Through my Eyes. Again.: A time slip mystery novel set in England during an alternate Cold War by Robert Hart

Author:Robert Hart [Hart, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Robert Hart
Published: 2021-04-15T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Early to mid-December 1963

Gradually, December accelerated towards Christmas and school was finished for the year. Col brought her school report home on the last day and gave it to Mutti Frida that evening. When her mother opened it, there was an accompanying sheet of paper. After reading the report and smiling at Col, she unfolded the letter. After a while, she glanced up.

“You are doing so well that they want you to move to the grammar school in Canterbury.”

Col gasped in surprise.

I smiled. “Well done, Col.” I knew from working with her that she was bright.

Col gave me a worried glance, then turned to her mother. “Can we afford it, Mutti?”

Mutti Frida searched through the letter again. “It doesn’t say what the fees are.”

I leaned across the table. “I think it’s free – apart from books and uniform, which you pay for at the secondary modern school here.”

Mutti Frida glanced over at me. “Are you sure?”

I shook my head. “No, but I’m sure they want to speak to you about this.”

Mutti Frida read the letter again. “Yes, you’re right. They want me to phone on Monday.”

“Col, we could travel to Canterbury on the same bus.” I said, excitedly.

Col smiled at me.

Then another even more exciting idea occurred to me. “Mutti Frida, perhaps Col could become a girl at her new school?”

Two heads snapped round, Col’s eyes flaring with hope and Mutti Frida’s with fear. Neither said a word.

“It’s worth thinking about as a possibility, isn’t it?” I stared between Col and her mother.

Mutti Frida found her voice. “No, it is too dangerous.”

“But Mutti…” Col’s voice ached with hope.

“No, Col. It’s too dangerous.”

Col opened her mouth, as if to say something.

Mutti Frida’s voice brooked no discussion. “Enough.”

She then turned to me, a deep frown creasing her forehead.

The glance that Col and I shared was forlorn at this denial. The conversation at tea was a bit subdued. I silently chided myself for spouting the idea without first talking it over with Col. Together, we might have come up with a way to lead Mutti Frida gently to support Col in becoming a girl again.

Now that school was over, I had time for Christmas shopping. This was a bit easier as I had my Premium Bond winnings to fall back on and I ended up using a small amount to buy Col a delicate gold chain necklace and Mutti Frida a new folding, umbrella as hers was falling apart.

Lili’s party would run late, so I was to sleep at Col’s house that night. We wore coats, hats and gloves over our smart clothes and walked through the chilled, blustery darkness down to Lili’s house. It felt like a storm was developing.

The party started out as great fun. Lili’s much younger brother was in bed and so mostly Lili, Col and I spent time together drinking lemonade and snacking from the delicious mix of English and Polish food in the buffet. Neither Col nor I knew anything about Polish food and so Lili educated us.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.