Genius
Page 58
CHAPTER 58
Eldred's headmaster gave him the day off to attend the television studios for filming, but grudgingly.
'I hope he isn't going to make a habit of this,’ he told Mildred.
'I nearly told him we were only letting Eldred do it in the hope of getting him out of that school,’ Mildred said at breakfast. She and Eldred looked hopefully at Edgar, but Edgar didn't take the opportunity.
'We'll discuss that later,’ he said, not looking up from his newspaper. 'One thing at a time. You'll have enough to do to keep your wits about you today, with those telly people.’
Mildred sighed. 'I wish you were coming as well.’
'Can't keep taking time off work,’ said Edgar importantly. 'Somebody has to put the bread on the table.’
'They weren't too keen on giving me a day off work,’ Mildred said. 'I've hardly started there, after all.’
Eldred felt depressed. 'I could go on my own, if you don't want to go.’
'Don't be silly, dear,’ his mother said. 'How could you go on your own? If you've finished that toast, don't play around with it, Eldred. Go and clean your teeth now.’
Travelling on the tube, Eldred felt happier. He liked the automatic gates that opened when you put your ticket in the slot, and the signboards that lit up with the destination of the trains and their time of arrival, and the smooth hum of the trains as they glided by the platform.
'Come away from the edge, Eldred,’ said his mother, as he leaned over to study the design of the rails.
He even liked the black, sooty loops of thick flex coiled against the walls.
'What are they for?’ he asked. 'What do they do?’
He was talking to himself. He didn't expect an answer from Mildred and she didn't give one. Changing to the second train, he picked a seat facing one way, memorized all the adverts, then changed sides and read the others. 'What's hydromassage, electrolysis and leg waxing?’ he called out to Mildred.
Mildred fumbled in her handbag and drew out a tissue. 'Come over here,’ she said. 'Your nose is running.’
Eldred knew she was annoyed. 'What's wrong?’ he asked, going to sit beside her.
She wrenched his nose with the tissue.
'Ow! Mum!’
'Sit still,’ she hissed, 'and stop changing seats all the time.’
'There was nothing to read,’ he complained.
'Read the tube map on the back of the A to Z,’ she said. 'Tell me how many more stops we've got to go.’
'Three,’ he said. He closed his eyes and began to recite the stations on the Central Line: 'Notting Hill Gate intersects with the District and Circle lines,’ he murmured. 'Bond Street connects with the Jubilee line, Oxford Circus with the Bakerloo line. Why is it called Bakerloo, Mum?’
'I don't know.’
'Does Bakerloo mean anything, as a word? Like District or Circle or Central or Metropolitan?’
'I don't know.’
'Don't think it does,’ he said. 'Oh! Baker Street to Waterloo, is it? Baker-loo?’
'Probably,’ said Mildred. 'Yes.’
'But it doesn't start at Baker Street and end at Waterloo,’ Eldred pointed out. 'It starts in Harrow and Wealdstone and ends in Elephant and Castle. It should be called the Harrow Castle line, shouldn't it?’
'Yes, dear,’ said Mildred.
'Or Elephant and Wealdstone. Mum?’
'Yes, Eldred.’
'Why Elephant and Castle?’
'I don't know.’
'Is it two different places, like Harrow and Wealdstone, or is it one?’
'It's just one place. Elephant and Castle.’
'Why, though?’
'It's a name. It's always been called that. There are some funny names in London.’
'There must have been a reason,’ said Eldred, 'at the time when someone first made it up. I mean, it wouldn't be a name you'd just think of, would it? You wouldn't say, "Let's call this place Harrow and let's call this place ... um, let me see, Elephant and Castle.” Would you, Mum?’
'No.’
'Do you think there could have been a castle there once? With an elephant to pull open the drawbridge, instead of an ordinary winch?’
'Eldred,’ said his mother.
'Yes?’
'When these people ask you questions today, just answer them,’ said Mildred. 'Don't get into clever discussions or wondering about things or asking them loads of questions yourself, will you? They're busy people; they won't have that much patience.’
'I know what it is,’ said Eldred.
'Know what what is?’
'The Bakerloo line,’ he said. 'When they first built the Underground it was just for central London and it did start at Baker Street and end at Waterloo. Then later, when people knew what a good idea it was and started to use the tube and make the owners lots of money, the owners decided to extend it. Are all the lines owned by the same company, Mum? Or do different people own the Bakerloo from the ones who own the Jubilee?’
'Eldred,’ she said, 'did you hear what I said to you?’
'Of course.’ He was surprised. 'TV people aren't patient; just answer the questions.’
'Right.’
'Are they impatient because they work in TV and everything has to be done within tight deadlines? Or does the type of work you do in television attract people with personalities that aren't very patient?’
'I get the feeling this is going to be long day,’ said Mildred. Eldred looked at her sideways and went silent.