Events took a dramatic turn on our return to London. My father was asked to run a bank in Dusseldorf, Germany. The money was so good that for my parents it was an "offer they could not refuse". They quickly bought a house in Highgate - 8 Cholmeley Crescent - and just as quickly rented it to someone and jumped on a plane. They decided to take Thomas with them - he was only 10, but felt i should stay on at my school. This meant "boarding". Basically you stay in their accomodation, sleeping in dormitories of 10, and spend the entire year trying to ensure you are not abused. The abuse could ranged from ice cold baths to serioulsy disturbing attacks of a worryingly deviant nature. Thankfully during my period in this institution i escaped free from harm.
My exam results were magnificent. The only period in my school history. This was cleary due to the fact it was the only time i was forced to sit down and do homework for an hour and a half each day. At home i would sit in my room and play cards, i later learnt Tom did exactly the same. Funny. Both of us sitting in our rooms appeasing mum and sitting their twiddling our fingers till dinner time. The first school break is in December, mum and dad fetched me and we flew to Dusseldorf - they had a HUGE house. I had missed my brother and was delighted to see him but soon realised things were very wrong.
He had been sent to an American school. He had to study amongst other things - wrestling. He was not happy. He decided to go on hunger strike and for nearly 2 years he refused to eat anything other than peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I talked to him. Escape routes were discussed, bicycles wouldn't work here, we had to develop new skills. We went into training (see photograph). But before our plans were hatched i was sent back to school. This involved them taking me to the airport and handing me over to a stewardess. She was beautiful. I thought i might join the "mile high club". No. She put this big orange sign around my neck that explained to everyone on the flight that i was on my own, under age and incapable of looking after myself. Thankfully there were no perverts on the plane or if there were they were illiterate, either way i managed to survive the journey unscathed. I was met by Marilyn Smith ( a family friend, wife to my godfather) she took pity on me and cooked me the best cheese on toast i've ever had. She then drove me to the school and left me - shit!
My parents got wind of our escape plans. They took the sensible option. They bribed us. We were going to Disney World and that is tomorrows tale.
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