Authors: Ann Bryant

Princess at Silver Spires (14 page)

BOOK: Princess at Silver Spires

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“Installation art is exactly what it says it is,” said Mr. Cary. “It's all about
installing
art within its own specific environment, which might be anywhere. For example, last year,” he went on, staring out of the window, “it was a piece of installation art that won first prize in the senior art exhibition. It was a birdcage hanging from a tree near Beech House, but the student had made it entirely out of natural materials and she'd left the door open to show that the bird had flown. She could have displayed the birdcage on a surface in the art room, but it wouldn't have made the same impact as it did hanging from the branch of a tree. You see, that student was making a comment about how it's not natural to keep birds in cages.”

I felt my heart do the squeezing thing it does whenever I see a piece of art I love. I know I couldn't actually see the birdcage, but it was just as though I could, because there was such a clear picture of it in my head.

“That's a brilliant idea,” breathed Grace. Then we exchanged a look, which meant we both understood about the birdcage.

Georgie was wrinkling her nose. “Is that
art
, though?” she said. “I mean it's very clever and all that, butâ¦”

“Well, that's the big debate, isn't it?” said Mr. Cary. “Some people can't see it at all. Other people love it. But tell me, Georgie, if you saw an amazing piece of, say, jewellery, and it happened to be hanging from a tree, would you appreciate it?”

“Yes! Of course!” said Georgie squeakily. “You can wear jewellery. You can't wear a birdcage!”

“Jewellery?” said Katy, from the other side of me. She'd kind of jumped to attention. “You mean you can enter jewellery in the art exhibition?”

“Absolutely!” said Mr. Cary. He gave Katy a quizzical look. “I'm sure I mentioned jewellery when I told you all about the exhibition in the last lesson, didn't I?”

“No, you mentioned loads of things, but I would have definitely remembered if you'd said jewellery.” Katy's eyes lit up. “That's settled. I'm definitely entering now.”

“Well, that's two of you,” said Mr. Cary. “Any of you others from this little group thinking about it?”

I looked round as Naomi and Mia came over to join us. We six have been friends ever since we joined Silver Spires at the beginning of Year Seven, two terms ago. We all share a dormitory called Amethyst in Hazeldean House, which is definitely the best boarding house in the whole school. Ours is actually the best dorm too, because we all get on so well together. Grace and I are best friends. Crazy Georgie is best friends with Mia, and Katy and Naomi are best friends as well.

“Well I'm not entering. No way!” said Georgie. “I can't even draw a sheep!”

Grace just shook her head. I think we all knew Grace wouldn't dream of entering. She's got so much sport going on. The summer term is even busier than the other two terms for that. Grace sometimes gets to miss prep because of tennis coaching, which is a bit worrying for me because, like I said, I'm not very good at any subject except art, and I usually count on Grace to help me when I can't spell things or don't understand something I'm supposed to have read. I know I could ask one of the others for help, but I feel a bit embarrassed about being so stupid, except with Grace because she's used to me.

Mia and Naomi both said they didn't think they'd be entering anything for the art exhibition and I wasn't really surprised. Mia has lots of extra work with her piano practice and Naomi always says she loves other people's art but doesn't think she's much good at it herself.

“Better get tidied up then,” said Mr. Cary, glancing at the clock, and I felt my usual sinking feeling that the lesson had gone so quickly.

“I'll come back after lunch, Mr. Cary. Will you be here?”

He nodded. “I'm pretty much a permanent fixture in here!”

“Oh great!” said Georgie. “Can I enter
you
in the exhibition, Mr. Cary? You could be my piece of installation art!”

