Chapter One. The world with all its heartbreak disappeared----
"It weren't my fault. I di'n't know it would happen! How could I know? How was I to know she'd be so DUMB? Our Daisy would NEVER do anythin' so stupid. It was a joke! You know what a joke is. Everyone knows what a joke is. I didn't know the dumb cow would go on the track and get minced up did I? It' s not fair!" Jack was protesting. Jack was always protesting. According to Jack, he never realized anything would ever go wrong with anything. It was always a mistake and he didn't know what would happen, and it wasn't his fault anyhow.
Jack's Father, Harry, was in the awkward position of trying to explain why his 10 year old son had tied a large bell to the tail of their next door neighbors best milk cow, causing her to run amok and end up getting squashed under a Railway Train. Times were hard and he couldn't afford to pay for the loss of the cow. He was faced with having to grovel.
"I can't pay you for the cow, Digby" he said, slowly " I wish I could, but I can't."
Digby Harper sighed. He was angry about the cow but he knew Harry Harkness had no money, and not much else besides. He knew the trouble Harry was having trying to raise a lively boy all on his own. After Mary had died Harry had gotten into debt, but somehow he had managed to pay off everything, however, in the process, he had lost control of Jack, who had been left to run wild for too long. Digby looked at Jack, who was scuffling his bare feet in the dust and singing something about breasts under his breath. He was a good looking boy with grey/blue eyes and a shock of dark hair that needed cutting. Digby knew Jack had no shoes and often went hungry. He didn't know how to resolve this situation.
"He can work it off" he said, finally "the debt, I mean. He can come over after School and work it off. It'll be good for him too."
''I got chores at home" said Jack, sullenly "I help Daddy."
''Now you can help Mr Harper as well" said Harry, relieved it wasn't going to cost him any cash, not that he had any until Harvest anyhow.
Jack sighed and then brightened visibly "can I go play now?" he asked "there's Owen an' Ianto.''
Owen was the son of Digby Harper and Ianto was the son of his second wife, Alice. Owen was a year older than Jack and Ianto was a year younger. Owen was inclined to be bossy, and so was Jack, so Ianto usually ended up trying to stop them fighting. No one would have thought that though by the way the three boys ran off together.
Harry and Digby watched them run across the dusty, dry ground. It hadn't rained for weeks and weeks and all the crops in the neighborhood were dying. Harry had already sold everything he could, and watching Jack run about in bare feet and dirty overalls with holes in the knees made his heart ache. He was seriously thinking of leaving the small farm he had worked so hard on and going to the City. Jack had never been to the City and Harry himself hadn't been since he was Jack's age. He tried to tell himself it would be an adventure, but he knew if they went it would be an act of desperation and nothing more.
Everything had been so different when Harry was Jack's age, but that had been before the War. The War destroyed almost everything. Whole Towns and Cities were literally flattened and Millions of people had died. All Harry's relatives except for his Father had been killed. Now the ground was Polluted and animals were likely to be born hideously deformed. Women found it hard to conceive and when they did the babies didn't survive. Jack was the seventh child to be born to Harry and Mary and the only one to live past infancy. Then Mary had gotten sick and died and was buried in the little Graveyard out back next to the six infants that had died one after the other. Daisy, their only remaining cow, had no milk and the lack of rain was killing all the crops Harry had spent hours and hours planting by hand. The fact that many people were having similar problems was no comfort when you couldn't feed and clothe your only child.
Jack, blissfully unaware of his Father's anguish, was climbing the Harper's single Apple tree. The Apples were not ripe, but Jack wasn't bothered. Owen, of course, had to climb too, leaving Ianto at the bottom, looking worried. Ianto often looked worried. He was aware of the situation in Raven Valley and aware of his elders concerns. It worried him. He wanted to go to Brightsee University when he was older, but you needed money for that as well as a first class education and Ianto couldn't see himself getting either of those things.
