School – Nicholas Walker

Autobiography of a Short, Fat, Ugly Man: The Making of an Author

Nicholas Walker — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 00:23:31 +0000

I remember another incident much later on with Mr Griffiths. I sort of invented skiving off in about the third year but right back in the first year I stopped going to Geography. I hadn’t done a project as it was homework so as the teacher was very scary I hid in the toilets then I didn’t like to go back the following lesson and the more I stayed away the more the consequences piled up so the more I stayed away. I stayed away until the Fifth Form and then tragedy happened, Mrs Dark the teacher I was staying away from was tasked to write a report on me. She professed to having no idea who I was and I received the long awaited summons to Mr Griffith’s study. He was standing there reading the report with a stunned expression on his face. ‘Walker,’ he said and now I knew I was in real trouble if he was calling me Walker. ‘Good Morning sir, and isn’t it a lovely one?’ I tried. He gave me a look. ‘You have been cutting Mrs Dark’s Geography lessons since the first year, correct?’ ‘Spot on, sir,’ said I with nothing to lose. ‘I see. Well, as far as I can work out that means you have cut somewhere in the region of 348 lessons, yes?’ ‘I can’t really help you there sir, I’m not very good at maths.’ I thought it better not to tell him I had recently been cutting Maths lessons as well. ‘Well, Nicknack…Walker,’ he said clutching at his forehead, ‘this leaves me with a bit of a problem. You see if a pupil cuts one lesson, they are made to copy up the whole lesson during detention.’ ‘Seems fair enough to me, sir.’ ‘Nicknack, shut up!’ he shouted losing it. He took a deep breath to bring himself back under control and after a minute continued in a more level tone, ‘For two lessons they are given the cane. For three they are put on home report.’ He lost it and started to dance around at this point, ‘I don’t know what the hell I am supposed to do about 348!!!’ I couldn’t think of anything to say that would improve the situation at this point. Now he seemed to have some sort of stroke and I watched him anxiously as he leaned over his desk fighting for breath, after all he wasn’t getting any younger. Gradually his bright red colour faded and he raised a trembling hand and pointed it at the door: ‘Go away you horrible boy!’ Like I said we all liked Mr Griffiths!

Autobiography of a Short, Fat, Ugly Man: The Making of an Author!

Nicholas Walker — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 01:36:13 +0000

Dancing With the Enemy

Nicholas Walker — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 02:14:34 +0000

The breathing had been going on for some time but Rex hadn't noticed. Suddenly it got to him and his head snapped round, two yellow eyes glared in the light of the torch. The Alsatian stood watching him, looking huge in the moonlight that came shining through the skylight above. The dog was puzzled, not sure what to do. This human was dressed in black, like most of its masters, and was casually helping itself to the tins. The Alsatian put its head on one side trying to make up its mind whether to growl or whether to wag its tail. Rex knew exactly what to do, he must walk confidently up to the dog and pat it on its head. But Rex had always been wary of dogs. He exploded back off up the aisle like a sprinter leaving his blocks and of course the dog went after him, moving twice as fast. The dog nearly had him but Rex hurled himself around the end of the aisle and the dogs paws skittered on the wooden flooring, then it regained its balance and was right after him again. Rex made a despairing leap for the wall bars and the dog made a despairing leap for Rex. Both just made it. The dog's terrible jaws closed on Rex's trailing forearm like a vice. He gasped and wrapped his other arm and both legs around the bars to stop himself being pulled off again. 'Aaah!!!' Rex tried to scream quietly. The dog was nearly off the floor, its whole weight on Rex who clung on even more desperately, if the dog got him onto the floor he was finished. The only thing going for him was that the dog couldn't bark, its mouth was too full of Rex. 'Aaah!' Rex groaned again. The dog's teeth were going right through his battle-dress top and into his arm. The dog couldn't do much either so it contented itself with clenching its jaws every few seconds, drawing gasps of pain from Rex each time it did so: 'Ah! Ah! Ah! Aaah!' Then Sue was there, hanging on the wall bars right beside him. Rex couldn't speak, he could hardly see her through a mask of pain. He was totally fixated on hanging on to the bars. Sue tried kicking at the dog but all it did was growl at her. She gave up, wondering what to do. Then she shivered, she knew exactly what she had to do. Sue took a deep breath and dropped to the floor right behind the dog and that did it! The dog whirled at her, but Sue had just enough time and she scrambled frantically up the bars, snatching her legs out of the reach of the horrible teeth, just in time. 'Rex ... Rex! Climb!' she hissed, dangling a foot just out of the dog's reach to keep it there. And somehow through the pain Rex heard and started to inch upwards. Now the dog started to bark, low baying howls, but so loud in that silent gym. The noise spurred Rex on and up and then at last Sue was helping him ease out of the skylight onto the roof. 'Quiet!' she rapped. 'Keep still. The guard's come to see what's wrong with the damn dog.' Rex bit his lip. Sue hung her head back through the skylight. Below the guard was grumbling at the dog. He hadn't put the lights on, at first Sue was surprised but then she realised it was because he was afraid of the RAF. The guard was having a good look round by torchlight, but torchlight was quite good enough to show up the blood Rex had left on the wall bars. Sue waited, hardly breathing. The guard stamped around then at last he said something savage to the dog and Sue heard the door bang behind him. 'Okay Rex, he's gone,' she said, gently helping him to sit upright. 'Is it just your arm?' 'Just,' groaned Rex. Very carefully he was easing his sleeve upwards, gasping as it pulled away from the wound. Blood was everywhere, the dog's teeth had made a real mess of him. 'Hm, there's no spurting,' said Sue. 'It missed your artery ... you're lucky.' 'Yeah, I feel lucky,' he groaned. 'Now tell this lucky chap how he's supposed to climb down a blasted rope.'

