CHAPTER 2 : SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME
"Why are you going to France?" asked Merlin.
"Well, I have a job working in a school, helping supervise the children and giving tutorials in French if they need them."
"Is where you work nice, Leon?"
"Yes, it is! Very nice…I think you'll like it there."
There was a moment's silence as Merlin's brain worked out that last sentence. He turned and grinned, "Leon, you're going to the same place as me?"
"Yes!"
"Honestly?"
"Yes, honestly, Merlin!"
"Good! Will I have to call you, Sir now?"
Leon laughed, "No, Merlin, Leon will do just fine."
"Wait till I tell my mother that I met one of the teachers on the Liverpool train. She needn't have worried all day. I have to phone her from Paris tonight." Then he became serious, "She's all alone now. This is the first time in ages that I haven't been at home overnight."
"Merlin, I'm sure once she hears from you she will feel perfectly alright. However, I can't be called a teacher maybe a teacher's aide."
"Don't worry, Leon, I think you are going to be my favourite teacher's aide.…"
With the woman near the window still glaring at him, Leon made sure that Merlin had collected all his belongings, before they left the train. They had a half hour before Merlin had to register so before walking to the Eurostar terminus, Leon insisting that they stopped for something to eat at Prêt. Leon watched as Merlin carefully checked his money.
He looked up and saw Leon's raised eyebrows, "I promised my mother that I wouldn't go beyond my budget. I know she can't afford to send me money if I run out."
"Don't worry, once you meet up with the others, everything is paid for. You'll have supper in Paris, spend the night there and the Institute's bus will pick the first year students up mid-morning. The other returning students get directly on the Compèigne train and another bus will pick them up at the station. However, for your group there is a little stay in Paris."
"...and no more having to worry about finding trains, platforms, seats and somewhere to stow your baggage. "
"True! But now, put your money away, this is on me!"
"Leon, I can't let you pay for me..."
But Leon wouldn't take no for an answer and he paid at the counter, while Merlin found them a seat.
"I've seen the prospectus of the school but what is it really like?" Merlin said watching Leon carefully.
Smiling, Leon confided that when he had completed his five summer sessions last July and he had been quite sad. It had been his last summer with the good friends he'd made. They would be scattered across the U.K. and would be going to various colleges. "I thoroughly enjoyed my five summers in Pierrefonds. The teachers and counsellors are wonderful and the sports offered are great. One year, we even went into Switzerland to ski at Zermatt. Fantastique...
"You will have the chance to make some great friends, returning every year. Some will last a lifetime and others only for five years, you will get to decide."
"But how do you know, they'll like me and I'll like them?"
"…because you were chosen to complement each other. I have every confidence that in five weeks you will have at least two good friends. Come on, finish up that drink, we have to make our way to the assembly point."
"Leon, are your friends here with you this summer?"
"Yes, one is. He will be with us on the train, his name is Rupert."
They finally turned a corner and on the left, were the check in gates to the Eurostar. To the right was a table with a large poster for L'Institut Thierry Quentin and a variety of boys, some parents, and older boys, with pupils all wearing identification badges.
Leon ushered Merlin to the table with a sign 'New ITQ Pupils', introducing him to a motherly women called Mrs. Knight. She asked for all his train tickets and passport and smiled at the lad. There was hardly anything to him but his smile and the innocence in his eyes. It flashed through her mind that she would never forget him. "Merlin, we have heard a lot about you and are so pleased that you will be joining with us." She returned his passport and ticket confirmation and a red/gold lanyard with a plastic card, identifying him as a current student at the ITQ. "Put this around your neck and wear it continually on your trip and for the first week at ITQ and whenever you go on school trips."
Leon was surprised as usually things were so rushed that there was hardly time for more than the exchange of particulars but Mrs. Knight had made time for the youngest student. He smiled; there was something about the boy.
"Leon!" said a loud voice. "You're here. The village will never be the same...again, 'Veni, Vidi, Vici,'!"
Leon spun on his heel and grabbed Rupert. They hadn't seen each other since last July.
Merlin watched him, thinking, 'One day, he would have a friend like Rupert who would be happy to see him…regardless of...' He decided not to go there. He smiled, Leon noticed and said, "Rupert, this is Merlin, he found me on the train from Liverpool and helped me arrive here safely."
Merlin burst out laughing and shook his head. He liked Leon and hoped that the other leaders were going to be like him. But now, he had to face the others first year students...
-0-0-
Now, Mrs. Knight had three boys standing in front of her, all accompanied by their parents. Each one was checked in and handed an identity card attached to a lanyard. Merlin had noticed that there were five different colour combinations, green/white, blue/gold, black/red, purple/white and the red/gold which he had received. There were still three with those colours remaining on the table.
As he was unaccompanied, Mrs. Knight had told him to sit on a bench close to her table. Every now and again, she'd smile in his direction and Merlin would return the smile. He decided she seemed very nice too.
Slowly, groups of boys with coloured lanyards and family members were gathered near Eurostar's St. Pancras Terminal.
One young man, whistling happily grinned at Merlin as he approached the table and said, "Nursery School is it, Sonny?"
Merlin bristled and sat up straight, he mightn't be big but he knew he was strong for his size and clever. His mother had always told him that. His eyes burned into the other boy's and the bigger boy shrugged.
Mrs. Knight looked up noticing Merlin's discomfort. She eyed the long haired boy standing in front of her and sighed, a possible trouble maker with a pleasant smile. She checked his name and to Merlin's sorrow handed over a red and gold lanyard.
"Are you alone, Gawaine?"
"Yes, ma'am! And haven't I been exploring this fine city by myself for the last two days?" He accompanied this with a wink at Merlin who was listening to the exchange.
"That is sufficient, Gawaine!" She handed him his train confirmation and passport. "Put the lanyard on and join Merlin over there on the bench."
Suddenly, the flamboyance disappeared and he said respectfully, "Yes, ma'am!"
Mrs. Knight smiled at Merlin saying, "Get to know each other, you're in the same Year One Group!"
The other boy held out his hand saying, "Gawaine!"
Merlin shook it smiled and said, "Merlin!"
"You're kidding, right?"
Merlin shrugged and said , "No! …registered as such at birth."
Gawaine looked at him, chuckled and reached into his backpack and pulled out some gum and handed it to Merlin. "Only have, spearmint left but better than nothing, right?"
Saying, "Thanks!" Merlin popped it in his mouth. He looked up and saw Leon and smiled and Leon nodded back.
Gawaine caught the nod and said, "Older brother?"
"No!" said Merlin, "Someone I just met..."