Owen liked everyone to think he was as daring as Jack, but privately he was actually more like Ianto. He was basically rather serious and wanted to become a Doctor. He wasn't interested in his Father's Farm. Farming was hard work, and as far as Owen could see, totally unrewarding in every way. He had to climb the tree though because Jack climbed it and Jack was 13 months his Junior. He wasn't going to be outshone by someone 13 months his Junior.
Jack reached an apple that was slightly bigger than the others and bit into it. It was very hard and terribly sour but he was hungry. He was always hungry. He finished eating the apple quickly, and filled his pockets with a number of others. As he climbed back down the tree most of them fell out because his pockets were full of holes. He sat at the foot of the tree and ate another sour apple.
"You'll get a tummy ache" said Ianto seriously " and be sick.''
"I'm never sick" Jack boasted.
''You are" Owen shouted " when we ate that Cigar."
"That don't count" Jack said "eatin' a Cigar makes folk sick."
"You're supposed to smoke them" said Ianto, helpfully.
"He betted me" Jack said, pointing to Owen "he said I wouldn't--an' I did."
Owen groaned. "You didn't win the bet" he said crossly " 'cause you were sick as a Dog.''
''I've never seen a sick Dog" Ianto remarked thoughtfully.
''Yes, you have" Owen said "when Mr Cooper's Dog got bit.''
''Oh yeah" Jack shouted with enthusiasm "he wen' mad and there he was in the High Street with foam on his mouth an' Mr. Cooper had to shoot him an' Gwen cried--it was great.''
''Poor Gwen" said Ianto "it was her Dog.''
Jack meanwhile was removing his Overalls. He had nothing else on at all. ''I'm gonna go paddle in the Creek'' he said.
"He can't swim" Owen said in a satisfied voice.
"I can so swim" Jack protested "but the Creek's nearly dry--"
This was only too true. It had been a while since anyone had been able to swim in the Creek and Jack couldn't swim anyhow. The three boys tramped over to the Creek, the correct name of which was actually Raven River, Jack carrying his overalls in his arms. He threw them down by the side of the Creek and ventured into the muddy water. Owen, naturally, removed his own clothing and proceeded to splash Jack with the brownish water. Ianto stood aside and watched. There was no way on Earth, he thought, that HE was going in there. The trouble was, Jack had other ideas. He splashed up the bank and pulled Ianto into the water. Ianto didn't struggle much, even thought he was as tall as Jack and fatter too. He just padded into the water, sat down in the mud, fully clothed, and started to cry.
Owen went to Ianto's rescue, moaning all the time. " You're a baby'' he complained ''why Daddy had to up and Marry your Mama--I don't know---".
Ianto trailed back to the Harper's Farm House, crying all the way, followed by Jack and Owen, putting their clothes back on as they went. Alice Harper spotted her darling from a distance and ran out to meet him.
''What's happened to my little precious?" she asked, putting her arms about him, muddy though he was.
''Jack pushed me" Ianto cried.
''I di'n't!'' Jack protested " I just stood there--an' he kinda fell in--all by himself. It weren't my fault.''
"That's a lie'' sniffed Ianto tearfully "I'd never go near that horrible muddy place unless they made me."
"You just followed us" Owen exclaimed '' we didn't MAKE you go there.''
''I NEVER pushed him'' Jack shouted ''I just--I just held his hand for a minute an' he fell down.''
Digby arrived at that moment and Alice sighed and said to him "this is all Jack's fault. He has no conscience either. You should hear him lie.''
''It's not MY fault I've no contence'' Jack complained ''we've no money.''
''You can't BUY a conscience'' said Alice.
''Well'' Jack said reasonably ''if they're free I'll have one then.''
''I expect it was an accident'' Digby said, trying to restore calm to the situation ''he's not hurt, he's just dirty.''
''You always take their side'' Alice said, looking at Owen and Jack.
