A Theory Of Revolution

VII - A Plan

We revised our plan whilst we were in our form room, sitting at the back table where we couldn’t be heard by our tutor or any other interfering girls. It was difficult to keep secrets from anyone, girls wanted the gossip and somehow everyone knew how to get it. Laura had written everything out on paper and jotted down precise little diagrams for everything, she thought she was a secret agent or something and I had to admit; at that point I did too.

“Right,” Laura started, she was completely ready, everything was mapped out and it was clear that she’d read through the plan to check for flaws a million times. “First, we go to assembly-” I groaned. Assembly was definitely not the highlight of any day. In fact, it was torture, why we had to go after assembly confused me. Laura wasn’t phased by my interruption and carried on. “We have to wait for everything in assembly to finish, there could be vital information we can pick up.” Yes, I thought, whilst rolling my eyes at her; vital information on internet safety or something we have heard a thousand times before. Laura went on “after assembly we sneak into the staff room, there won’t be any teachers in there because they will all be setting up for their next lessons, we set to work looking through any paperwork we can find and get out of there before anyone notices we’re gone!” I had to admit, the plan sounded mad – it would never work, but I had to trust her on this one.

“Right, girls,” Miss Lewis, our tutor, began, “it’s ten to nine, I want to see those skirts past your knees!”

This meant it was time for assembly, correct uniform was to be worn at all times but especially in assembly.  We pulled our skirts down from being rolled up and took off our jewellery before trooping out the door, watched by Miss Lewis who was shouting commands at various students who obviously didn’t pay attention to her before.

“Lucy! I can see your underwear! Pull that skirt down!” “And you Monica, I don’t want to see what you ate for breakfast!” “Billie, that scarf will come off else I’ll take it for myself.” The three girls reluctantly amended their uniform whilst we left the room in silence, our plan ready in our heads.

Laura and I sat together in assembly, so we could make an easy break for it without getting split up, we took our places on the floor next to some of the younger girls in our form, and they looked so small, either they were shrinking each year or we were just growing. A low humming sound filled the hall whilst everybody waited for Miss Stewart to take the stage. Miss Stewart was a feminist. She believed we all had what it took to take over the world someday, and probably mars too. I had to admit her prep talks often made me feel better, like I could achieve anything.  Her tall, yellow heels clicked as she walked across the shined hall floor. Each step was confident and her head was high, looking forward, never looking at any of us on the floor. Once she was on the stage the humming died down. “Good morning ladies!” she spoke with clarity and pride in her voice, her rouged lips moving slowly to make sure we understood each syllable. The gathering of students mumbled back “Good morning Miss Stewart” not making the same effort she had to make themselves heard.

“First, I have an important message from Mrs Jacobson and, unfortunately it is not good news.” She started, not paying attention to the fact that nobody was interested in what she had to say, except Laura. “We have had yet another complaint about your uniform girls, you should be proud to be where you are now. This school is one of the best, if not the best, in the country and you abuse the uniform as if you don’t care about who you are and your public impressions, you are bright young ladies, make it look that way! Also…” I zoned out for a while, I was uninterested in her lectures about our uniform, I knew full well that there were certain girls in our school who wore skirts which looked more like belts than anything, and that the school policy had made bracelets pretty much illegal. I looked at Laura and she shrugged, the hall was dark and the curtains were closed, nobody had even bothered to turn the lights on but that meant I could talk without being easily seen.