Watching. Jeff Edwards
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stacked on the floor. Jade wandered over, and studied the titles. There were books on everything from fairy stories to ancient history, and Jade could not imagine what sort of person her roommate would turn out to be. She did not have to wonder for long.
A hand bell could be heard, rung with much vigour, its raucous clanging a surprising counterpoint to the quiet that proceeded it.
Voices in the hall announced the return of the students, and a short time later, the door was opened, and her new roommate entered.
Tall, and slender for her age, Rani Smith was the daughter of Reginald Smith, a third generation resident of India, from a tea-trading family. Reginald had upset his family by ‘going native’, and marrying a beautiful Indian woman from an influential business family.
Normally, a girl of mixed ancestry would not have been accepted at the Staunton College for Young Ladies, however, the Smith family were directly related to the founders of the college, and generations of the family had attended its classes. Even so, it had taken a large donation to the school, for much-needed repairs, to secure Rani’s enrolment.
The young lady that entered Jade’s room was the same age as Jade, with skin the colour of mahogany. Her long black hair hung down her back, and reminded Jade of Yee-Ling’s. Her arms were full of books, and she dropped them onto her bed, before turning, and regarding the interloper.
‘So you’re Janice.’
‘I’m called Jade. I’d rather be called Jade.’
‘Not around here you won’t be. Everyone is called by his or her correct name, even if they hate it.’
‘Oh,’ whispered Jade. ‘I’m sorry.’
Rani laughed. ‘I’ll call you Jade if you like. I’m always doing things that I’m not supposed to do. Not bad things, just things that I think should be done differently. It really annoys them.’
‘But won’t you get into trouble?’
Rani shrugged. ‘They don’t like me much here anyway. I’m not the sort of person that the Staunton College for Young Ladies usually takes on as a student. Daddy’s money ensured my acceptance. You see, I’m just not English enough for them,’ said Rani with a wicked grin. ‘That’s why no one else wants to share a room with me.’
Jade felt herself warming to her roommate. Rani’s smile, and couldn’t-care-less attitude, appealed to her. ‘I don’t think they’ll like me very much either. I’m not sure I know how to be English.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I only arrived in England yesterday. I’ve never been here before.’
‘You’re not English?’
‘I don’t know what I am. My parents are English, but I was born in Shanghai.’
Rani laughed. ‘You’re the funniest looking Chinaman I’ve ever seen.’
Jade laughed too. ‘And you’re the funniest looking Smith that I’ve ever seen.’
The two girls broke up in fits of giggles, and they each knew that this was the beginning of a true friendship.
Jade’s life at the Staunton College for Young Ladies quickly settled down to one of predictable boredom. The same routine day after day; the same meals on the same days each week. At least there were new things to learn, which helped somewhat.
The educational standards were maintained at a reasonably high, if narrow, level. Families who sent their daughters there expected their child to be able to mingle in the highest levels of society. They were schooled to be able to hold their own in a conversation with a foreign ambassador, or visiting dignitary. To this end, history, literature, languages and art were taught, along with the more diplomatic and housewifely etiquette, dancing, riding, and home sciences.
Rani hated most of it, but hid her disdain, pretending to be enthusiastic. She had asked Jade what her aim was in life, and been surprised that Jade had no idea at all of what lay in the future. ‘I’m too young to worry about what’s going to happen in ten years time,’ she said. Rani, on the other hand, knew exactly where her life was heading, and it certainly wasn’t in the direction that her parents envisioned.
‘My parents have sent me here to become someone’s perfect wife. I’m to be the prize that seals some important business deal.’
‘That’s horrible.’
‘Don’t worry; I’ve got my own plans. When I get out of here, I’m going to university, and then medical school. I’m going to be a doctor, a specialist for women, and then I’m going home to help out the women of India.’
‘Will you be able to get into medical school? Do they take many women?’
‘They will if they want some of my father’s money,’ laughed Rani.
Jade and Rani became inseparable friends. Rani was the student of serious subjects like history, English and science; while Jade loved the creative subjects, like drama and art appreciation. They helped one another out, impressing their teachers by the ease with which they passed their exams.
Jade found her holidays with her grandparents to be great fun. They were a loving pair of individuals, who doted on their granddaughter. The Captain took to taking Jade around the local village, introducing her to everyone; showing off proudly.
June Taylor took Jade shopping in the city, and spoilt her with gifts. Jade loved it all, and was always sorry to leave them at the end of their short times together.
The long holidays were another matter altogether.
First, was the long trip home by boat. Rani shared part of the trip as far as Bombay, but the last leg of the journey was spent alone in the company of a hired chaperone. Usually the chaperone was an older, unmarried woman with nothing but endless time on her hands, and, inevitably a great love of cough medicine, or flash of gin, which was surreptitiously and constantly consumed.
On arrival in Shanghai, Jade would be greeted enthusiastically by her father, and distantly by her mother.
Even the exceptional school reports from Jade’s teachers, were not enough to break through her mother’s indifference. To Ann, Jade had been sent to get her schooling in England expressly for that reason, and the results were merely confirmation that she had been correct in sending Jade away.
Jade noticed that her father had begun drinking heavily again, and seemed to be staggering most evenings on his arrival home. It depressed Jade that she could not do anything to dispel her father’s misery. She avoided the house as much as possible, spending as much time as she could visiting with her former schoolmates.
The return to school came as a relief — at least at school she was not surrounded by her parents’ total lack of joy.
* * *
The months and years passed quickly, as Jade and Rani found themselves learning and developing their individual characters, unfettered by parental influences.
In later years, Jade’s time spent at the school later became defined in her mind, not by the years or school terms, but instead, into the periods in between summons to attend the headmistress’ office.
The first time Jade was called, alone, to the office of Mrs McLean, was just after lunch, one summer day. It had been two years since her arrival at the school.
Mrs McLean sat upright behind her desk as Jade entered, closing the door quietly behind her.
‘You wished to see me, Mrs McLean?’
‘Sit down, Janice.’
As Jade sat down, Mrs McLean cleared her throat and began. ‘I have just received a telegram from your parents. They have also just received a telegram from your grandfather Sir Robert Green. It would appear that your grandmother Lady Green has just passed away, and as it is not possible for your parents to attend the funeral — they wish you to attend in their stead.’