“You’re wearing it,” she cuts me off. “Now, go change!” She urges me.
I decide to do what she says. I slip of my dress and change into the one Lola has given me, the silky fabric of the dress feeling cool on my skin. It’s more fitted at the top than it appeared and doesn’t come out as wide at the bottom due to my curves. I’m surprised that it fits considering Lola is much slimmer than I am. I pull on the cardigan and step into the kitten heels. I’ve never worn heels before so the height is unnerving at first but I begin to feel more comfortable as I awkwardly walk in place. I give my hair a light comb through before readjusting my headband and looking at myself in the mirror. I’ve never looked more and less like myself all at the same time. You can tell it’s me but I look proper. I look like I have money. I finally look like I belong. Tears spring to my eyes as Lola comes to stand next to me.
“Oh Millie, you look wonderful.” She wraps her arm around me, giving me a squeeze.
“I feel it,” I smile unable to avert my eyes from the mirror.
“Millie look at you! You look like a million pounds, literally.” Angelica laughs. “This calls for a group photo.”
We all huddle close in front of the mirror. As Angelica gets her phone ready I notice Harley standing of
f to the corner. I give her a pointed look before pulling her into the frame.
“Don’t think you’re getting out of this,” I use my fingers to push up her cheeks, creating a smile.
“Smile!” Angelica calls before snapping the photo. “Now do a funny one.” Angelica sticks out her tongue, Georgina pouts her lips, Lola makes a peace sign. I wink, sticking my tongue out slightly, poking Harley in the process on her hip so she bursts into laughter.
“Now I know you aren’t doing photos without me,” Teddy stands behind us in the doorway, dressed in a crisp white shirt and blue checked trousers.
“Get in here,” Lola grabs him pulling him forward. Resuming our positions we take the photo, laughing when Angelica shows us the result. I smile at my friends, feeling the happiest I have in a long time.
***
Endless parents make their way into the dining hall which has been stripped to create space for the volume of guests. Everyone seems to congregate into small groups, seemingly with those they already know from previous schools. I’m sat in the corner, nervously sipping my glass of water. I can’t seem mum anywhere. I scan the room once again, when Roman walks in, my breath hitching when I see him. Dressed in black trousers, as usual, a tight white shirt accentuating his muscular arms, and a dark waistcoat fastened over the top, he looks positively beautiful. I can’t take my eyes away from him: his head of curls seems slightly different, as if looser and floppier than usual, a few stray curls falling into his eyes; his warm skin almost shimmering under the light making him look angelic. He pauses in the doorway, locking his eyes with mine. Despite the distance between us, I see his eyes widen, my heart beating faster than usual. I give him a small smile, embarrassed by the way he’s watching me. I knew it was a bad idea to wear Lola’s clothes. I look down at the floor for a moment, composing myself before looking back across the room. Still staring at me, he smiles when he sees me looking, his teeth sparkling in the light. In that moment, everything and everyone in the room disappears, it’s just us.
I snap out of my trance when a man and woman appear behind him. The man places a hand on Roman’s shoulder, I see him stiffen, his smile instantly dropping as he turns his head to the man, presumably his father. Porcelain skin, green eyes that match Roman’s, fairly long hair brushed back and a well groomed beard. Despite his now grey hair, the resemblance to Roman is obvious, especially round the eyes, clearly where he gets his good looks from. This man radiates power, even from across the room I can feel his superiority. Based on looks alone, he’s the sort of man who has always gotten what he wants, no matter the consequences. I notice him talking to Roman, almost scolding him, or so it appears. My eyes move to the gorgeous woman to his left: his mother. Espresso coloured skin, matching her to her son more than her much older husband; jet black hair straightened perfectly, just reaching her shoulder; dressed in a light coloured blazer and matching pencil skirt, clothes that are far too light for her skin tone. Something doesn’t sit right with me about how Roman’s mum is dressed. It’s almost as if she’s trying to be the opposite ethnicity of what she is, and I can guess that it isn’t her choice. Just observing from across the room I can tell Mr Kingsbury isn’t a man to mess with, I mean the way he’s looking at Roman, at his wife, he seems manipulative to me. I feel bad for Roman being stuck over there with him, he looks so uncomfortable, I wish I could save him.
“Hey Millie,” Teddy snaps my attention away from the Kingsbury’s. I turn around to see him and a petite grey haired woman. “This is my grandmother Althea Knott.”
“Ah so this is the infamous Millie. A beautiful girl with fiery auburn hair to match her fiery personality, just as my Theodore described.” She smiles at me warmly. Teddy’s face goes bright red with embarrassment.
“It’s lovely to meet you Miss Knott, Teddy has told me wonderful things about you.” I outstretched my hand, promoting a hand shake.
“Nonsense Girl, you will call me Thea.” She grabs me, engulfing me in a bear hug. I missed out on having a grandmother.