Lots of people heard what she said and the whole room seemed to burst out laughing. Georgie often makes that happen. She doesn't do it on purpose â she's just naturally funny. The others kept giggling all the time we were packing away, but I was quiet, because my mind was buzzing away with ideas about what I'd do for the art exhibition. Nothing was clear in my head yet. Half of me wanted to talk to Mr. Cary about it, but the other half wanted him to have a surprise. Mr. Cary's opinion means a lot to me and I know I'm not the only one who thinks he's a really good teacher. There are other girls higher up the school who've told me his students get fantastic GCSE results. In fact one of the reasons Mum and Dad chose Silver Spires school for me was because of the art department. Well, that's not strictly true. What happened was thisâ¦

At the end of Year Five, my parents asked me if I'd like to go to boarding school after primary, and at first I said yes, I'd love to, because I'd seen one of the Harry Potter films and I thought it would be really exciting and completely different from ordinary school. But then Mum casually added that if I went to a school like Silver Spires I'd probably get on better with my lessons, so then I wasn't sure about this whole boarding thing after all, in case Mum and Dad suddenly had much higher expectations of me. I liked the thought of being able to manage my work more easily though, but I knew that couldn't just happen by magic.

All through Year Six, when I wasn't painting or drawing or making things, I worked as hard as I possibly could, spending ages up in my room typing words on my computer and spellchecking them, and reading as much as I could to try and get faster at it. School was just such a struggle for me, and my biggest dread was getting left behind.

When I told Mum and Dad I didn't really want to go to boarding school, they showed me the Silver Spires school magazine with all the brilliant art in it and Mum even read out to me what it said in the school prospectus about the wonderful art department. By the time she'd finished, I wanted to go to Silver Spires more than I'd ever wanted anything in my life.

And now I'm here I'm really happy. I love boarding school. It's great having Grace and my four other good friends with me all the time, and being able to wander round such amazing grounds and go on trips and outings to art galleries and museums, and eat the most delicious food (especially puddings), and go to the art room at lunchtimes and after school and at weekends. And the classes are smaller than they were at primary, so the teacher can keep an eye on everyone all the time. Actually that's the only trouble. You see, recently I've begun to sense an awful lot of eyes on me, and I've got the horrible feeling that the teachers are beginning to realize I've got a bigger problem with reading and writing than they might have first thought.

Just as I was getting lost in all these thoughts, the bell for the end of art rang, bringing me back to the here and now.

“English next,” said Naomi matter-of-factly as we left the art block.

For a second my spirits plummeted, but then like a yo-yo they swung back up again as Grace grinned at me.

“But not long till lunch, Jess. Then you can get back to your lovely art!”

I gave her a massive smile. She understands me so well. I couldn't wish for a better best friend.

To find out what happens next, read

About the Author

Ann Bryant's School Days

Who
was your favourite teacher?

At primary it was Mr. Perks â we called him Perksy. I was in his class in Year Six, and most days he let me work on a play I was writing! At secondary, my fave teacher was Mrs. Rowe, simply because I loved her subject (French) and she was so young and pretty and slim and chic and it was great seeing what new clothes she'd be wearing.

What were your best and worst lessons?

My brain doesn't process history, geography or science and I hated cookery, so those were my least favourite subjects. But I was good at English, music, French and PE, so I loved those. I also enjoyed art, although I was completely rubbish at it!

What was your school uniform like?

We had to wear a white shirt with a navy blue tie and sweater, and a navy skirt, but there was actually a wide variety of styles allowed â I was a very small person and liked pencil-thin skirts. We all rolled them over and over at the waist!

Did you take part in after-school activities?

Well I loved just hanging out with my friends, but most of all I loved ballet and went to extra classes in Manchester after school.

Did you have any pets while you were at school?

My parents weren't animal lovers so we were only allowed a goldfish! But since I had my two daughters, we've had loads â two cats, two guinea pigs, two rabbits, two hamsters and two goldfish.

What was your most embarrassing moment?

When I was in Year Seven I had to play piano for assembly. It was April Fool's Day and the piano wouldn't work (it turned out that someone had put a book in the back). I couldn't bring myself to stand up and investigate because that would draw attention to me, so I sat there with my hands on the keys wishing to die, until the Deputy Head came and rescued me!

To find about more about Ann Bryant, visit her website:
www.annbryant.co.uk

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