smiling face and hoped she’d
always remember what he looked like. She had a few photos of him, some of them
together, but they were wrinkly with age because she’d handled them
constantly. And anyway a photo wasn’t the same as a clear memory. She
desperately missed Steven and wanted to keep the memory of him alive.
All of a sudden, it seemed to her,
the college buildings had loomed up ahead and Kate slowed down making her way
to the car park. She parked the car and got out, shivering as the cold air hit
her. The lights of the college building on her right gleamed invitingly. The building
looked modern and brand new, nothing like she remembered it. It was a clear
night now. Glancing at the sky Kate could see the stars glittering like jewels.
She had pulled her scarf tighter around her neck and headed quickly for the
entrance. Inside there had been a woman waiting to welcome her and tell her
where she needed to go. The college was a lot larger than Kate remembered; it
was like a rabbit warren with so many flights of stairs, corridors and doors.
But eventually she found the room she was looking for and taking a deep breath
she stepped in.
The room had been empty apart from
a woman standing by a display of information. Welcoming Kate warmly, she had asked
which course in particular she was interested in.
‘English literature,’ Kate
replied. ‘I began studying it in my teens but I decided to give it up to work
on my father’s farm.’
‘Well it’s great that you’re
considering returning to study,’ the woman said. She gestured to Kate to
follow her to a table covered in leaflets about the courses on offer. ‘The
English literature A-level is completed over two years. The first year is an
AS level course. You would then progress to the A level the second year.’
Kate nodded. ‘That would suit me.’
‘Good. We’ve got a summary here of
the course, what’s involved, how many hours a week you’ll have lessons and so
on. I’ll leave you to have a look but please don’t hesitate to ask me if you
have any questions.’
She had left Kate perusing a
leaflet as she welcomed other prospective students. The course looked very
similar to the one Kate had been studying when she was a full time student
here. It would involve studying some of her favourite authors which was a plus
and Kate felt her heart lift. For so long the farm had been her entire world
and now there would be a new element to her life. Who knew, she might even end
up studying for a degree. She had been so engrossed in looking at the
information that when someone cleared their throat by her ear she was
startled. Turning around she saw with surprise that it was her old English teacher.
‘Mr Astley!’ she said.
‘Please call me Martin,’ he replied
smiling. ‘I’m sorry if I startled you.’
‘That’s all right. I was a million
miles away looking at all this information. How are you? I’m surprised you
remember me after all this time; you must have seen so many students. You’re
still teaching English here?’
‘Yes, I’m still teaching here for
my sins. It’s good to see you, Kate. I always thought it was such a shame
that you left. You had or I should say have a lot of potential.’
Kate smiled, a little embarrassed.
‘Thank you. The course looks really great. Will you be teaching some of it?’
‘Yes, I teach some of the units on
the course which include some Shakespeare plays. I seem to recall that
Shakespeare was one of your favourites.’
‘You’ve got a good memory. I’m
impressed!’ Kate laughed.
‘Well you don’t forget which
authors or playwrights a great student enjoys. Anyway, seeing you reminded me
of Steven. The two of you were inseparable if I remember rightly.’
Kate nodded feeling the warmth of a
blush spread across her cheeks.
‘It was a long time ago,’ she
said. ‘But I still miss him.’
‘I’m sure
always remember what he looked like. She had a few photos of him, some of them
together, but they were wrinkly with age because she’d handled them
constantly. And anyway a photo wasn’t the same as a clear memory. She
desperately missed Steven and wanted to keep the memory of him alive.
All of a sudden, it seemed to her,
the college buildings had loomed up ahead and Kate slowed down making her way
to the car park. She parked the car and got out, shivering as the cold air hit
her. The lights of the college building on her right gleamed invitingly. The building
looked modern and brand new, nothing like she remembered it. It was a clear
night now. Glancing at the sky Kate could see the stars glittering like jewels.
She had pulled her scarf tighter around her neck and headed quickly for the
entrance. Inside there had been a woman waiting to welcome her and tell her
where she needed to go. The college was a lot larger than Kate remembered; it
was like a rabbit warren with so many flights of stairs, corridors and doors.
But eventually she found the room she was looking for and taking a deep breath
she stepped in.
The room had been empty apart from
a woman standing by a display of information. Welcoming Kate warmly, she had asked
which course in particular she was interested in.
‘English literature,’ Kate
replied. ‘I began studying it in my teens but I decided to give it up to work
on my father’s farm.’
‘Well it’s great that you’re
considering returning to study,’ the woman said. She gestured to Kate to
follow her to a table covered in leaflets about the courses on offer. ‘The
English literature A-level is completed over two years. The first year is an
AS level course. You would then progress to the A level the second year.’
Kate nodded. ‘That would suit me.’
‘Good. We’ve got a summary here of
the course, what’s involved, how many hours a week you’ll have lessons and so
on. I’ll leave you to have a look but please don’t hesitate to ask me if you
have any questions.’
She had left Kate perusing a
leaflet as she welcomed other prospective students. The course looked very
similar to the one Kate had been studying when she was a full time student
here. It would involve studying some of her favourite authors which was a plus
and Kate felt her heart lift. For so long the farm had been her entire world
and now there would be a new element to her life. Who knew, she might even end
up studying for a degree. She had been so engrossed in looking at the
information that when someone cleared their throat by her ear she was
startled. Turning around she saw with surprise that it was her old English teacher.
‘Mr Astley!’ she said.
‘Please call me Martin,’ he replied
smiling. ‘I’m sorry if I startled you.’
‘That’s all right. I was a million
miles away looking at all this information. How are you? I’m surprised you
remember me after all this time; you must have seen so many students. You’re
still teaching English here?’
‘Yes, I’m still teaching here for
my sins. It’s good to see you, Kate. I always thought it was such a shame
that you left. You had or I should say have a lot of potential.’
Kate smiled, a little embarrassed.
‘Thank you. The course looks really great. Will you be teaching some of it?’
‘Yes, I teach some of the units on
the course which include some Shakespeare plays. I seem to recall that
Shakespeare was one of your favourites.’
‘You’ve got a good memory. I’m
impressed!’ Kate laughed.
‘Well you don’t forget which
authors or playwrights a great student enjoys. Anyway, seeing you reminded me
of Steven. The two of you were inseparable if I remember rightly.’
Kate nodded feeling the warmth of a
blush spread across her cheeks.
‘It was a long time ago,’ she
said. ‘But I still miss him.’
‘I’m sure
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