''I'm just being logical" Digby grumbled ''you're making a fool of that boy. He needs to get out and play and get dirty once in a while.''
''I don't LIKE getting dirty'' Ianto explained.
''I do" said Jack.
''Oh we KNOW that'' Alice replied ''when did you last bathe, young man?''
''I washed my hands--I washed them---''Jack stuttered, trying to remember ''last week--an' the week before that I washed ALL OVER.''
Alice groaned and put her head in her hands. Digby looked at Jack and he suddenly noticed how skinny and pale he looked. There were dark circles under his eyes too. ''Come with me, Jack" he said " you can clean up a bit here before you go home.''
''Daddy wont mind me bein' muddy'' Jack exclaimed, desperate to avoid bathing at all costs ''he wont notice if I'm dirty.''
''Other people will though'' Digby pointed out.
Upstairs the Harpers had that rarity in the Raven Valley, a bathroom. It had a toilet, a sink unit, a real bathtub and running water that was piped from a very deep well on the Harper's Property. Digby filled the bathtub with water and reluctantly Jack removed his overalls and climbed into the water. Digby gave him a bar of soap and watched as Jack started to wash himself. Digby was shocked at how skinny Jack was and how much skinnier he had become in just the last few weeks. He could see Jack's ribs and the outline of his hip bones were clearly visible. Digby went downstairs and found Alice in the Kitchen. Ianto was there too, sitting in the old tin bathtub that for some inexplicable reason Alice liked the boy to bathe in.
''Alice'' Digby said, seriously '' we need to talk.''
Reluctantly, Alice followed Digby out of the kitchen into the scullery. "What is it?'' she asked crossly ''I'm busy.''
''It's that child, Jack'' Digby said quickly, before Alice grew impatient and returned to the kitchen ''he's starving--things must be worse over there than I realized.''
''It's not our business" Alice said sternly.
''Look, I know you don't care for the boy but if he's starving--'' Digby protested ''we ought to try to help.''
''I don't see how" Alice objected "and his Father wouldn't accept charity anyhow. Look how he acted when you tried to give him that old Mule of ours. I thought he was going to hit you he was so mad."
''We can't let the boy starve'' Digby sighed " and Harry must be starving too. We have to do something--"
''Well, I don't know what we can do except feed the child when he's here" said Alice.
''That's a great idea" said Digby, kissing Alice quickly on one cheek.
"I may not like the boy but I wont see him starve'' Alice muttered.
Digby went back upstairs and discovered that Jack was still in the bath. He was pushing a wash cloth about in the water. He looked very sleepy. He seemed much cleaner though so Digby patted his head and said "come out now and dry yourself and Alice will give you something to eat before you go home.''
Jack climbed out of the bath and began to dry himself on the towel Digby handed him. "I have to go home right away'' he said ''so I can't eat.''
''I'm sure Harry wouldn't mind you being a little late'' said Digby.
''I can't'' Jack exclaimed ''it's charity, an' Daddy says we Harkness's don't take no charity.''
''He wouldn't object just once'' Digby said quickly.
''He would'' Jack answered.
''Well" Digby said " I'll loan you a pair of Ianto's overalls because Alice is going to wash yours, so you can tell Harry it's not charity, it's a loan.''
Jack wasn't very sure about this argument, but he was too tired and hungry to think about it much, so he put on Ianto's spare overalls and went home wearing them. Ianto was tall for his age so the overalls fitted quite well.
Jack pushed open the door of the Harkness Farmhouse and slipped inside as quietly as he could. It wasn't quiet enough. Harry heard him. "What are you wearing?" he shouted angrily ''you take charity after everything I've said, after all my work--?"
''It's not charity'' Jack protested " it's a loan.''
''A LOAN?'' Harry shouted '' WELL YOU CAN TAKE THEM BACK TOMORROW WHEN YOU GO TO DO CHORES OVER THERE, AND NEVER TAKE ANYTHING YOU HAVEN'T WORKED FOR AGAIN, IT'S NOT OUR WAY, UNDERSTAND?''
