03 My Teacher

I was now beginning to grow handsome; my hair was fine and soft, and was bright black. I was thought very handsome; my master would not sell me till I was 18 years old; he said colts ought not to work like horses, and lads ought not to work like men till they were quite grown up. You need time to learn. Not that I had seen a real colt or horse before only carvings and pictures. In the facility was a room called the reference library that held a few old computers that the adults could use for research and if no one was using it the children could too.

When I was twelve years old Keeper Gordon came to look at me, after my mother had told him I had finished learning the children's knowledge. He examined my eyes, my mouth, and my hands; he felt down all my joints; and then I had to walk, copy another lad in stretching before him, and answer a series of complicated questions. He seemed to like me, and said, "Well he seems to have his wits about in short he will do fine." My master said he would introduce me to my teacher himself, as he should not like me to be frightened, and he lost no time about it, for the next day we went to the facility over. My family was proud, especially my grandfather.

Everyone may not know what teaching here is, therefore I will describe it. It means to not just learn from your family but to be assigned a teacher of a greater standing, to start to do the work of an adult, to follow instructions well, to get better food, and even have the chance to get room of your own. He must never speak when working, nor fight, nor run around, nor have any will of his own; but always do his master's will, even though he may be very tired; but the worst of all is, when he is at work, he may neither stop his hand nor lie down for weariness. So you see this is a great thing.

I had of course long been used to working with my hand in woodcraft, and helping around the courtyard quietly, but now I was going to the other facility and shown how to use the power machines to carve special patterns on special plates of metal. I was so shocked by the loud noise and the smell of metal and smoke in the air coming from those great machines. It where so powerful and so hypnotising to watch my teacher glide the sheet back and forth.

Those who have never had been in such a place cannot think how bad it feels to breathe in such air; you can use a piece of cloth to help but even with the smell and your eyes will always sting, till you get off and can wash them. Nasty things; it is very bad! yes, very bad! At least I thought so; but I knew my grandfather always wanted to be here and never got the chance as he couldn't count well enough, also the grown-ups were proud; and so, what with the better food. No more potage and endless soups here the was meat with every meal. With my master's and teacher's encouragement, kind words, and gentle ways, I got to learn to do the work of Stable D. I was hopeful I would be able to move in there soon, I know the rooms are twice the size of C.

Next came the complicated stuff, but that was not half so bad; my teacher showed me how to copy the blueprints and hold the sheet without getting your hands pulled in. He told me the ones who have it best are the ones who can make the blueprints they can work upstairs away from the dust and spend all their time on the computers. At length, one morning, my teacher let me make a sheet on my own. It certainly did feel nerve-racking; but I must say I also felt rather excited, and as I continued to do so every day I soon became accustomed to it.

And now having got so far, the next unpleasant business was getting my ID; that was the worst. At first, I felt like crying but I am almost a man, so I tried my best not to. Keeper Gordon went with me to an upstairs room. I had not been in before, to tell me what was needed. My ankle was placed into a strap and a bangle was placed around in two halves and welded on by a stranger I did not know. It was so itchy and painful when it got hot. Once it had cooled a little Gordon kept tugging at it to see if I could get my foot through. It dug in painfully as he did so. The next day my ankle was so yellow (then later it turned black and blue) that teacher had to help me get to my workstation and the was no way my shoe would fit. But Godon had given me some cream to put on daily that was cooling and numbed the pain so I could still work, I was almost an adult after all. My feet felt very stiff and heavy, but in time I got used to it. I never felt more like punching, but of course I could not punch such a good keeper, and so in time I got used to everything, and could do my work as well as my mother and grandfather. Although I did miss them I could visit at night.

I must not forget to mention one part of my training, which I have always considered a very great advantage. My master sent me for a fortnight to a neighboring place, who had a pond which was skirted on one side by the railway. Here were some sheep and cows, and I was allowed to eat any fish I could catch.

I shall never forget the first train that ran by. I was eating quietly near the pales which separated the meadow from the railway, when I heard a strange sound at a distance, and before I knew whence it came—with a rush and a clatter, and a puffing out of smoke—a long black train of something flew by, and was gone almost before I could draw my breath. I turned and ran to the further side of the meadow as fast as I could go, and there I stood wide-eyed with astonishment and fear. In the course of the day many other trains went by, some more slowly; these drew up at the station close by, and sometimes made an awful shriek and groan before they stopped. I thought it very dreadful, but the cows went on eating very quietly, and hardly raised their heads as the black frightful thing came puffing and grinding past.

For the first few days I could not sleep in peace; but as I found that this terrible thing never came closer, or did me any harm, I began to disregard it, and very soon I cared as little about the passing of a train as the cows and sheep did. I am fearless.

Teacher told me the better I behaved the better I should be treated, and that it was wisest always to do my best to please my master; "but," said he, "there are a great many kinds of people; there are good thoughtful ones like our master, that any may be proud to serve; and there are bad and cruel, who never ought to never have a kept or dog to call their own. Besides, there are a great many foolish, vain, ignorant, and careless, who never trouble themselves to think; these can ruin you more than you need or should want to know, just for want of a sense of strength; they can do it for all just for that, let alone other things. I hope you will fall into good hands; but you never know who may buy you, or what you may end up doing in service; it is all a chance for us; but still I say, do your best wherever it is, and keep up your good name."

Now if anyone wants to teach in a kept young man well, that is the way.