A Coventry Kid's Tale

Chapter 12: THE LAST YEAR AT FREDDIE'S

The homework had increased and he was now finding it hard to do it in with the other lessons, so he didn't do it at all. In art lessons the pupils all took an art exam, the child came second. The picture he painted was all different shades of grey, like the clouds in the sky on a stormy day. Hiding behind the clouds, painted a darker shade of grey, was the "Grim Reaper" and his helpers. Nothing really (says the child with pride). Mrs. Jackson, the art teacher, spoke to Mr. Trotter, another art teacher, about the child and the other pupil who came first, Malcolm Rollason. Mr. Trotter arranged for them to take another art exam but this was in Barrs Hill school on the Radford Road. On a Saturday. From this exam they both got a free scholarship to go to the Art college in Cope Street. The only trouble with this was it was on Saturdays. After his paper round he would go home for a quick coffee and then have to go to art school. Schooling had now entered a six day week. The child was not over keen!!!!!!!

Returning home one Saturday night from the pictures, the child was talking to "Gams" when he noticed a unmarked police car coming down Raglan Street. This unmarked car was a Morris Traveller, which the police had had for years. It always had four detectives in it and I think it was only the police themselves who did not know what it looked like, for everybody in Coventry knew what it was. Anyway, the child said to Gams, "We will have a bit of fun". Turning his back to the police car, the child pretended to have trouble opening the shop door. The police car came screeching to a halt and four detectives jumped out and surrounded Gams and the child. "Trying to break in are we son?" said one detective. "No" said the child "I live here". "A likely story" said the detective as he hammered on the door (which would have woke the dead). The woman who lived there came to the door and opened it. The detective asked "Do you know this child?". "Of course, it's my son" said the woman. "Oh, oh" stammered the detective "sorry to disturb you but only checking, good night". Off sped the detectives and the child's mother asked "What was that about?". "Don't know" said the child "I was only putting the key in the door when they stopped". "A likely story" said the mother, for she knew the child well !!!

Mrs. Jackson asked of the child "Would you like to come to my house one night?". "Of course" stammered the red faced child. "Friday night at 7" said Mrs. Jackson. At exactly 7pm Friday night the child knocked on Mrs. Jackson's door, who lived in Cornwall Road just at the back of the London Road. Opening the door Mrs. Jackson greeted him with "Hello, come in and take your coat off and relax in the lounge." Thinking this was it for the child, he entered the lounge to find about six other children there and her husband. Drat!! But a good night was had by all. With something to eat and drink, the discussion about robots running the world along with computers seemed a bit far fetched, but today that is how it's done.