After Manor, I went to Beauchamp Community College, which was slightly better, but not much. I was reasonably good at most subjects, with the exception of French. In our mock exams, I came bottom in the entire year with a whopping 14%. These took place around Christmas, and consequently I was wearing my festive Christmas socks in one of the mocks. At some point, I banged my ankle against the chair leg. The sock started playing Jingle Bells.

To act nonchalantly when your sock is playing Jingle Bells in the middle of an exam is extremely difficult, and the thirty seconds or so for which the tune rang out seemed like an eternity. Of course, to wear musical socks in a situation where there can be no greater social faux pas than to broadcast Jingle Bells was a very stupid thing to do, and I at least learnt not to do something so idiotic ever again.

I got an A for English Language, English Lit, Maths and RE, B for Business Studies and IT, C for Science and D for French and Art. Jon got straight A's.

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