Unfortunately, my mother’s parents had died before I was born and I obviously don’t know my grandparents on my father’s side. I would’ve loved taking my grandparents on day trips, having sleepovers at theirs. I hate that I’ve missed so much.
“You okay Dear? You zoned out there.” Althea looks up at me with her big blue eyes.
“Sorry about that. So, Thea, Teddy tells me you’re quite the kickass Grammy.”
“Kickass huh?” She laughs. “I like that, has a nice ring to it. I wouldn’t call myself particularly ‘kickass’, as you say, but I have had a full and eventful life. I’ve spent many years of my life protesting where ever I could for gay rights, the rights of black people and most recently rights for the trans community. I grew up in a very religious, very conservative household where I didn’t have a place to share my views and opinions. I grew up very sheltered but when I moved out at eighteen to attend university, I came face to face with an array of people, all with mixed opinions, many far from what my father has installed in me from a young age. Since then, I’ve dedicated the last sixty-four years of my life to giving a voice to those who don’t or can’t have one. You say I’m ‘kickass’, I say I’m human and I believe all humans should be treated as equal. At the end of the day, God created us all, therefore we’re all the same.”
I sit awe of this amazing woman. “I’m at a loss for words.” Thea smiles. “I can’t believe you’ve spent the majority of your life speaking out for others, protesting, putting yourself in danger to give others a chance at a better life.”
“It wasn’t completely selfless.” Thea starts. “I met the love of my life during one of the many protests: Evelyn Bradburg. It was 1960, me and some friends were protesting in Trafalgar Square when I bumped into the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. She had gorgeous blonde flowing hair, bright blue eyes, perfect pink lips. Dressed in a collared navy drop waist dress, low heel shoes and a white headband placed neatly on her head, there was no other word to describe her other than perfection. Up until that point I’d just always assumed I was straight, it was the only way to love so my father said, but looking into this young girl’s eyes, I was besotted. We got to talking and she told me she had ran away from home after her parents caught her in bed with a girl. Her parents were very religious like mine so they didn’t take the revelation very well. She hadn’t anywhere to stay but she didn’t care, she was there fighting for her right to love who she wanted to love. I was in awe of this brave female; she knew many people would oppose her and could potentially want to harm her but she didn’t care. I plucked up the courage and offered her the spare room in my flat: she was deeply grateful. We spent endless nights talking till late, completely forgetting about our need to sleep when we were together. It was a month later when we kissed for the first time. It was electric, i had never felt more alive in my life. There in our tiny flat, in front of the fire I felt alive for the first time in my life. That was the first and only time I’ve been in love.”
We were together for five glorious years; by far the happiest five years of my life. Of course, in 1965 homosexuality was still classified as illegal so we couldn’t showcase our love in public. But behind closed doors it was utter bliss. We bought each other matching, I guess you would call them promise, rings and performed out very own wedding service in our little flat. She wore a beautiful make shift wedding dress, made solely by Evelyn herself, me a white jumpsuit. It was silly really but it was the closest we could get to being legally married. That night was probably the best of my life. The next day was the worst.”
Evelyn died the day after our ‘marriage ceremony’. We went out to a protest, once again in Trafalgar Square, almost in celebration, when we came face to face with another group of protestors: homophobic protestors. I don’t know how but a fight broke out. I remember the shouts, the sound of sirens, of gun shots. Police swarmed the site but watched and did nothing, as long as it was the gay people getting hurt, they didn’t care. I lost E
velyn in the crowd, lost her in the commotion. I didn’t care about getting hurt myself, I just wanted to make sure she was safe. I remember feeling dizzy, spinning round frantically trying to find her. That’s when I heard a scream, an ear shattering scream and my heart broke. I knew in an instant it was her. I spotted her, watching her collapse on the floor. I ran over, dropping down, engulfing her in my arms. Red spread over her, over her clothes, staining her white T-shirt. She died there in my arms, in the exact spot where we first met.”
I stare at Althea, my vision blurry due to my tears, my heart-breaking for this brave woman. I reach across the table squeezing her hand. “I’m so sorry you had to go through all that. It must have been awful for you, I can’t even imagine.”
“The worst part is homosexuality was legalised in 97. We still couldn’t have married but we wouldn’t have had to hide, and she missed it. It was a tight time in my life, it still hurts when I think about her but I’ve had good times since. I met one of my best friends, Teddy’s grandfather, who gave me a beautiful baby boy. He knew I could never love him romantically but George didn’t care, he was happy to be the company I needed and to give me the family I wanted.”
Thea has gone through so much. The loss of her love, of her best friend, her son and his wife. I’m amazed at how she’s been able to live with such pain in her life but still remain light hearted and as upbeat as possible. I now know why Teddy is the wonderful person he is: because of Althea.