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Adam Blake - 53. Chapter 53
Dinner that evening was an informal dinner. It was at the home of the trustee that questioned me at the meeting. He was very cordial to me but still a little cool. A few of the guests came to talk to me and politely asked about my book. One of the guests asked what I did before joining the staff at the Academy. I told them I was teaching at a University and tutoring children who were having a difficult time learning. This led to my favorite subject, the training of school teachers. One of the guests mentioned the public schools in England never had that problem because they always had a group of prefects that looked out for the students. That set off another discussion, I just listen. When they asked me what I thought, I told them a piece of wood never taught anything but humiliation and pain, in my opinion. One of them said it got their attention, I told them an ice cream cone would have got their attention as well.
“Don’t you believe in corporal punishment?”
“No, I don’t. If a child misbehaves, there’s a root cause and until that root cause is removed, the child will always misbehave.”
Our host announced dinner is served. “Dr. Blake, as our guest, will you sit here?”
“Sir, are you testing me? If it pleases you, I think here would be appropriate.” I sat in the middle on the left side of the table.
Dinner was excellent. The conversation was a little boring. I never discussed business over dinner, it causes indigestion. I listened, commented when the question was directed to me.
The gentlemen at the dinner proceeded to the study for brandy and cigars and since I don’t do either professing I was still tired from my journey, left to go to my hotel. I was glad I was a small-town boy.
The next day was very interesting, I met the architect and we did discuss the plans for the Academy. He said there was a full basement under the building except for the extension which was added much later. When I asked him why was that area closed, he said they thought it wouldn’t be needed.
After convincing me that the drawings were correct, our conversation turned to the plans for the college. He wanted my opinion. “I’d think the trustees would have their opinions and since they control the purse strings I didn’t think I’ll have any input.”
“Didn’t they tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“You are going to be the President of the college and the Academy.”
“No, they didn’t say anything about that.”
“Well, they’ll ask your opinion today, so let’s look at the plans I have sketched.”
He rolled out the plans, I suggested that he moves the library to the first floor, next to the offices. Classrooms looked ok on the second floor, I told him that we’d need one large room for presentations, seminars, particularly if we bring in experts from outside of the school.
“Where are the staff quarters and student dorms?”
“That’s something we need to add, what ideas do you have?”
Looking at the drawings for the building, what would I do. I certainly want the staff close to the college since we are outside of the mainstream. “Where are you putting the gymnasium?”
“I haven’t included that, I guess I could put that in the basement.”
“How about, we construct two wings extending here. One wing will be for staff apartments, recognizing a lot of staff will be married and may have children. And then we construct another wing here, with the first floor being a gymnasium and the second and third floor be student dorms.”
“That looks like one of the universities here in England. What about swimming, for meets?”
“I would like to build an indoor pool and an outdoor pool somewhere between the two schools. That way both schools could benefit. The indoor pool with be a championship pool for racing and diving, two boards, one at 3 meters and one at 5 meters. The outside pool will be designed as a large swimming pool, which will probably be used mostly by the Academy. Between both pools, they will share the same change rooms and showers. I’d like that area reconstructed for maximum privacy particularly if they are shared. That’s my idea”
“I think that’s a good idea, it may be hard to convince the trustees.”
“Didn’t you say that the layout reminded you of one of your universities?”
“Yes, I could get a picture and if they say no, I’ll show the picture I think one of the trustees went to school there.”
“ Brilliant"
Rather than have lunch, we headed out to take pictures. We found the school, took a face picture, and then climbed to the top and took a picture of the back. We smiled, “I need to get these developed and maybe we can grab some fish and chips or onion pie.”
Onion pie, that has to be interesting. We dropped the film off to be developed and blown up for presentation. While that was happening, we stopped at a pub, I had some kind of orange drink, non-alcoholic, and onion pie. He had steak and kidney pie, smelled good but none for me. The onion pie was good and it was baked onions in a pie shell.
“How was the onion pie?”
“It was very good. I think I’m going to ask my mom to make it.”
“She won’t make it because the crust is made with suet. I don’t think you can buy it anymore.”
“Then we’ll make an American version and when you’re over, I’ll treat you to it.”
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
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