Star Pupil

Chapter two

OK, it looks like I better get outta here now that first detention's complete! I packed up all of my things, slipped my blazer on and went over to sit my completed WWII essay and English worksheet on Mr. Harris' desk just before I walking out. After signing myself out, I noticed that all the other lights are out and nobody else was in there except for the caretakers probably.

It is really weird yet a bit creepy to walk in the school at night, when I was wee I used to think the teachers used to sleep in the school, obviously that was a Shaggy-Dog story I got from an old friend that I haven't spoken to since primary 4.

Walking to the exit doors, I pressed the security button to open the first door which allowed me to go to the other door to head outside into the freezing cold, jeez. Well, this should be a good time to get my iPod out and make the most of my journey back home while playing some decent tunes!

The Sundays' "Joy" from their first album was the tune I started to listen with these cool headphones on. By the look of the car park, it is definitely weird to see the school so empty in the dark. I walked towards the still-open exit gates until I was out on the footpath near the main road.

I stopped for a moment to think which way to go home. I remember this beautiful forest that I'll get to in a second, so I turned left and walked upwards to head over to the forest which took me a couple minutes to get there.

This forest is called Sequor Luminum – which is Latin for "Trail of Lights". It's called that because as I can see, there are trees in front of me that are covered by none other than beautiful lamps just attached onto the tree trunks.

It leads you over to this WWII memorial site not far away from here. The forest goes back to when the Nazis bombed the city of Belfast during the Blitz. Those who survived the Blitz made it into this very place just far away to get away from it.

Every single man, woman and child got together at the site to pray and remember their loved ones who did not made it out alive. To pay their own respects to each other, they lit up these lanterns they bought from this hardware store just away from where the school and tied them to their nearby trees.

When the Blitz ended, everyone gathered together in this very spot to put up this memorial stone with the very deceased names carved onto it in rows. And of course, they sat in silence for a wee while until they walked away.

I have been walking through these woods since I was eight. My mum and I would normally take a dander on down to Boothwood Park via the forest because it was round the corner of our home. Sometimes there would be snow, other times it would rain or leaves would fall. Those were good times that I kinda miss.

I switched over to another tune and it was none other than Pet Shop Boys' "Jealousy". Don't know why I picked this one, just thought it was a class song. As I walked on up to where the lanterns are leading me, I spotted a blue rose just halfway through the trail.

There are tales about this particular rose: they say once it's been planted, it never grows out. It even stays this beautiful lifelong, especially when it rains or snow.

I carried on walking until I got to the exit to Maria Avenue, with the Blitz memorial site standing in front with red poppies on it. Must be Remembrance Day next week. Better keep that in mind. I strolled past the exit gates to find myself back in little Maria Avenue.

Like always, its quiet round the evening. None much going on except everybody's back from work or school having their dinner, finishing up some paperwork and going to bed, you know that kind of shit.

I stepped on down the steps to the main footpath, crossed the road and walked round the corner to see the roundabout there. As I got to the end of the road, I crossed over to none other than my home.