* * *
A week later it was almost the same story.
“Jonathan asked me last night in the dorm. Well, you know what he is like when he wants to get his way. I have to get out. I mean school’s great, but you have to get away sometimes.”
“I wish I could join you. You know, like before.”
“Well, it’s okay. Jonathan is pretty good company. Mind you, he just likes to swim and eat ice cream. It’s not really the same, but he chats up the girls.”
“And you? I mean with the girls?”
“I am just along for the ride mostly, but Jonathan always looks for a pair. He’s good at it.”
Pip bit his lip and said nothing. The opportunities to see Sacha had diminished rapidly this term. Sacha seemed to have other things occupying him, notably cricket. Now that Sacha was a regular in the First XI with Jonathan and Peter, his free time was often taken up with away games. Now the only time the two boys saw each other for more than a few moments was in the late afternoon when Pip would stay at the top and watch, with more than a little envy, as the other boys went swimming in the cove below.
Sacha was always down at the Cove now. When he did swim in free time at the end after his swimming lesson, it was mostly with Jonathan, always unmistakeable with his hair even half a bay away. Jealously Pip noticed that they sometimes disappeared together around the point well away from the other boys. Pip went and looked one afternoon, but Sacha and Jonathan were hidden from view by the cliff top that leaned precariously outwards from the sea itself at this point. The overhanging cliff meant you could not look down directly from the top, nor could you hear anything from below, what with the constant sound of the waves, the wind and the seagulls.
Disappointed with his semi-invalid status, Pip was only too pleased when half term arrived the following week. As he prepared to leave The Rocks for half term he packed a bag of books for revision. He was joining Mr Wallace, who was escorting a small group of boys on the train to London.
At breakfast that final morning, Pip learnt from Peter that the Morgan family were going to be staying in Bristol with Sam. The two brothers came downstairs after breakfast for the second time, Sacha’s trunk carried between them, as Mrs Morgan and Sam arrived. Mrs Porter seeing Mrs Morgan immediately went over to her and filled her in about Sacha. “He’s been in sick bay for a few days, some sort of virus we think. Nothing to worry about. He’s fine now as you can see.”
Sam took charge, opening the boot of the car before Mrs Morgan returned and fussed over her two sons.
“Well, come on, you two. Sacha, Mrs Porter tells me that you have been in sick bay for a week this term. What was it this time?”
“Oh, nothing much.”
“He just wanted a rest, lazy dog.”
“I am not!”
“Hush, you two, really!”
“My, you two look so tanned. You would think you have both been on holiday and not at school.”
“Oh it’s been great this term, hasn’t it, Sacha?”
“Oh yes, we go swimming each afternoon.”
“I told you he would be all right with Peter here.”
“Come on, put your things in the back. Sam has found us a nice flat to stay in. It’s a lecturer’s flat right in Clifton.”
Sacha turned to Pip just as he was getting in the back seat of the car.
“Bye, Pip!”
Peter leaned over from his side. “Yes, next stop exams, you and me both.”
With a scrunch of gravel, the Morgan family left school.
*****