Jack nodded and looked around the bare room for a sign that there might be some food available. All he could see on the old wooden table was a small piece of bread and a tiny piece of cheese. He sat down at the table and ate the food as slowly as he could. It was his way of trying to pretend there was more of it than there actually was. Sometimes Harry caught a bird or a squirrel but obviously he hadn't had a good day. Jack drank the water Harry put out for him and went over to the far side of the room where he slept. The Farmhouse had once had an upper storey but Harry had removed it and sold the wood. Jack rolled himself up in the two moth eaten blankets that made up his bed and shut his eyes. He fell asleep quickly, despite his hunger, and dreamed of food. There was nothing new about that. He always dreamed about food. He always woke up again hungry though.
The following day Jack went to school as usual, still wearing Ianto's spare overalls, since he had nothing else to put on. Jack found school boring and as he was always hungry it was hard to concentrate. At lunch time, as usual, he had no lunch. He sat alone, watching the other children eating. His Teacher had tried more than once to give him something to eat but he thought of his Father's reaction if he found out and refused. Today though he didn't feel good. His stomach felt strange and when he moved he became dizzy and had to keep sitting down to recover. When the bell rang all the children ran back to the school room except Jack. It was a small country school and had only around 20 pupils at the most. There was one Teacher and one Teacher's helper, and they all learnt in the same School Room.
Gwenda Cooper, or Gwen as she was usually known, was sitting half way down the school room next to her best friend Toshiko Sato. Jack usually sat near them and they both noticed that he wasn't there. Gwen, who was a bold and rather noisy girl waved her hand to attract the Teacher's attention.
''Please Mrs Bowen'' she cried out " Jack Harkness isn't here and he didn't have any lunch AGAIN.''
''Has anyone seen Jack?'' asked Mrs Bowen. Evidently no one had, or if they had they weren't admitting it. Mrs. Bowen left her assistant, Miss Jane Carr, to manage the children and went to look for Jack. She found him right away under a Rowen tree at the bottom of the School Yard. He seemed to be asleep but she couldn't waken him even by shaking him quite hard. She ran back into the School Room.
''Jack is unwell and I'm going to fetch the Doctor'' she told everyone ''so be good and work hard and do what Miss Carr tells you.''
She had to ride to the nearest town to fetch the Doctor. He was the only Doctor in the Valley. It took her over an hour to reach him and so by the time they returned, the children were on their way home from school and only Miss Carr was left, apart from Jack of course. When Ianto and Owen had left Jane had given them strict instructions to tell Harry what had happened to Jack. They were reluctant to go and she had to be very firm.
Dr Franklin was a tall, thickset man of around 40. He had greying hair and green eyes and was somewhat overweight. He examined Jack carefully, noticing immediately how thin he was. Finally he picked Jack up in his arms and carried him to his carriage. He was the only person in the Valley with a proper carriage, complete with two well fed horses.
''Will he be alright, Doctor?'' asked Mrs Bowen, wringing her hands in an anxious fashion.
''With the correct care and attention, yes'' said Dr Franklin. He was actually quite angry as he drove off back to the small town he called home." How could anyone let a child get into that condition and not do anything about it?" he thought, "what sort of parents does the boy have?"
