The Fourth Estate by Jeffrey Archer

as a
trainee reporter. However, lie accepted that for the moment his mother was
still winning that particular argument, although if he deliberately failed the
entrance exam, she wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.
    Despite this,
Keith could think of several good reasons to fall in with the headmaster’s
wishes. The sum was not that large, and collecting it on behalf of the school
might open some doors that had previously been slammed in his face. And then
there was his mother: she would need a great deal of placating after he had
failed to be offered a place at Oxford.
    “It’s unlike you
to take so long to come to a decision,” said the headmaster, breaking into his
thoughts.
    “I was giving
serious consideration to your proposal, Headmaster,” said Keith gravely- He had
absolutely no intention of allowing the old man to believe he could be bought
off quite that easily. This time it was the headmaster who remained silent.
Keith counted to three. “I’ll come back to you on this one if I may, sir,” he
said, hoping he Sounded like a bank manager addressing a customer requesting a
small overdraft.
    “And when might
that be, Townsend?” inquired the headmaster, sounding a little irritated ...
    “Two or three
days at the most, sir.”
    “Thank you,
Townsend,” said the headmaster, rising from his chair to indicate that the
interview was over.
    Keith turned to
leave, but before he reached the door, the headmaster added, “Do have a word
with your mother before you make your decision.”
    “Your father
wants me to be the student rep for the annual appeal,” said Keith, as he
searched round for his pants.
    “What do they
want to build this time?” asked Penny, still looking up at the ceiling.
    “A new cricket
pavilion.”
    “Can’t see
what’s wrong with this one.”
    “It has been
known to be used for other purposes,” said Keith, as he pulled on his trousers.
    “Can’t think
why.” She pulled at a trouser leg. He stared down at her thin naked body. “So,
what are you going to tell him?”
    “I’m going to say
yes.”
    “But why? It
could take up all your spare time.”
    “I know. But it
will keep him off my back, and in any case it might act as an insurance
policy.”
    “An insurance
policy?” said Penny.
    “Yes, if I were
ever spotted at the racecourse-or worse...” He looked down at her again.
    “ ... in the slips cradle with the
headmaster’s daughter?” She pushed herself up and began kissing him again.
    “Have we time?”
he asked.
    “Don’t be so
wet, Keith. If the First Eleven are playing at Wesley today and the game
doesn’t end until six, they won’t be back much before nine, so we have all the
time in the world.” She fell to her knees and began to undo his fly buttons.
    “Unless it’s
raining,” said Keith.
    Penny had been
the first girl Keith had made love to. She had seduced him one evening when he
was meant to be attending a concert by a visiting orchestra, he would never
have thought there was enough room in the ladies’ loo. He was relieved that
there was no way of showing the fact that he had lost his virginity. He was
certain it hadn’t been Penny’s first sexual experience, because to date he
hadn’t taught her a thing.
    But all that had
taken place at the beginning of the previous term, and now he had his eye on a
girl called Betsy who served behind the counter in the local post office. In
fact lately his mother had been surprised by how regularly Keith had been
writing home.
    Keith lay on a
neatly laid-out mattress of old pads in the slips cradle, and began to wonder
what Betsy would look like in the nude. He decided that this was definitely
going to be the last time ...
    As she clipped
on her bra, Penny asked casually, “Same time next week?”
    “Sorry, can’t
make it next week,” said Keith. “Got an appointment in Melbourne.”
    “Who with?”
asked Penny. “You’re surely not playing for the First Eleven.”
    “No, they’re not
quite