A Posh Girls Posh Boarding School Somewhere in a Posh Part of England (I.P.) Part One

A Posh Girls Posh Boarding School Somewhere in a Posh Part of England (I.P.)

Part One The Arrival of a Fusty!

It was Lucinda’s first day at St Margaret’s in the Field and she was very nervous as it was the first time she had been away from her parents. They had decided that she would get a better education at a boarding school and so they had sent her to the one furthest away from her home. She didn’t quite understand why distance seemed to be more important than the school’s academic achievement but she felt sure they would have their reasons.

Her parents had not been able to make the long journey North so she had travelled alone and now as she nervously entered the school gates she saw lots of girls rushing about with their satchels and small cases all dressed in the same uniform of grey blazer with badge, grey skirt and the obligatory hat with red, silk band and badge. The other girls all seemed so big to Lucinda because she was a tiny little thing with curly ginger hair, a pale complexion and a smattering of freckles that in sunlight made her face look as if she had been showered in fairy dust. She struggled with her case and satchel whilst trying to keep a tight hold of her hockey stick. Some bigger girls who were obviously not first year pupils smashed into the back of Lucinda nearly causing her to fall but she managed to stay upright still clutching case, satchel and hockey stick.

“Get out of the way you horrible, disgusting, little Fusty.” Said the biggest of the girls and with a whoosh the girl pushed Lucinda who landed with a thud on the playground floor along with her case and satchel before her hockey stick came clattering after.

“Make sure you never get in the way of any Thusty again or you will really be in trouble” and with that parting shot the girls moved away giggling.

Lucinda lay on the floor for a moment trying to collect herself and her belongings whilst desperate to hold back the tears that were stinging her eyes and threatening to come splashing down her face. Just as she hauled herself up another, very tall, girl came up and Lucinda flinched as she thought the girl was about to thump her. Instead the very, very, tall girl helped her to her feet and picked up her case and satchel leaving Lucinda just with the hockey stick.

“You must be Lucinda Lucket. I was told to look out for you and to show you to your dorm so if you would like to follow me I’ll show you where you will sleep and where the First Year Common Room is.”

“Oh, thank you” Lucinda mumbled. She would have preferred just to mumble but the way she had replied seemed to require a ‘d’. “Are you a Fusty too or a Thusty?” She queried. “And what exactly is a Fusty or a Thusty?”

“No, I’m a Fusty like you,” the very, very, tall girl said. “And a Fusty is a first year and a Thusty is a third year pupil.”

“Oh, it’s just that you are very, very, very, tall,” murmured Lucinda as the girl seemed to be growing before her very eyes.”

“Yes, that’s why those Thusties won’t pick on me. They know I know all about them because my sister who was very, very, very, tall was a prefect here when those Thusties were Fusties.”

“Oh, I see. May I ask what your name is?”

“Yes, it’s Gabriella Martingdale Smyth.”

“Oh that’s rather a long name. What do people usually call you?”

“Gabs.”

“May I call you that?”

“Yes. Now here we are this is Nightingale Dormitory and that is also the name of the house that you are in. I am the Dormitory and House Monitor. Any problems you come to me first, is that clear?”

“Yes, I th…thi…think so. I am in Nightingale Dormitory and I am also in Nightingale Dormitory House, yes?”

“No.”

“But you just said…”

“No, your house name is just Nightingale.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“Now I will leave you to put all your things away tidy in your locker and then I will come and get you when the dinner gong sounds.”

“Thank you.” And with that Gabs turned on her heel and nearly fell over as she left the dorm with Lucinda wondering why she had turned on her heel instead of just walking out normally.

Anyway the weeks went by and every time the girls were called to go to the Post Room to receive their post Lucinda went hoping each time there would be a letter from her parents but she always came away disappointed. She had been writing home every week but had received not one reply. She understood because she knew her parents would be busy getting the yacht ready for the summer holidays and she hoped this time, now that she was older and had been away from them for so long, that she might be allowed to go with them.

However, one day she was on her way to the Post Room when the three Thusties who had been so horrible to her on her first day were coming down the stairs just as she was going up. They barged straight into her knocking her back down the stairs with a thumping great thump. She landed with a thud and the Thusties were giggling wildly at the sight of poor Lucinda floundering about on the floor clutching her head where she had banged it.

“What did I tell you about not getting in the way of any Thusties, you horrible little Fusty? There’s no one here now to protect you because your mate that very, very, very, very, tall girl is no where to be seen.”

“Is that so?” Said a voice from somewhere above their heads.

The Thusties looked up to see Gabs stood in the doorway to the Post Room almost having to duck because to Lucinda and everyone else present she still looked to be growing.

“Oh, we were only playing, weren’t we, little Fusty?”

“I’m not sure…”

“Yes, well if I catch you only playing with a Fusty from my house ever again I will report you to the FT Club. Now get on your way before I take it upon myself to call for them now.”

The Thusties quickly made their escape frightened off by the mention of the FT Club.

“What is the FT Club?” Enquired Lucinda.

“They are the school’s super heroes. No one knows exactly who they are as it is a secret society with just three members but they right wrongs and no one messes with them.”

“What does FT stand for?”

“Fantastic Three and if you have any more trouble from them Thusties just leave a note in the box marked Fantastic Three above the fire place in the First Year Common Room. All the Common Rooms have such a box.”

“Thank you,” said Lucinda and having dusted herself down she then made her way up the stairs to the Post Room but once again she came back out with no letter not even so much as an ‘A’.

Poor Lucinda had hoped there would be some reply to her last letter as she had mentioned the date of the School Sports Day and she really hoped her parents would be able to come as she was going to be running in the Cross Country Race because even though she was the smallest she was still the fastest girl in her year. Even faster than Gabs who you may remember was the very, very, very, tall girl who was House Leader.

TO BE CONTINUED