The Headmasters Papers (3 page)

I wish my concern for your health were less selfish, but at the heart of the matter, I want you to come back here for my own delight. I want your company. I've grown accustomed to your face. It almost makes the day begin. I want you to cook my breakfast, etc.

My good-hearted colleagues have had me to dinner practically every night, in itself a problem, as each supper is rather a big deal: drinks, fancy things, an enormous roast, more fancy things, etc. I come home bloated and tired and in an unwilling frame of mind to prepare a balanced budget for the Finance Committee of the board. So I write a letter or two, read a bit of something improving, and doze.

The house is very neat, but dusty. The kitchen is spanking clean except for the one tumbler and the one tea cup I use. The lawn is cut, the garden horrendous, but with the falling of the leaves, we can easily conceal them from the public view. I have not had a Faculty Reception yet, because I am afraid that our recent appointment in mathematics, Florence Armbruster or Armature or Armchair, will make a pass at me in my apparent eligibility.

I'll call you Thursday at the hospital, around six. Decide before than what I can send you besides your mail. Write me, love.

J.

P.S. Around noon today, I drove into town to go to the bank, and what should I spy out on the jct. of rte. 9 just past the bridge but a tiny dark-suited hitch hiker wearing a bold, not-yet-spotted Wells tie. Two and a half days and he was headed home for Hartford. He quite naturally assumed I was out on a daily roundup of escaped third formers and dejectedly hauled two mammoth suitcases into the back seat of the wagon. He told me there was no dissuading him. He had “tried it” and it was no good. It seemed to me that there was nothing for it but to go to McDonald's, which turned out to be a stroke of genius, a faint but sure strand of continuity with his hearth and home, such as it must be these days in Hartford. Hardly a scene from
Mr. Chips,
but the lad is staying on. Really a very nice boy, almost garrulous with me now. His name is Marc Slavin, and he is the first in his family to try a private school. Never got to the bank.

5 September

MEMO To Phil Upjohn

Director of Studies

Phil-

Just a note of congratulation and admiration for the way you pulled together opening exercises. Never smoother! Faculty and boy morale seem buoyant. Agree? We ought to keep an eye on Ms. Armbruster though. Seems a little skittish. (I hope young Frankel has been refused welfare and is beating his breast in rage on the West Coast.)

Again, a fine start. We should huddle before the weekend about “Wells Ten years and After.” Ugh.

Best, J.

5 September

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Slavin

1300 Chafee Circle

West Hartford, Connecticut

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Slavin,

I am writing somewhat impromptu to let you know that I have had the pleasure of making Marc's acquaintance and to share some impressions. He may have told you that his initial experience of Wells was less than rapturous; he tried to go home, but was intercepted. Nothing too unusual in this. Less determined boys just bite their lips and cry in solitude. At any rate, I think he is going to stick. One of his roommates shares his interest in lasers and holography, and he has met another boy in Hallowell House who is mad about Tolkien.

Incidentally, I find Marc a likable, direct, disarming person and am awfully glad to have him among us. I hope you won't hesitate to write or call if you have any concerns about his early progress here.

My good wishes,

John O. Greeve

6 September

Mr. Brian Greeve

General Delivery

Cape St. Vincent

PORTUGAL

Dear Brian,

I am writing to Cape St. Vincent on the slim chance that you may have returned or that, possibly, you never left. At any rate, it's the last post office at which we made definite contact. You know, it's hard to write when you don't really believe your letter will reach its intended receiver. For this reason, too, I am enclosing only a modest money order, but good enough I hope for a few square meals. If you ever let us know where you are, I'll be glad to send along a more substantial one. It's not that I'm getting soft or generous in my old age, only that it's hard for me to shake the habit of thinking I have an expensive dependent.

As you can imagine, school has begun, Wells' one hundred and sixth year, and now we are in motion, powerfully, irrevocably, haphazardly toward June. Hugh has taken a teaching spot at St. Edward's, a struggling sort of school, but with a good young head named Ted Phillips. Perhaps you are in touch with Hugh and know this already.

Your mother has been feeling achey and run-down since the end of the summer and is still on the Cape at Little House. She went into the hospital yesterday for tests, which should drive any flu away. When she gets the results this week, she's coming home. Needless to say, Champ, she'd kill for a word from you. I'd be a liar to deny we worry and wonder about you a great deal. Not that we resent your freedom, but
invisibility?

Please write.

Much love from both of us,

Pop

10 September

Mr. Frederick Maitland

Headmaster, St. Ives Academy

Derby, Connecticut

Dear Fred,

I am frankly embarrassed to be writing this letter, but too many good people here are upset and too many issues are at stake which would be inappropriate to kick under the Seven Schools rug.

I speak of course about last Saturday's game. I always feel better complaining about games when we have won—when my objections can appear unstained by sour grapes—but this time we were not only beaten but decidedly thrashed. However, that is not the issue.

This is the issue. As I know you were aware, there was really rotten sportsmanship
visible
in that game, almost from the start. What the kids say went on in the line and in pile-ups is perhaps not to be credited, but what we all saw and heard on the field cannot be ignored. Punches and elbows were thrown periodically by both sides throughout the game. Of course that is the officials' business and the officials' fault, but only within their limited sphere. It is also the boys' fault and our fault for letting it go on. I think Jack Kreble did the right thing, although probably not soon enough, in taking out each of our boys he saw fighting, regardless of alleged or observed provocation. I believe he benched four starters on his own. I honestly believe that if you folks had followed suit, we would have gone a long way toward teaching an important principle by example. As it stands, I'm afraid our kids, and maybe some of yours, too, have got the idea that cheap shots work, the way they so often work in big-time televised sports.