Owen and Ianto told Harry what had happened to Jack at school. He sent them home and said he was going to town right away. He didn't go though. He went to the battered old Cabinet in which he kept his gun and took it out. He had three bullets and no more. He sat down at the kitchen table and looked at the pencil drawing pinned on the wall which was all, except memories, that he had left of Mary. Her calm features, so like Jack's, smiled down on him. There is no future, he thought, Jack will die and it's all my fault, I should have taken charity, I should have swallowed my pride for his sake, and if I had this wouldn't be happening, I have killed my own child. He remembered when Jack was born, how he had held the small warm body in his arms and looked at him and he was so perfect, so perfect in every way. Then he pictured Jack hunched over the table trying to eat dry bread and hard cheese and pretend it was filling him. He sighed long and hard. Then he put the barrel of the gun in his mouth and squeezed the trigger. The world with all its heartbreak disappeared------
Chapter Two. Welcome to our School and welcome to our Happy Home
"I'm goin' to the City" said Jack, firmly "I'm not goin' to some Orphan Home--I'm goin' to the City.'' He had spent the last eight weeks in Raven Valley's Cottage Hospital and he was sick and tired of it. He wanted to get away. At first, he had been too tired and had felt too dreadful to do anything except lie around and eat whatever food was thrust at him, but he was better now, he decided, so he was leaving.
"You can't go to the City on your own'' Owen protested "you're too young.''
''I'm ten years old" Jack said "I can look out for myself an' I'm goin' to."
Owen looked at Jack, who was sitting in a chair in the Back Yard of the Hospital. Owen sighed. "Well" he said, slowly "if you're going to run away, then I am too--I HATE the Farm.''
''I want to come too'' said Ianto immediately "I'm tired of Mama treating me as if I'm three years old.''
"You can't come" Owen objected "you're too little.''
''I AM NOT LITTLE'' Ianto protested ''I'm as big as Jack is --bigger even.''
''YOU CAN'T COME'' Owen shouted ''your Mama would have forty thousand fits and come after us.''
''I don't care!" Ianto moaned ''I want to have an adventure and if you don't let me come I'll go straight home and tell everyone what you're doing.''
"I'm goin' on my own, anyhow'' Jack muttered "If I stay here they'll put me in an Orphan Home."
''Why did your Daddy blow his head off like that?'' Owen asked, curiously ''he should have just shot himself in the foot or something, they can fix that."
''I think he wanted to be with Mama'' said Jack. He hastily brushed a stray tear from his eye and scowled. "He didn't care what I did so I don' care if he's gone'' he snapped.
''Well" Owen said "you can't run off on your own so I'm coming too.''
''And me" added Ianto.
Jack gave a heavy sigh. "They'll catch us" he complained " an' put me in a Home.''
''I asked Daddy if you could live with us" Owen said, in a cross voice "but HIS Mama said no.'' He glared at Ianto.
''That's not MY fault" Ianto cried out " I said I'd like Jack to stay with us, but Mama said he'd be a bad infunce.''
''In-flu-ence" Owen corrected.
''What does that mean anyhow?'' asked Jack.
''I don't know" Ianto replied, looking at Owen for help.
''It means he does things he shouldn't and makes us do them too'' Owen explained, looking somewhat smug.
''I DO NOT!" Jack protested.
''I didn't say you did, did I?'' Owen said " I just said what she said, I didn't say it was what I said, it was just what she said. and it doesn' matter because we have to think what we're going to take with us if we're going to run off. We need a change of clothes and food for a start.''
''I haven't got a change of clothes'' Jack sighed.
''You can have Ianto's old things, he's got enough'' said Owen "and I'll get the food packed up and we'll go tonight, after School.''
''Why don't we take Daddy Digby's Horses?'' asked Ianto ''he's got five so if we take----''
"That'd be stealing" Owen interrupted.
''No it wouldn't" Ianto shouted ''if he died they'd be yours, wouldn't they?''
''He isn't dead though'' Owen pointed out ''it's Jack's Daddy that's dead and he didn't have any horses.''
''We used to have Horses'' Jack said ''we had two.''
''What happened to them then?'' asked Ianto.
''Daddy sold one of them'' Jack said perfectly seriously ''the other one got struck by lightnin' so we ate it.''
''What did it taste like?'' Ianto enquired.
''Horse meat'' Jack said '''cause that's what it was.''
''It doesn't matter about that'' Owen complained ''we have to make plans-proper plans--not sit around talking about Horse meat. When we come back from School we'll say we're going to go visit you, Jack. Then we'll do it.''
