THE HAPPIEST DAYS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 20, Issue 499, 14 January 1949, Page 14

THE HAPPIEST DAYS

| Written for "The Listener" |

by

F.

MAURICE

time to-morrow. I could just imagine asking Dad for it. He'd gay, "Why it’s not your payday till Saturday son. What is it you want so specially?" It was impossible to tell Dad why I wanted that sixpence. Perhaps if I was sick and stayed away all day-perhaps he would forget. No, that was no good; he’d be sure to remember the day after, and if I was sick too long Mum would get the Doctor and he would say I was telling lies. a sixpence by schoolThe gate was open at home and there Was a cow just going to go in on the lawn. At least I hadn’t left it open this time. It went away when I shouted Shoo! We had never had cows in Titiki or bullies at Titiki School either and oven if we did they never asked you for sixpence. If he gave me a hiding to-morrow my glasses might get broken and then Dad would be angry too and I couldn't tell him then either if I did. Cissy cissy told his mummy Cissy cissy suck your dummy.

That's what they’d all shout. I walked inside and threw my cap on the table. Mother was nowhere in sight and there was not even a sign of afternoon tea. "Teddy!" She was in the front room. Visitors that meant, the first since we had moved from Titiki, so I slicked back my hair and went in slowly. "Teddy, this is Mrs. Roberts and Mrs. Jamison. Say how do you do." I said How-do-you-do and sat down in the hard chair in the furtherest corner, hoping that afternoon tea was for me as well. There were plates of cakes out of the tins kept for visitors. One of the ladies, a fat one with green roses on her hat, asked me whether I liked my new home. "Oh, it’s all right,’ I said. I NEARLY told them the story about Johnny. He was in the corridor when I got to school and was the biggest boy I had ever seen. The corridor was full

of the smell of carbolic soap and plasticine and it was just like my other school. He came up to me and pushed me up against the wall. "Who are you?" he said. "YES mother I’d like some please. Yes a cup of tea thank you." If she could see what I was thinking then I would not have to tell. pd Y name’s Edward M Johnson," "You a new boy? Can ‘you fight? You got a sixpence?" He put his boots

on my shoes and his hands on the wall on each side of me. All I could see was him. So I told I was a mew boy and... "T HANK you mother. A _ biscuit please." Always be polite with visitors and never take cake first.

i you got any money?" "No," "God’s honour?" "God’s honour!" "Tll break your goggle eyes if you have and tisn’t God’s honour an’ you'll get a hiding after school."

"Go away. Get out. I'll call teacher. You're hurting." "You call teacher and I tell everyone you're a cissy and we'll get you after school and give you a hiding." He grabbed my arm and twisted it. "All right I'll be quiet." "You bring me sixpence to-morrow?" "No." My other arm was pushed behind my back and my face went up against his jersey. He twisted one -and then the other. "You bring it eh?" o "Yes, I'll bring it. Only let me golet me go, you’re hurting." "NO, nothing happened at school today mother. We had spelling and drawing and arithmetic." So I had to bring sixpence to school to-morrow. Only I didn’t have sixpence. And in the playtime I had asked the boy I had to sit with who was the big boy who wore a foothall jersey. "He’s Johnny Rowle,’ he said. "He’s in standard six an’ he’s fourteen and he’s the biggest boy in the school. Last week he gave Charlie Carr a hiding for calling him nuts and Charlie had to g0 home in Miss Norris’s car." : "C)H yes Mrs. Roberts I’ve met a few boys. My teachers are very nice thank you. Can I have another cake please mother?" "Good heavens Teddy! I’m sure I don’t know whether you should. I’m afraid you'll burst. Are you sure you can eat it?" "Yes mother." "Go on Mrs. Johnson food never did a child any harm I always say, especially a growing youngster." THE headmaster had taken me to my new teacher after playtime.

"Hello Teddy," she said, "I hope you will like it here. You da like school don’t you Teddy? But perhaps it was a bit strange after being at school in another place for such a long time. Come along now here's your desk," "Miss Norris!" "Yes Teddy?" "IT have to ...I1 mean is it true that Johnny Rowle is the biggest boy in the school an’ that last week he had a fight an’ the other boy had to go home in your car?" "Yes, Teddy, but Johnny’s a very nice boy really and he has been punished for it. I’m sure you needn't be frightened of him. Now where did you get up to in sums at your last school." "Ox yes Mrs. Roberts. I thought perhaps Teddy wouldn’t like shifting and the new faces and everything, but it was all right at school to-day wasn’t it dear?" "Yes mother." "TJEY new boy, you going home now?" Pea" "Don’t you forget what I told you..." "No." He went home on the school bus and as he Went past he shouted "Goggle eyes! Goggle Eyes!" Everybody heard and I ran all the way home. : "OH I am sorry you both have to go. It was so very nice of you to call. Say good-bye Teddy. He’s still a bit shy you know." | "Good afternoon Mrs. Roberts and Mrs. Jamison." "Good-bye Teddy. And don’t you worry about him Mrs. Johnson; he’s sure to like it at school. After all, children never know cares or worries do they? I always say schooldays are the happiest days of your life. Don’t you think so, Alice?"