Influence Read Online Free PDF Page B

as stress, and sometimes, as you saw today, anger.’
    ‘Why would
he have taken philosophy if he was going to struggle with it, I mean why did he
not just stick to the subjects he’s comfortable with?’ said Lizzie.
    ‘Boredom,
maybe. Perhaps he’s genuinely interested but I suspect he had just wanted a
challenge. I think if he’d taken Art instead and he’d been asked to critique a
painting, to express the feeling and emotive nature of it he would struggle in
a similar fashion.’
    ‘So he’s
struggling in philosophy?’
    ‘God no,’ a
small laugh escaped Sully’s mouth. ‘Don’t get me wrong, he finds it difficult
to wrap his head around certain things, but he’ll still ace this class. It’s a
stick on A; he’s just finding that it’s not coming to him as easily as
everything else.’
    ‘Imagine
having to work for an A,’ said Lizzie. ‘Poor Robe, I must remember to console
him.’ Sully chuckled.
    ‘How are
you getting on? You’re doing well in my class, I think you’re capable of an A
too, but how’s everything else?’ Sully stroked his stubbled chin subconsciously.
    ‘Too soon
to tell,’ Lizzie sighed a little as she said it revealing her stress. ‘I guess
I’m a tiny bit like Robe myself, some subjects are easy enough, and others make
my brain dribble out of my ears.’
    ‘What do
you need for Oxford?’ Sully was well aware of Lizzie’s dream and always had his
proverbial fingers crossed for her.
    ‘Minimum of
three As’
    ‘And how
likely is that?’
    ‘Well if
the prelims are anything to go by I’ll be working at McDonalds this time next
year.’ Sully smiled at her.
    ‘Grab the
other side,’ he said sliding off the desk and Lizzie took an end. ‘If anyone is
capable of pulling it out the bag Miss Dean, it’s you. Keep working hard and
I’m certain I’ll be seeing you around campus next year.’
    ‘I hope
so.’
    ‘So why
were you so late today?’ he asked.
    ‘Pallister
pounced on me. He was giving me the usual speech about how I dress.’
    ‘Ah yes,
Hugo Pallister and his dress code. Don’t take it personally, I get it from him
too.’
    ‘Really?’
Lizzie took in what Sully was wearing, jeans and a short sleeved shirt, nothing
controversial.
    ‘He thinks
all teachers should be wearing suits and ties. But do me a favour Lizzie, if you
ever see me in one of Hugo’s bad seventies numbers just go ahead and blow my
brains out will you please.’ Lizzie laughed and confirmed she would.
    ‘I guess
Robe is the only one who gets away with dress code infringements here,’ said
Lizzie.
    ‘Yes, well
apart from his dressing gown being a psychological crutch for him, I can’t see
old Hugo giving Robert a hard time about it. Small schools like these need star
pupils like Robert, he single handedly pulls the school’s grade average up with
his straight As, making Queen’s a more appealing prospect for parents looking
to send their kids here. I suspect if Robert wandered in wearing high heels and
a hockey mask it would be overlooked.’
    ‘Heading
home, Liz?’ Vic sheepishly hung his head around the door.
    ‘Yeah, just
give me two minutes.’ Vic ducked back around the door as Lizzie slid her end of
the desk into place.
    ‘So you’re
making friends at last? I see the Adams family have latched on to you.’ Lizzie
smiled.
    ‘It’s a
start,’ she said, ‘and they’re nice guys. If I’m honest I’m really grateful to
them. I thought I could manage this year without having to make new friends,
but it turns out a year’s longer than you think.’ Lizzie took her bag and
jacket from the back of her chair.
    ‘No man is
an island Lizzie. See you next time.’ Sully shot her a wink and Lizzie shuffled
off to catch up with Vic.
     
    Robe seemed to be in better
spirits when Lizzie found the boys at the front door of the school. They exited
out onto the main drive which seemed, as always, as if it had been transformed
into a catwalk for shiny four wheel drive vehicles.