Authors: Robert E. Connolly
Such a short time ago, Beatrice and her family were well-connected members of Hong Kong’s English/Irish high society. And yet, six months later, Beatrice found herself delivering her children to a common secondary school surrounded by farmers’ fields. It was abundantly clear that County Louth, and Ireland for that matter, was a long, long way from Hong Kong or London. As hard as it might be to believe, her sophisticated and successful Patrick was reared in those remote hills and still had sisters living here.
Those few short months ago Beatrice thought of County Louth as a pleasant place to visit for a month or so during the summer months when the heat and humidity made Hong Kong totally unbearable. Her children did seem to enjoy the company of their Irish cousins and other assorted urchins that seemed to roam wild in the fields around Drogheda, but she had never been sure that associating with that type of child was in the best interest of her babies, no disrespect to the Irish of course. Summer associations were one thing, but permanent friendships required further scrutiny.
Patrick, it now appeared, had entertained other ideas entirely. The political situation in Hong Kong, specifically the expiration of the English lease of Hong Kong and its reversion to China, had been a constant topic of conversation at the club. Although everyone agreed that it would have little effect on business, as least in the near term, Patrick began to look back to Ireland.
It seemed his native country was in the throes of some type of economic boom and Patrick decided that, if the right opportunity presented, that is where he would rather be. Beatrice was annoyed that he had not chosen to share this opinion a bit before he made his decision but once he had decided; there was little she could do. When he finally got around to telling her he also maintained that the children were now getting older and they would be far better off being educated in Ireland rather than in the totally artificial non-Chinese school system in Hong Kong.
Beatrice never expected that Hong Kong would be a permanent home so she had no real difficulty with the concept of a move back home. She also accepted that the children would probably be better off attending high school, and indeed university, among their own people. However, in Beatrice’s opinion moving back home meant England not Ireland and specifically London, or at least the greater London area. Certainly, she argued, a proper English private school education would best prepare Chadwick for the future as well as providing a network of friends that he could not possibly duplicate in Ireland.
Patrick countered, as he usually did, by saying that the Irish education he received had apparently done him no harm and what was good enough for him was good enough for his children. He also added that the whole conversation was very theoretical because he had no idea what opportunities, if any, were available in Ireland or England for that matter so the entire discussion was dropped.
Thinking back, Beatrice should have known that change was in the air. After all, she had been married to Patrick for nearly twenty years and she knew full well that when he got an idea in his head, it did not remain theoretical for long. That was one of the things that first attracted her to Patrick. He was decisive and knew what he wanted and then he did what was necessary to achieve his goals. Patrick’s courtship of her was an obvious example. She was pleased to recall that she had many other prospects but Patrick was decisive and before she knew what hit her, she was walking up the aisle. The other thing was that he was very good looking, tall and slender with black hair and blue eyes, a perfect compliment, she had decided, to her willowy figure and long ash-blonde hair.
It should have come as no surprise to her that Patrick was offered an excellent position at the Irish-Anglo Bank in Dublin, which in his own words; he would be crazy not to accept. Before she could even catch her breath, they were headed to Ireland. Really, it had been much too much, much to fast and she did not even have an opportunity to become properly acquainted with her new home. Although she visited Ireland several times, most of her holidays were spent in rural County Louth where Patrick insisted he could relax and recharge his batteries. Trips to Dublin were few and far between so she didn’t even have an opportunity to appreciate what the capital offered. A couple of girls at the club insisted that she would love Dublin because it was in many respects a mini-London with proper clubs, shops, theaters and restaurants. This came as some consolation to Beatrice because her perception of Dublin was more like a provincial British City, a mini-Manchester for example, which held no appeal for her at all. The girls also insisted that she should live on the south side of the city near the coast. They suggested places like Blackrock, Monkstown or Foxrock and so she attempted to relay this information to Patrick.
Patrick listened patiently to her suggestions but once again she suspected that he had his own plans. “Remember,” he said, “I grew up over there so I would know all about the city. The thing is that we could get two or three times the house for the same money on the north side and the commute would not be half as bad. After all, I am the one who will have to sit in traffic or on a train for who knows how long every morning and evening.”
In the end, the agreement, if Beatrice could call it that, was that since his new employment would take him to Dublin immediately, Patrick would arrange things over there while she organized the move from Hong Kong. Patrick explained that it was in the best interests of the children to complete the school term in Hong Kong and then they would have the entire summer to settle in before they began again in Ireland in the autumn.
By the time Beatrice and the children finally finished organizing, packing and shipping it was early July and virtually all the decisions concerning her new life in Ireland were already made. In fairness, Patrick purchased a magnificent late Georgian Manor House that had been completely remodeled and updated by the prior owners. The property sat on several acres of land and included a number of smaller buildings with stables and a large courtyard. Beatrice fell in love with the property the minute he showed her pictures so she was delighted when Patrick’s offer was accepted.
Unfortunately her new home was far from the south suburban Dublin lifestyle that her Irish friends in Hong Kong insisted was the only way to live in Ireland. While the idyllic country scenery near in the Boyne Valley was lovely the social aspects of her new neighborhood were not quite what she had in mind. In fairness perhaps the house was perfect for Chadwick and Charlotte. The children, after spending the last six years in a cramped urban apartment, were thrilled to be living in what amounted to a castle. Without the dangers of life in a crowded foreign city they were free to enjoy their own spacious property as well as roaming the nearby countryside. In addition they knew other children in the area from their summer holidays so they would quickly became part of the younger community. It was, after all, about the children, wasn’t it?