''Do what?'' asked Ianto, who was still thinking about Horse meat.
''Run away'' Owen shouted ''what d'you think? Anyhow, we have to go. We'll see you later, Jack, and be ready to go.''
''O.K." Jack mumbled, shutting his eyes ''I'm jus' gonna take a little nap now---it's nice out here---" He was asleep before Owen and Ianto had left the building and when he awoke it was time for Lunch. He spent the rest of the day waiting for Owen and Ianto to return. They didn't come. He waited and waited but they didn't come. He wondered whether to run away on his own, but he kept thinking that Owen and Ianto would come along so he didn't. Eventually, he went to bed and they still hadn't come. He was torn between being mad at them and being downright miserable. The miserable side one and he cried himself to sleep.
The next morning the Doctor came and looked Jack over right after breakfast. "Well, young man" he said brightly "I think you're ready to leave here. You'll be going to Westhaven Orphan Home. It's very nice there and I know Mr and Mrs West will make you welcome."
''I don' wanna go to any ol' Orphan Home'' Jack complained, trying not to cry.
''I know you don't'' said Dr Franklin ''but the Wests are very nice people and will do their best for you.''
''I wanna see Owen and Ianto'' Jack moaned.
''I expect they'll visit'' said Dr Franklin, although he doubted that their Parents would let them. He knew that there had been some trouble at the Harper Farm the previous night. He had heard all about it in town. Evidently the boys had taken three horses belonging to their Father, had raided the Larder and had been caught trying to run off with their spoils. Mrs. Harper thought it was all Jack's idea and so it was unlikely that Jack would ever see his friends again. He didn't tell Jack anything about this though, so Jack was left to think that Owen and Ianto had changed their minds about running away with him.
The following day Jack was dispatched to the Westhaven Orphan Home along with his meager possessions. Mr Gabriel West, a tall, red headed man with a bushy beard, came to collect him. Jack rode all the way there, sitting in front of Gabriel on his horse. It took three hours to reach the Home and Mrs Martha West and a bunch of Orphans of various ages were waiting for his arrival. Mrs West was short and plump with black hair tied up in a knot on the top of her head. She hurried to Jack and gave him a hug as soon as Gabriel lifted him off the horse. He found his face was pressed into her ample bosom which was unexpected and rather alarmed him, as he wasn't used to being hugged at all.
Mrs West showed Jack to his bedroom. It was up three staircases and contained ten beds, a very large Cabinet made of a Black colored wood, a table with two candles on it and one rather old chair. The House actually had five Bathrooms with running water piped from Wells, just like at the Harper's Farm. Jack had never lived in a House with running water before. Mrs West left him in one of the Bathroom's and told him to come down for Lunch as soon as he was ready. Jack looked around the Bathroom feeling somewhat bewildered. He opened a door at the end of the Bathroom and found inside a Toilet with a wooden seat and a long chain hanging from a metal container near the ceiling. Jack used the Toilet and, after a moments hesitation, pulled the chain hard. He watched, fascinated, as the toilet bowl filled with water which swirled around and then disappeared with a loud roar. He was about to pull the chain again when the Toilet door opened and a head covered with a mass of blond curls appeared.
''Ya have to come or ya wont get no Lunch'' said the head, and promptly disappeared as fast as it had arrived.
Jack went down the stairs and was wandering aimlessly around when Mrs West emerged from a door and beckoned to him. He followed her through the door and found himself in what was obviously a Dining Room. It was an huge room with a several large tables. Mrs West indicated a chair at one end of one of the tables and said "sit there, Jack, that will be your place at Table.''
