First Day of Term

First day of term at a new school. Being a teacher doesn’t change how you feel about it. If anything, it adds to the dread. You’re supposed to be in charge now. You’re supposed to be the one in control. Yet you have all those familiar childhood emotions.

You wake early. Shower. Dress. Have breakfast and then pace. You’ve already packed a small rucksack with your needs. But when you’re not pacing, you’re checking its contents, making certain you haven’t forgotten anything.

Don’t go too early. But give yourself enough time.

The school looms before you, gaining in menace the closer you get. Last week the streets before it were empty, now they’re filled with young women in tight school uniforms, a pervert’s delight. You can’t help but appreciate what you see. Yet the prospect of your new life diminishes your interest.

The girls themselves pay little heed to you, until you get to the school. You’re just another stranger stalking the streets until then. When you head into the building you become interesting. Your presence in the now busy corridors brings silence and attention, inquisitive gazes boring into you. If anything enhances your feelings of being an imposter it’s these teenage gazes. You’re the first alien on earth, a man in an all-female environment. Well you’re not, there are other male teachers, but the way the girls look at you they might as well not exist.

There’s little respite in the teachers’ lounge. Most of the other teachers are still strangers. It’s almost with relief you see Abigail arrive. She gets a coffee and then comes and joins you.

“Nervous?” she asks. You nod. “Going to assembly?”

“I thought it best.”

“Yes, Mrs Oversight likes us to go. She thinks it’s good for the students to see the faculty staff as united. You can sit with me. It’s probably best you sit near the back. Your presence will be disruptive enough.”

Soon you’re joined by Spencer and Anissa. For a while they chat, until Dr Stricture appears.

“Ladies,” she begins, then sees you, “and Gentlemen, come on.”

The assembly hall is buzzing with female voices that fall silent as soon as Dr Stricture leads the faculty in. She heads to the podium. You take a seat by the side with the rest of the teachers. Your arrival momentarily breaks the silence, but a glare from Dr Stricture brings it back. You sit near the back of the teachers, sandwiched between Abigail and Anissa.

A hymn and then Dr Stricture starts her welcome to the students, welcoming back the Upper Sixth, welcoming afresh the Lower Sixth. She mentions the new members of staff, you just a name. After that she tries an inspiring speech. You can see the basic principles, but you doubt any of the students are inspired by it. From what you can see most of the girls are bored. They’re paying more attention to you than listening to their headmistress. Another hymn and Dr Stricture leads the teachers out.

You don’t head back to the teachers’ lounge. Instead, you go to the classroom and your office, to prepare for the day.

The first lesson of the day is a Lower Sixth Class. They are as unused to the situation as you. You introduce yourself. They introduce themselves. The lesson shoots by with everyone getting used to the new situation. It was probably a good first lesson.

After the break the next class is your first introduction to the Upper Sixth ‘A’ Stream. Once again you introduce yourself. Then you get the girls to tell you how much they learnt last year, while also learning about who they are. For some you quickly get an idea, others it takes longer. But by the end of the lesson, you feel like you’ve broken down the initial barriers.

Except for one girl. She sits on her own, at the front nearest your office door. When you asked her name, she struggled to say it, and you had to ask her to repeat it several times louder before you got it. “Ellie Jones.” Ah yes, Ellie Jones, the most bullied girl in school. She’s short, but the way she carries herself, hunched over, makes her appear shorter. She carries herself as if she’s trying to make herself invisible. Her brown eyes are frantic whenever someone is speaking. When you ask her a question she flinches. While other girls raise their hands and compete to get your attention, happy to fill the room with their talk, she is monosyllabic and never volunteers.

By the time the bell rings and the lesson is over, you’re exhausted. Abigail finds you slumped in the chair watching the last of the girls leave.

“Gone that well, aye?”

“I suppose it went well. I didn’t get much teaching done.”

“First day, what did you expect? Any problems?”

“No, except that Ellie Jones. Getting anything out of her was difficult.”

Abigail nods. “Yes, she’s bright, very bright, she’s just very introverted. I’ve given up getting her to speak in class, it’s impossible. I’m surprised you got her name out of her. Strange really, her sisters were good students. Both were head girl their year, and we hoped she’d be similar, but no. Come on, let’s go for lunch.”

You meet Spencer and Anissa and then head to the cafeteria. Lunch is not bad. The school has money to afford decent chefs, and there’s a range, from vegan and vegetarian to a couple of hot meat dishes. You pick up a curry and are led to the staff table.

“There’s a private staff area, if you want more privacy, but it’s generally frowned upon to eat there. We’re here to keep an eye on the girls and make certain they don’t get into any mischief.”

You’re about to start eating but Abigail motions you to stop. She points to Anissa who has clasped her hands and is looking at you expectantly. When Spencer and Abigail also do the same you realise what is required. You follow suit. Then Anissa closes her eyes and starts to say grace. Both Abigail and Spencer immediately unclasp, but no-one moves to eat until Anissa has finished.

The curry is relatively bland. What did you expect? It must cope with varied tastes. Throughout the meal the women discuss the students. Both Spencer and Anissa are interested in how you got on. You tell them fine.

“Yes, it started easy for you,” Abigail volunteers. “Lower Sixth is easy for the first month, they’re trying to get to grips with their new school, so they don’t cause much trouble. And you had the A Stream who are a pleasure to teach. This afternoon you’ve got the C Stream. I’ll wait and see what you think after them.”

Sounds ominous.

{If Blair=1} As you’re finishing your meal Blair comes over.

“I just wanted to remind you that the offer to show you the school gym still stands,” she says.

“What now?”

“No, no. Not during school hours, or after school hours, either. Can’t have men in the school gym when there could be girls there. But tomorrow morning I’m free if you’re up to an early start.”

You say you’ll think about it. Wait and see how you feel after the afternoon classes. Blair gives you her phone number in case you decide to take up her offer and then leaves.

{endif}

And with that lunch is over and the afternoon begins.