Four Friends
Thorne is a medium sized industrial and mining town in Yorkshire, several mile north of Doncaster. Thorne Grammar School is a medium sized grammar school for the children of the surrounding mill owners and professional classes. Built of dark grey granite in 1590 for the purpose of “the teaching, instructing and bringing up of children and youth in grammar, and other good learning.” Hence 'grammar' schools.
With small mullion windows and the four dark buildings surrounding a central quad, it was an institution to inspire awe rather than comfort to the 300 odd day boys. It still is.
There is a small boarding school of about 40 boys, for those who would have to travel too far every day, or whose parents live abroad.
The 40 boarders are split into juniors, middle, and senior, each group having their own dorm in the Boarding House, which is run by August deRange, the deputy head who lives in. Four boys form the core of our story.
Daniel was at the Junior Boarding School for three years as his parents worked abroad, and at eleven is moving to the Senior Boarding School. A few days before term starts he is told his parents have been killed in a helicopter crash in Baku. He is an only child with no known living relatives, so long term care beckons. However, money from his parent’s life insurance will pay the school fees, but he will have live permanently in the boarding house, he has nowhere else to go. Counselling doesn’t exist at this school, rugby and cross country do. He is a bright boy, liked well enough by the other boys, but he doesn’t really care what other people think, he just tends to drift through life. His school report in most subjects describe him as ‘average to good’. As one of his junior school teachers put it, “That boy surehas a brilliant brain, if only he would use it.”
Logan became Daniel’s best friend at Junior School. He boards because his parents live thirty miles away, but that means he can go home at weekends. He is much more sporty and sociable, has a wide range of friends, particularly in the rugby team, but Daniel and him just get on well and have formed this tight unquestioning bond, like only small boys do.
Mason is a day boy and joins the main school from a separate junior school in the town, having won a scholarship. When he first arrives some of the boys, and the teachers, make snarky comments behind his back. Mason was aware of prejudice at his junior school and tends to keep himself to himself, he doesn’t want trouble. Daniel doesn’t like bullying so he makes an effort to befriend him, he couldn’t care less about Mason’s colour.
Malik, also a day boy, starts at the main school as the only Asian boy admitted that year. Whether this is school policy or most Asian parents preferring a more muslim orientated education isn’t clear, but it makes him stand out. He also happens to be gay, but nobody is going to find out about that. Daniel guesses and couldn’t care less when Malik tentatively starts to hang out with him.