''Yes, Ma'am" Jack said, politely, and sat down. The meal consisted of Soup and bread. The soup was pea soup, which Jack had never tasted before. He sipped it gingerly and it didn't taste bad so he ate it all. Despite being taught how to eat properly using knives, forks and spoons in the Hospital he still found using utensils difficult however. At home with his Father they had hardly ever used utensils and Jack was used to using his fingers, or just tipping any liquid straight down his throat. After a while he resorted to this method with the soup. Before he had had two gulps he was tapped on the shoulder. He put down his bowl and looked up. A boy who was almost as big as an adult was glaring down at him.
''Like the soup do you?'' said the large boy, who had red hair and green eyes.
''Yes, Sir'' said Jack, politely. The other children at the table laughed. The red headed senior glowered at them and they all fell silent.
''You don't call me Sir'' said the boy "I'm the head of your Clan, you call me Johnson.''
''Clan?'' Jack murmured uncertainly.
"All the kids here are in one Clan or another'' explained the boy ''you're in the Johnson Clan--that's mine--and now we've established that, perhaps you can explain what the HELL you think you're doing with that soup.''
''I'm---er--eatin' it--er---Sir--I mean--Johnson'' Jack stammered.
''WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE SPOON THEN?'' shouted Johnson, his face turning almost as red as his hair ''IT'S A PERFECTLY GOOD SPOON, ISN'T IT?''
''Er--yes--er--Johnson--I guess'' Jack stuttered.
''WELL USE IT THEN!'' shouted Johnson "DIDN'T YOU HAVE SPOONS IN WHATEVER HOLE YOU'VE CRAWLED OUT FROM?"
Tears filled Jack's eyes and he wiped them furiously away with his sleeve. "We only had one spoon" he confessed, wishing the ground would open up and swallow him "an' Daddy used that.''
Johnson's expression suddenly softened. He gave a long sigh. "Well, just use it from now onwards'' he said ''you'll always have a spoon here.''
Jack ate the remainder of his soup with great care and spent ages spreading butter on his bread using a knife too. However, he was self conscious throughout the meal and was thoroughly glad when it ended. After Lunch he was told to go to Room 6. He couldn't find it and was wandering around lost when the blond head that had told him about Lunch came to his rescue.
''What ya doin'?'' asked the owner of the curls, who proved to be a girl aged about 11.
''I can't find room 6'' said Jack anxiously ''an' I have to go there.''
''I got sent to find ya" said the girl ''I'm Jillie.''
''Jack'' said Jack. To his surprise Jillie came up to him then and held out her hand. They shook hands like two adults. Jack thought it was weird. Room 6 proved to be nearby and to Jack's dismay turned out to be a Schoolroom. He was shown into a seat next to a fat boy with black hair and a patch over one eye. The girls sat on one side of the room and the boys the other. Jack would have liked to have sat next to Jillie but she was next to a skinny girl who wore a wolly hat on her head.
The Teacher was a tall woman wearing Glasses. She fixed the class with a steely stare and announced " we have a new Pupil in our Class. His name is Jack Harkness.'' She looked straight at Jack and Jack felt himself flushing red as everyone stared fixedly at him. "I am Miss Bronte'' said the Teacher ''and you are to ALWAYS call me MISS. Now stand up, Jack, and tell us a little about yourself.''
Jack stood up and looked at the floor, shuffling his feet. The room was silent. Finally Jack cleared his throat and said ''I'm Jack Harkness and I----I'm an orphan because my Daddy---well he --he died--- an' so I had to come here.''
''He shot himself didn't he?'' shouted a voice from the back of the class ''we all heard we was getting someone who's Daddy shot himself.''
Jack looked up then. "He was jus' cleanin' it an' it wen' off'' he explained.
''It doesn't matter how it happened'' interrupted Miss Bronte ''and no more shouting out in class, Timothy. Jack is here with us now and we must help him and make him welcome. What do we say when we have new arrivals--everyone----?''
The entire class shouted in unison " welcome to our School and welcome to our Happy Home.'' Miss Bronte looked really pleased and Jack wished he could go wherever his Daddy had gone--because--he thought--anything is better than this.