“How was school today?” his mother asked when he returned home.
“Have you heard?” he asked.
“Heard what?”
“About the changes to the school uniform rules?” he said. His mother shook her head. “Well… we can wear shorts from the beginning of next term…”
“That’s wonderful.” his mother exclaimed. “I told you that it’s worth standing up for what you believe in.” she smiled. But noticing her son’s total lack of enthusiasm, said. “That’s good news isn’t it?”
“Not really.” he moaned before informing her that they won’t be allowed to wear long pants any more. “Not even in winter!” he whined.
“I see.” his mother cautiously replied. “Well… they do say be careful what you wish for.”
He raised an eyebrow at his mother and slumped onto a chair, arranging his skirt on his lap as he did so. “I wouldn’t mind but I wasn’t that bothered about wearing shorts. It was your idea that I got involved.”
“And it was you who chose to continue the protest.” she said. “I only expected it to last for one day.”
“So did I.” he muttered. “It was the others who pestered me into carrying on.”
“And what do they think of the new rule?” his mother asked.
“They think we’ve been had.” he replied. “And we have. Even the girls are annoyed with us.”
“Because they can’t wear long trousers either?” she asked. Her son nodded, slumped into his fist and sighed through his nostrils. “It’s gonna be freezing in winter.” he grumbled. “It’s not gonna be that warm in September.” he added.
“So… what are they like?” his mother asked.
He shrugged and said he wasn’t sure. “It’s on the school website apparently.”
“Oh, I’ll have a look later.” she said.
“Aren’t you bothered by it?” he asked. “Don’t you think it’s unfair?” he quizzed. “We wanted the right to wear shorts, not to have our right to wear long pants taken away!” he claimed.
“Well you could always boycott the shorts… no one’s making you wear them.”
“What… and wear this instead?” he retorted, sneering at his skirt.
“Well you’ve been wearing it quite happily so far.” his mother reminded him.
‘Quite happily’ is something of an over exaggeration. Toby’s been more than willing to wear his skirt but only for the cause he’d been swept along with. Not wearing it would have let the others down. “I’ll be wearing my trousers tomorrow.” he grumbled. “…and everyday after that whilst I still can.”
“It’s entirely up to you love.” his mother replied. “Have you got any homework?”
“Yeah.” he replied.
“Well… you get on with that, then you can get changed.” she told him. “And pull your socks up, you know I don’t like it when they’re wonky.”