The situation wasn't helped, either, by that fellow you had on the P.A. He seemed to confuse the loudspeaker system with a radio broadcast. There was much commentary, hardly disinterested. I bring up this irritating point because amplified praise of one side and derision of the other becomes a factor in play. It was most clearly a factor when your announcer was talking over our signals and over our quarterback's backfield maneuvers. That is simply unacceptable. I have never heard of it in competitive football at any level.

Again, it is embarrassing to have to bring such things up. But doing so might be an occasion for some good teaching. I think it has been here. It's a shame that such a stimulating, gorgeous afternoon became such an ill-tempered and ugly experience for kids, parents, and the rest of us.

Sorry if I'm coming across too righteous or pristine, but I'd feel awfully irresponsible if I didn't share with you what has raised so much passion and concern here since Saturday.

For what my egghead opinion is worth, your football team is three times stronger than ours.

My good wishes,

John

11 September

Mr. and Mrs. Loren Engle

125 Sturbridge Road

Chatham, New Jersey

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Engle,

As Roger has already told you, he appeared yesterday before Student Court on a major infraction, his first, and was found guilty. The recommended punishment was return of the records, a written apology to their owner, and that Roger be placed on disciplinary probation for the remainder of the school year.

After meeting with the Faculty Disciplinary Committee this morning, I have decided to accept the court's recommendation, with these reservations and observations. First, I am more concerned with Roger's lack of straightforwardness than with his borrowing—or even pinching—another student's records. Our boys interchange their possessions ceaselessly, usually open-handedly and open-heartedly. That Roger had taken the records without permission and was late returning them would have been routine. What concerns me is that when first asked about the records by their owner, Roger denied having them. When the boy got mad and searched Roger's room, he found them concealed under clothes in a bureau drawer. There were other hesitant and inconsistent admissions in the court sessions as well. As I told Roger just an hour ago, if he had lied to
me
to my face when I asked him about the records, my decision would have been to dismiss him from the school.

Although it could not have been a more cardinal one, this is Roger's first major infraction, and we have no reason to think it won't be his last. By the terms of the probation, however, should he be caught out in another purposeful deception during this school year, we will ask you to withdraw him.

I am sorry to have to convey such unpleasant news so early in this school year. Roger has shown us exceptional aptitude and good personal promise to date, and we have every expectation that this episode represents only a lapse. Please write or call if I can clarify his position further or if you have any other observations or concerns.

My good wishes,

John O. Greeve

12 September

MEMO To Arnold Lieber

Maintenance

Arnold,

What do you mean “nothing” can be done about the Hall before the New Parents' Reception? Of course something can be done. It can be
thoroughly cleaned.
I want that done by tomorrow p.m. if you and I have to do it ourselves.

No more notes, please, about its being impossible to do what we have always done. If you've got a problem with the crew, come see me.

J.O.G.

13 September

Mr. Anthony Rini

1630 Coldport Avenue

Fall River, Massachusetts

Dear Mr. Rini,

I am writing on the outside chance that you might know the whereabouts of my son, Brian. I had word last March that he and your son Leonard had met in Morocco and were traveling together. It is very important that I get in touch with my son, as I have just learned that his mother is very ill. For any information or even suggestions concerning Brian's whereabouts, I will be extremely grateful.

Sincerely,

John O. Greeve

13 September

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Taubman

1770 Ashberry Lane

Dedham, Massachusetts

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Taubman,

I am sorry to intrude into your lives again after our last most unpleasant encounter, but a very urgent situation has arisen here which compels me to ask for your help. I have just had word that my wife is seriously ill, and I want very badly to get in touch with Brian. I have no idea if Peggy has had any contact with him, by mail or otherwise, but if she has had, and knows his whereabouts, I would be very grateful if she would let me know. The last contact we made with him was from Cape St. Vincent, Portugal, last spring.

I hope you understand that, in light of the unhappiness you have experienced through Peggy's relationship with Brian, I would not trouble you further for anything but a real crisis, in which I am afraid I find myself.

Faithfully,

John Greeve

13 September

Mr. Jared Thomson

19 Chauncey Street

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Dear Jay,

I am writing on the slim chance that Brian may have been in some sort of touch with you and you might be able to help me locate him. I have just learned that his mother is seriously ill, and I know Brian would want to be aware of that. We last made contact with him in Cape St. Vincent, Portugal, late last spring. If you have even a good guess where he can be reached, I would be deeply grateful.

I hope all is well with you and that a glimpse of light is possible between immersions in those daunting theological tomes.

My good wishes,

John Greeve

14 September

MEMO To Phil Upjohn

Director of Studies

Personal and Confidential

Phil-

Just a summary of some of the arrangements we discussed last night:

I can see no major problems resulting from my absence, although my two biggest concerns are Saturday's New Parent Reception and kicking off this BLASTED “Wells/future” study. I am confident that you will greet the new parents charmingly. I wouldn't prepare any remarks—just review the third-form program and maybe a few routines (such as discipline, weekends, etc.) You might introduce them to some of the third-form faculty (the presentable ones). Tell them about Dr. Baxter. Whatever comes to mind. It can be very informal. Kitchen knows about punch, etc.