I taught them to cook vidya4 - Flipbook - Page 37
Autumn Term
35
to look into the ovens to see if the cakes are turning brown. A nod
when they’re ready. I reckon some boys ask for extra checks just
to get a glimpse of my underwear. Oh for the day when we can
wear trousers, like the men.
It’s marking time and Ray protests when I tell him that his
cakes are too hard and slightly burnt.
‘Miss… please. If they are called rock cakes, they should be
like rocks. Mine are brown rocks. Give me a better mark.’
Cynthia
Before the end of Friday school, Cynthia, my new helper pops in
to see what she needs for her new job on Monday. Cynthia will
help with cleaning, washing and organising the food ingredients.
‘Hello Miss Hyde.’
As she enters the room she gives a nod to some of the boys.
‘Hello again, Cynthia. I’m very pleased to see you and do call
me Jenny.’
I hear whispers of ‘Jenny, Jenny. Her name is Jenny.’
Learning a new teacher’s first name is the second most
valuable secret. Teachers are always called by their surnames.
Mr Smith, Mrs Bates.... and the sad Miss So-and-so’s who are
destined for a solitary life in a rented room, spending their
evenings at home with their cat, marking school work. Somehow
we teachers are not like other humans and the discovery that we
have a first name is met with shock and giggles.
‘Mr Smith’s name is Albert, and I heard someone call Mrs
Bates Deirdre.’ OOOh, fancy that.
I imagine they gather in corners, passing recently found
names to the Chief Name Collector who holds the First Name
List for Teachers and shouts to the crowd of adoring followers.
‘I’ve just got that new one. The baking teacher. She’s called
Jenny.’