Emma's SIX original chapters

School Reunion

September 2007

I am waiting for Mr Finch, the new headmaster at Deffry Vale Comprehensive, to open his office door and let me in. So much time passed since we stopped the Yeti at New World University, and I can't believe that it has been twelve years since then. Now, I am waiting for my new timetable. Why is he not opening the door?

As I wait, I open my new book. It is a biography on Jane Seymour. I never thought that Jane's life would be entertaining, but this biography is proving me wrong. What I initially thought about the queen was only scratching the surface. As I am getting into it, Mr Finch opens the door. 'Emma. Sorry, am I disrupting something?'
'No, sir,' I say as I put my book away. 'Sorry, sir.'
'Nothing to apologise about. What were you reading?' He leads me into his office.
'I was reading about Jane Seymour, Henry VIII's third wife. The biography is proving that her life is more interesting than most historians think.'
'At least you are a student. Some people like to mess about, but that is not the case with Deffry Vale. We pride ourselves in taking the highest responsibility with our students' work and getting the highest grades.'
'Yes, since you became headmaster, grades improved drastically, that's why my mums wanted me to transfer.' Mr Finch smiles.
'Here is your timetable, and I included a map of the school to help you find your way.'
'Thank you, sir.' I stand up to leave. 'Have a nice day, sir.'
'You too, Emma.' I leave his office before glancing down at my timetable. I have history first, and I use my map to navigate through the vast school.

When I reach the classroom, I find I am the first student there, or I'm the last, and the lesson ended. The teacher smiles when I walk into class. 'Emma, you're early. Take a seat. We're learning about the six wives of Henry VIII.'
'That's great, I love learning about the six wives. I started researching about them when I was little.' The teacher smiles as she begins sorting out a book for me. 'I want you to write your name, year and teacher on here, okay?' I nod, and she points to an empty seat where I will sit for however long I'll be here.

The other students begin filing in, and she starts teaching the lesson. 'For your homework, I want you to complete a project on Henry VIII's wives. It can be in any format you like, a poster, a presentation, even a song if you think you can manage it.' I'm not musically talented, but I think I have an idea for a song. If I had many friends, I could ask some of them to help. As such, I am the new student with no friends, and will probably get labelled as a weirdo or a freak. I won't let that happen again.
'Does it have to be all of them, or can we focus on one of them?' A student asks.
'If you have a preferred wife, you can work on her. Otherwise, I would prefer you to work on all of them, Kenny.' I pull another book out of my bag, about Katherine of Aragon this time. I skip to the end to find out what I wanted when I find something that none of the other biographies talked about.

Between 1522 and 1536, Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn exchanged love letters behind Henry's back. Their confidant, Emma Smith-White, a future Queen of England, risked her life to deliver the messages. Despite banishment from Court and now separated from her daughter, Katherine continued to write to Anne. In September 1533, Katherine congratulated Anne on the birth of her daughter, later to become Elizabeth 1.

At Buckden Towers in July 1533, Katherine graciously received Anne Boleyn as her visitor. Both the former and the current queen reconciled with one another and agreed to write in code so that the King would not suspect that they are still in a relationship. Many of their letters still survive, despite historians debunking them as forgeries by members at Court to please the King, the handwriting of both women can be identified. These letters are genuine love letters by two women who couldn't tell the world how much they love each other.

In between July 1533 and May 1534, Anne would visit Katherine often and would give different excuses as to why she wasn't at Court. However, when Katherine transferred to Kimbolton Castle, the visits intensified. Henry began to grow suspicious and ordered for his men to follow Anne. They were caught in April 1536.