Breaking the Bounds by Roy Fuller

4.8

Gerald Bracher, a boy of thirteen, is a pupil at a private English boarding school. He is a good reader but there are not enough books in his classroom library.

One Saturday evening Gerald went into a stationer’s shop with Howarth so that his friend could buy a bottle of ink for his pen. At the back of the shop there were some shelves of books.

“Just look how many interesting books they have got. That is what we need in our class,” said Gerald.

“Why don’t you borrow one of these books?” asked Howarth.

“They do not lend books,” said Gerald. “I’ll ask them,” and Howarth went up to the owner of the shop. It was quite simple and very cheap. In a few moments Gerald chose a book for himself and they went back to school.

By Sunday evening he had finished the book and suddenly an idea came to him that he could not wait until Wednesday before borrowing another book. He could go into the town on Monday after his lessons and borrow another book. Gerald quite forgot that the town was out of bounds for pupils on all days except Wednesdays and Saturday evenings.

With the book in his overcoat pocket he went out of the school with some groups of day boys.

All went very well. He changed his book at the stationer’s and was already on the road back to school. He thought he had not seen or met anyone he knew. But as soon as he had entered the school and was hanging up his overcoat, he was told that the Headmaster wanted to see him.

“Come in, boy,” said Mr. Pemberton and from the tone of his voice Gerald understood that the Headmaster knew everything.

“Have you anything to tell me?” asked Mr. Pemberton.

“I don’t think so, sir.”

“Then it was not you who was seen half an hour ago in the town?”

For a moment Gerald was silent and then he said quietly, “Yes, sir, it was.”

“Why did you go there?”

“I only went to change a book, sir.”

“To change a book? Have you read all the books in your classroom and in the school library?”

Gerald said nothing.

“Don’t you know,” said the Headmaster, “that we do not allow boys to go into town on all days and at all hours. I am disappointed in you, Bracher.”

“I am sorry, sir,” said Gerald.

“Bend over,” said the Headmaster, and Gerald saw that he had moved to the corner of the room where a cane stood against the wall.

The Headmaster’s hand lifted up the tail of Gerald’s jacket and then gave him two strokes with the cane.

It was all very quick and at first Gerald did not feel any pain.

“You may go now, boy,” said the Headmaster and Gerald went out.

Outside the door he understood that he was hurt and tears came into his eyes.