Pierrepont

I have to wonder how things might have turned out had I gone to Pierrepont from the very beginning. Located about sixty miles south of London, with mild winters and warm summers, I'm not sure I could have asked for more. If only I hadn't been destroyed at Portora. If only...

I didn't learn a whole lot at Pierrepont academically, though some things stand out, but learning wasn't exactly a high priority for me at the time. I'd missed out on a lot of life and had catching up to do. Besides, it wasn't like anyone tried to intervene. Oh sure, the reports consistently said I needed to apply myself better, and that I should take to heart all the wonderful advice being offered. Easier said than done. Besides, what advice?

Since Pierrepont ceased to exist in 1992, I was unable to return and walk around and think about the good old days that did or didn't exist. I wanted to, but the school is now run by some religious organization, and I wasn't sure how they'd feel about me just showing up to have a look around.

In June, 2001, I did, however, get the chance to be in Farnham. Prior to my trip I'd been trying to find out what happened to Pierrepont, and wrote to the Farnham Herald. They, in turn, passed the letter along through channels until, finally, it arrived with Mr. Burgess, or Budgie - my housemaster from Waterloo. He wrote to me and explained exactly what had happened.

Before leaving on the trip I'd arranged to meet with Budgie if I could. I drove down from Kent and arrived in Farnham unsure of where exactly to go. I asked an elderly man if he knew Mr. Burgess. He said he was Mr. Burgess. He didn't look at all how I remembered, but who was I to argue. This fellow knew very little about Pierrepont - I thought Budgie had completely lost his mind.

Then the real Budgie appeared and got everything straightened out. Ended up having tea and good conversation, and he told me what really happened the night four Pierrepont students died in a car accident.

I originally described Pierrepont as being a cross between Animal House and a military academy. In reality, it was neither, and yet it was both, too. Just depended on where I chose to blur the lines.

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