The Pole Shift

British Bulldogs?

"British Bulls Dogs? Don't be ridiculous Jimmy, we are not doing that." Miss Wright had spoken as a teacher, and hadn't thought Jimmy's idea through. British Bulldogs had been banned from schools for years, inciting violence according to some. In fact none of the group had thought Jimmy's idea through, some of the kids scoffed, others looked scared. Jimmy said:

                "Well, we could play eeny, meeny, miny moe but that won't exactly help anyone in the future!" The aggression began to awaken amongst all of them.

                "Jimmy you idiot." Said a small boy.

                "Boys will have the advantage over girls!" Said Helen. Jimmy looked at her and smiled unkindly.

                "Well then Heren I could pick all the ones that I like and let the ones I don't like stay with the teachers?" Helen touched the palm of her hand to her eye and turned away, muttering in Chinese. "Listen, I won't turn to a coin toss, nor go in alphabetical order, or pick Asians over Saxons. I've thought hard.  British Bulldogs, you know, you have to be very aware, and if you get caught you have to try to break free, before a teacher holds you up and shouts 'British Bulldogs!' Otherwise you become a bulldog, and you lose your spot on a life pod.  It's fair, you have to accept your chance and if you are caught then, that's how it is. We'll play on the tennis courts"

                "You are bringing the world after the Pole Shift to the now." Said Mr Knowles, more thoughtful.

                "That's right, we are going to have to be tough as well as think smart."

                "I've got a sore foot!"  Shouted a burly boy, it was a bad sign, Jimmy said:

                "Your sore foot will follow you into the pod and to wherever we end up after the flooding. All your niggles will, and all your attitudes too. British Bulldogs. Play it for a spot, we won't be waiting to be rescued after it has happened, we have to find land and start again. Others will survive, they won't care about sore feet or that the you are a girl. They will want to survive, they will be horrible, we will be horrible! Things will be a million times worse than British Bulldogs!"

                Sentiment changed, Miss Wright looked on at Jimmy with understanding, and a brief flash of her seductive eyes. She turned to Mr Knowles, the other three teachers had converged on him, absurdly he still held 'Stig of the Dump' in his lap. The students all looked at Mr Knowles, wanting his approval. There was a great pause, finally he held Jimmy's eye and said:

                "Are you going to play Jimmy?"

                "Yes."

                "And if you get caught?"

                "I won't have my place in the pods."

                 " Let's go to the courts. All of you must accept the outcome. Do I have your promise?" There was slow nodding, the smaller weaker children were aghast, the stronger played at being humble. "I will be a bulldog too." Said Mr Knowles, he stood up and took off his jacket. He was not fat, not stooped, there was learned strength in his frame.  The old man had come alive, the book had fallen to the floor,  forgotten.