Opposite Sides Read Free

chair
back and reaching behind her and pulled out a file from one of the
shelves.
    “ Leave your
bags outside. You can collect them at the end of the day.” As she
breathed in deeply, he became aware of how much her breasts filled
out towards him. His face coloured and he hoped neither she or the
girl had noticed his reaction. “And now, Mister Resmel, Miss
Sutherland, I have other important matters to attend to. Thank you
and I hope you will enjoy your stay with us.”
    She indicated with a
flick of her hand that they should go.
    Hans had understood very
little of was said so he waited for Miss Sutherland to make the
first move. He did not want to appear stupid. Not on his first day.
Miss Sutherland mimed with her fingers that they should tip-toe
quietly out of the office.
    The other student waited
until Hans had closed the door. He put down his cases as close as
possible to the wall and stood with his back resting against the
dark-wood panelling. It was the girl who spoke first.
    “ Mister
Resmel?”
    “ Please, my
name is Hans. I am . . . sehr . . . um, pleased to
meet you.”
    He bowed very slightly,
bringing his heels together with an audible click. He felt awkward
and was uncertain what to say or do next.
    “ I’m Anne to
my friends. We are going to be friends, I hope.” She held out a
smooth, alabaster hand for him to shake but, instead, he raised it
to his lips. The girl was taken back a little but did not comment
on his action. She placed her coat over her bags, then straightened
the skirt of her school uniform. “There! Now we’re ready!” Anne
flicked her head to one side. “Follow me, Mister Hans Resmel. I’ve
been here several times. One of my brothers came here five years
ago.”
    “ Your
brothers? They are since five years here?”
    She laughed.
    “ One brother.
Five years ago. Not now. He’s grown up and left. I’m the baby of
the family. Understand?”
    He nodded. He liked her.
If English girls were like her, he would feel at ease straight away
even though he was understanding far less than he thought he would.
Everyone so far had spoken to him too quickly and he was finding
the concentration of it quite tiring.
    The school assembly was
formal: boys on the left and the girls on the right and it was
always conducted in exactly the same way. Mr Bowes-Heath, the
headmaster, was a tall, wiry man in his late forties, greying
slightly at the temples, draped in a black academic gown that made
him look as if he could easily take flight the moment he should
raise his arms. His staff of eight masters sat on the stage, a
silent semi-circle of eyes, eyes that remained fixed on every
student in the hall: girls in the front four rows to the side and
the boys in the rest. On the left were two women teachers. They sat
behind Miss Turner. She sat upright in the front like a meerkat on
watch, a large black folder resting on the lap of her long grey
skirt that almost reached down to her ankles and her hands folded
with exact precision over the top.
    As the final hymn notes
melted away, Mr Bowes-Heath left the podium and stepped forward
towards the front of the stage. His voice was neither high nor deep
but easily reached into the furthest corner of the hall and his
words were delivered with the skill of an accomplished stage actor
as he announced the arrival of the two new students.
    “ . . . and
after one of our senior boys left to take up further studies at
university and two further boys having been accepted for positions
with the Bank of England, the staff and I have much pleasure in
introducing two new students.” He paused as he drew himself up to
his full height, extending his wing-like elbows and bringing his
hands in towards his chest where he grasped either side of his open
gown. “Today Miss Turner enrolled Miss Anne Sutherland and Mister
Hans Resmel. Miss Sutherland will be in the female wing under Miss
Turner’s guidance. Miss Sutherland is already acquainted with our
school through the