Scholarship

  Chapter 8 - Easter 1968

  There was a mêlée around the notice board at the entrance to the senior boys dormitories after tea one evening. Pip was one of the last boys to arrive with Owen.

  “What’s going on?”

  Everyone was concentrating on a list of names. No one answered. Pip craned over the other boys.

  ‘Skye Trip: Easter 1968’ was the heading. ‘Final list of boys selected to go to Skye at the end of Term’ was the sub-heading. Clancy was reading out the list of names.

  “Morgan and the Johnson Twins, no surprises there.”

  Clancy read out more names. Pip spotted his name was on the list. Secretly he had hoped it would be. Last year he had missed out as he was only eleven and deemed too young, but this year, now twelve, he was going. However, apart from himself, Pip was now most interested to see who else was going. Eagerly he looked further down the list, racing ahead of Clancy, from the Sixth Formers to the Fifth Form boys joining the trip this year.

  “And finally Pierce.”

  Jonathan’s name caused a mix of groans and laughter.

  “It looks like we are in for a bumpy ride then.”

  Jonathan lashed out the boy who made the comment causing the boys to scatter. So Pip had to fight his way through to the front to double check the names Clancy had finished reading. One name was crossed out, a Fifth Form boy who had just broken his wrist in the gym that morning. Pip looked further down the list to see the other names. Sacha was not listed; his name would have been above Jonathan. But then Pip looked further down beyond where Clancy had finished. Right at the bottom, unnoticed by Clancy, a name was appended. Captain Porter’s neat writing spelt out ‘Morgan, A’. So Sacha had made it by the skin of his teeth as a last minute substitute.

  As soon as he saw Sacha’s name Pip knew it was what he had secretly hoped for. Peter had also seen his brother’s name. He turned around and sought out Sacha. Sacha was standing on the fringes of the crowd, trying to hide his disappointment as he assumed was not on the list since Clancy had not mentioned his name.

  “Well, Sacha, looks like you are coming after all.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You made it, as a substitute. Here, see for yourself.”

  Peter pulled his brother through and pushed him to the front, a brotherly arm around Sacha’s neck so he could see with his own eyes.

  “Oh, so I am going.”

  “Indeed you are.”

  In the last couple of weeks Peter had been trying hard to make up for his earlier behaviour towards Sacha. Last weekend Sacha had gone out with him to St Ives. They went and had fish and chips before spending time in the amusement arcade on the front.