Maxwell’s Movie Read Online Free PDF Page A

slammed the door and was gone, shouting to no one in particular, ‘Hello, cruel world!’
    Maxwell should have worn his Hush Puppies, the silent moccasins he habitually wore in the exam season so as not to disturb the kids in hall or gym. True, he didn’t regard SATS as exams. After all, they were only the government’s attempt to reimpose the eleven-plus and to enable them to draw up League Tables. He didn’t regard ‘Keep Out, Hall in Use’ signs as relevant to him either, so he squeaked his way across the polished floor in his lace-up brogues and didn’t even wince when the Hall door crashed behind him.
    An anguished Ben Horton, the Head of Science, looked up and two hundred and thirty-eight heads swivelled to see what the commotion was. Then they turned back. It was only Mad Max on his way to see the Headmaster.
    James Diamond had been the Head of Leighford High for four years. In that time they’d introduced GNVQ, they’d started calling probationer teachers NQTs and the world had become a plastic set of initials. But there was nothing more plastic than Mr J. Diamond, BA, M.Ed. The man was a physicist by training – not the best start in life – and anyone who had the crassness to call him a Master of Education was indeed exposing himself to public scorn. Because he was well brought up in the traditions of the old school and not because he had any veneration whatsoever for his Headmaster, Maxwell tapped briefly on the door before gatecrashing the interview with the missing boy’s parents.
    ‘Ah, Max,’ Diamond looked as grey as his suit, ‘there you are.’
    ‘Just straightening Mr Ryan out on a few points, Headmaster,’ Maxwell said. ‘Mrs Parsons,’ he shook the woman’s hand. ‘Mr Parsons,’ he shook the man’s. ‘Peter Maxwell.’
    The introduction was superfluous really. Everyone the length and breadth of Leighford and Tottingleigh knew Mad Max or knew of him. He’d taught them or he’d taught their kids and many was the rising young politician or entrepreneur or professional who, in their heart of hearts, owed it all to Mad Max.
    ‘I was just saying to Mr and Mrs Parsons,’ Diamond went on as Maxwell settled into the Head’s spare plastic chair, ‘that I’m sure there’s some simple explanation. And, of course, absolutely no cause for alarm.’
    Maxwell looked at Mr and Mrs Parsons. She was a mousy woman with peroxide hair. He wasn’t, but there the differences ended.
    Maxwell had noticed over his four centuries in teaching how wives started to look like their husbands and vice versa. Or perhaps it was just the fusing of features in the face of their offspring that did it.
    ‘No, I’m sure not,’ Maxwell nodded, ‘I’m sure the Headmaster has asked you this already, Mr and Mrs Parsons, but can you think of any reason why Ronnie should run away?’
    Mr Parsons looked blank, as though the idea had never occurred to him. Besides, he left the upbringing of the kids to Mrs Parsons. This was the first time he’d set foot inside Leighford High in seven years.
    ‘No.’ Mrs Parsons bailed him out, as she always did. Ron Senior was a good provider, but he didn’t know his children, deep down He was never there to know them, endlessly on the road as he was, from one building job to another. The kids were hers. She’d speak up for them. ‘No, I can’t,’ she said.
    ‘No trouble?’ Maxwell prompted her. ‘No rows at home?’
    ‘What do you mean?’ Mr Parsons stirred himself a little. He was happy to leave all this school stuff to his missus, but when there was some sort of insinuation in the offing, he thought he’d better do his bit.
    ‘It happens, Mr Parsons,’ Maxwell said. ‘Family tiffs. Oh, they’re nothing in themselves, but in the minds of kids, they loom out of all proportion. Things become distorted.’
    ‘You know, do you?’ Parsons snapped. ‘Got kids of your own?’
    ‘Ron …’ Mrs Parsons reached across to pat her husband’s hand.
    Jim Diamond opened