COUNTRY SCHOOL

Being a boy Townie meant we were often called out to fight. Our city life had provided many occasions for fights, and we Townie boys felt ourselves considerably tougher than our country counterparts. We usually gave a good account of ourselves, and soon were rarely challenged. We also had to answer incessant questions about London, which the village children had only read about or heard about. Of course we usually embellished our descriptions of life in the city and the horrors of air raids, some of which was derided, but most of which was believed.

About a week after our arrival we had to report for school, for which I still had no taste. At that time I could never understand why we had to spend long hours learning mathematics and the basics of English grammar - promptly forgetting most if it when I left school, except how to count money.

We Londoners soon settled into the daily routine of a quiet bus ride in the morning to school, classes all day, and a happy, boisterous return ride in the afternoon. Our assimilation into village life was complete when we Townies began asking, "How be ye, then?" in broad Cockney accents, upon meeting fellow villagers.