The Meadow Girls by Sheila Everett

Author:Sheila Everett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bonnier Publishing Fiction

There was a rush for the washroom facilities at seven o’clock the next morning. By the time Evie had managed to get to a basin the hot water tap produced only a tepid stream.

‘Just be glad we’re females and don’t have to shave,’ whispered Rhoda in her ear.

‘Shush!’ Evie said again, for Noreen had tagged along with them, and was at the basin on her other side. Noreen had a dark smudge above her upper lip. She thought: when I get to know her better I’ll advise how to disguise it, with a dab of hydrogen peroxide. She can tell Matron she needs it for a mouth ulcer. Those beauty tips Mattie passed on from Sybil may come in useful for others here, if not for me . . .

Breakfast was at eight o’clock. A boiled egg, one slice of bread and butter, thinly spread, apiece and a cup of tea, much weaker than Evie was accustomed to drink. Then it was off to the assembly hall again, where they were given their schedule of studies, followed by a tour of the college.

Despite her initial misgivings, Evie began to warm to her surroundings. There were plenty of specialist areas, like the gymnasium, with its climbing ropes and parallel bars, vaulting horse and wall bars. In charge here was a human dynamo in a green tunic, a wiry, small woman with a bellowing voice like a sergeant major on parade. She looked the students up and down and obviously thought them a weedy lot. Miss Vanstone, again their guide, introduced them to Miss Dodds.

‘Some of you need to lose weight,’ she said disparagingly. She pinched a fold of Noreen’s waist. ‘Don’t tell me that’s muscle.’

Evie saw Noreen’s eyes brim with tears. As they moved away to the next location, she told her, ‘Better than being all gristle, like Miss Dodds! Anyway, we’ll all lose a few pounds on college rations – I didn’t dare ask for more bread and butter!’

The art room, with easels and a pottery area, was colourful with students’ paintings on the walls. The science lab was well-equipped. Its counterpart, the domestic science kitchen, had pine preparation tables, and gleaming saucepans.

All these designated rooms were in the west wing; the classrooms were on the other side of the quadrangle. The new girls would be taught in the first two rooms, thirty to each class. During the first year they would continue their general education at an advanced level. The second year they would be assessed again and split into several groups. Some would opt to teach children under the age of eleven, others would prefer to specialise and teach specific subjects in senior schools.

Evie’s main subjects would be English and history. Rhoda had a preference for mathematics and science. Evie found herself in a class sitting next to Noreen, whose strengths were art and English. She would only meet up with Rhoda for music lessons, which took place in the assembly hall, in the gymnasium, and at mealtimes.

At lunchtime they were

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