Schooling, however, was another thing entirely and Beatrice was furious with Patrick for making such an important decision without properly considering what she had to say. To Beatrice, nothing could be as important as the children’s education and she had decided that her son would enroll at one of those private rugby schools that had such an excellent reputation for preparing students for university. She had been told that these schools were the closest things to English private schools and she knew without question that Chadwick should attend one of these exclusive, private schools. As for Charlotte’s education, Beatrice was told that the private girls’ schools, often run by religious orders, were where the better class sent their girls.
Rather than recognizing the obvious merits of educating their children at private schools, Patrick had taken it upon himself to enroll her precious children at this local public secondary school with its “inclusive programs,” which as far a she could tell meant that everyone regardless of academic ability or social status was accepted. Predictably Patrick pointed out that he attended St. Killians and it had prepared him well so he had little doubt but that the school would serve their children well.
Beatrice attempted to explain that the world was a different place than it had been when Patrick was younger. But the Patrick interrupted insisting that the changing world was all the more reason the children should be not be sheltered in some exclusive private school. In the end, the decision had already been made by the time she and the children actually moved to Ireland so there was little she could do except express her disappointment.
As if to prove that she did have some role in educating their children, Patrick agreed with her suggestion that Chadwick begin secondary school with his sister in first year even though, technically, he had already completed his first year of secondary school in Hong Kong. Beatrice wasn’t quite sure why Patrick was not only surprised at her suggestion but accepted it enthusiastically. Usually her ideas were met with a tolerant ear but also a level of skepticism but this time it was different. Secretly she was pleased with his reaction but to her, it only made sense.
After all, the children were what Patrick had always referred to as “Irish Twins,” born within ten months of each other. Somewhere along the line Beatrice had heard that you wouldn’t become pregnant as long as you were nursing but that turned out to be an old wives’ tale, much to her embarrassment. Chadwick started school a year earlier than his sister, as would have been expected, and the pattern continued throughout their grade school years. Chadwick was among the youngest children in his school year and not only was he that bit smaller but at times he struggled to keep up with the other children. The result was that, although he was now taller than most of his contemporaries, Chadwick did not seem as confident or as well adjusted as his younger sister.
Beatrice reasoned that since they were starting in a new school and in a new country for that matter, there would be no stigma attached to repeating first year because he would not have to see his former classmates moving forward without him. As an older student he would be more mature than his classmates, which would ease his transition to a new school, increasing the likelihood that he would excel.
Remarkably, Chadwick accepted the decision when it was explained to him. He had always gotten on well with his sister and the idea of joining her in the same class, did not cause him any problems. Besides, he liked the idea of being an older student after years of being on the other end. Or was it, as Charlotte suggested, that he would prefer being in the same class as some of her girlfriends from summer holidays in Louth? Whatever the reason, both Beatrice and her husband were relieved when Chadwick was actually happy with the decision.
And so it was with mixed emotions that Beatrice pulled to a stop as her precious children climbed out of the BMW to begin their first year at St. Killians. Charlotte looked so much like her father, with her slim, athletic build, pale skin, dark hair cut fashionably short and bright blue eyes. Chadwick took after her side of the family with her father’s height and her own blonde hair and sun kissed complexion. Despite the good-natured ribbing he took from his father, Chadwick insisted that he be allowed to let his hair grow and his long wavy locks, parted in the middle and pushed back behind his ears, would be the envy of any woman. Actually she thought, attempting to be detached about the whole thing, he was quite a good-looking boy and would probably break a few hearts before he was finished.
The two children said their hurried goodbyes and ran through the gates to the school. Beatrice sighed, checked her rear-view mirror and pulled away from the school. She glanced at the clock on the car dashboard and realized that they were not exactly early but definitely not as late as the children suggested as they waited impatiently for her to finish her make-up and drive them to the school. Hopefully, she thought, Patrick would see the wisdom of hiring someone to help her around the house and chauffeur the children around at least until they had their own cars. The last thing Beatrice would want was to repeat this morning’s routine on a regular basis.
When everyone had seated himself or herself in the auditorium, the principal, Mr. Freeman, introduced himself and welcomed the students to the new school year. “It is always a pleasure to welcome a new class of bright young students to St. Killians… almost as big a pleasure at it will be to see you leave in six years time.”
The students responded with an uneasy laugh, not quite sure whether the comment was meant to be humorous. Mr. Freeman paused for a moment appreciating that at least his comment wasn’t lost on everyone and then he continued. “This is an important day for each of you because you are beginning your secondary school education. It wasn’t that long ago, that many children in Ireland never got the opportunity you have and grade school was the end of their education. Things have changed now and I am sure you are all excited about the new things you will learn at St. Killians. You are all ready to learn aren’t you?”
Not knowing exactly what to say a few mumbled something that sounded like yes. Mr. Freeman was hardly satisfied with the response so he said, “Did you say, ‘Yes Mr. Freeman?’”
A few more students actually responded by saying “Yes Mr. Freeman,” but obviously not with enough volume or enthusiasm. “A bit louder if you will,” the principal ordered.
This time the response was quite loud and obviously acceptable so Mr. Freeman flashed his kindly-grandfather smile and the students seem much more at ease. After a slight pause he continued, “Now even though today is your first day of school there will be no classes and as you probably know formal classes won’t start until next Monday. We asked you to come in today because we wanted to introduce you to St. Killians so that when you do come for classes you will know how things work. There are a couple of ways that we do this. First, we have divided your class into several groups of fifteen students and we have assigned each group a teacher who is called the group’s tutor. In a few minutes we will assign each of you to your group and you will meet your tutor who will be responsible for you for during your years at St. Killians. If you have any problems, questions or difficulties of any kind, your tutor is there to help you. If your parents have any questions, they will also work through your tutor so you see, your tutor is a very important person in making sure that you get the most out of your years here. Does everyone understand?”