Kisses in the Dark

Nicholas Walker — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 01:43:12 +0000

'Hell, I only asked for a dance,' said Hilbert. 'Anyway, why can't we?' 'Oh Kaffir,' she sighed. It was a rejection but her eyes were shining at the music and almost unconsciously her body had started to sway to its surging beat. 'Get your hands off her!' Suddenly Hilbert was pushed savagely aside as Akkal Ali from year 12 came bursting out of the crowd of dancers. 'Hey, what is this?' demanded Hilbert. 'What's it got to do with you?' 'She's my sister!' 'What?' Hilbert turned back to Shamira. 'Is this another one of yours?' 'I said keep your hands off her!' Akkal gave him another push. 'And you keep your hands to yourself,' said Hilbert getting cross. 'I was only asking her for a dance.' 'She does not want to dance with you!' Akkal turned to his sister. 'You, go home, now!' 'Don't you give me orders,' she snapped back. 'I said go home!' 'You go home! I'll do what I want!' Shamira's eyes blazed. 'No one asked you to interfere, I'm going to have a dance with Hilbert.' 'You are not!' Akkal grabbed her by the wrist. 'Here, steady on now,' Hilbert said, pushing between them. 'There's no need for this.' But the bigger year 12 boy turned and unleashed a punch with his free hand that just caught Hilbert and deposited him on his back on the dance floor. But it seemed the quietest spot to be. The lights had come on and the music had stopped and everyone else in the room was shouting at the top of their voices. Godfrey had taken a flying leap from the stage and now had Akkal in a stranglehold while Shamira still shouted at him. The four teachers were all shouting only no one was paying them any attention, and Rayhima had appeared and was trying to get Shamira away from her brother. There came a lull and Mr Rudge was there. He quietly got Godfrey to let go of Akkal before he choked and Akkal immediately turned back on his sister. But she obviously didn't need any help from anyone for she let loose a slap that rang round the room and effortlessly shut everybody up. 'You sod!' she said in the sudden silence. 'Why don't you stay out of my life, all of you!' She was so angry she was almost crying. 'Hilbert was only talking to me.' She went over to Hilbert who was still sitting on the floor, feeling along his teeth to see if they were all still there. 'I'm sorry,' she said quietly. 'Are you alright?' 'Me? Oh fine,' he said. 'I'm getting quite used to it. I get attacked at least once a day by one of your family.' 'Let me help you up.' 'No ta! I'll stay down a bit thanks,' he said. 'Just in case you've got any more brothers hanging around.' She very nearly smiled but she was still too upset. She bent down so no one else could hear her. 'I really am sorry,' she said. 'Look, I'd better go or there will only be more trouble.' 'Yeah,' he said, finally getting shakily to his feet. 'Look, do you think you could do me a favour?' 'What?' 'Will you stop calling me Hilbert?'

Black Belt

Nicholas Walker — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 00:35:59 +0000

William swept his arm down and Jaimey went with it. She came screaming across the floor, leapt into the air and delivered a punch that deposited Terry flat on his back. ‘Now this is no time to have a lie down,’ Jaimey said. ‘What the hell do you think you’re playing at?’ William demanded. Terry was getting to his feet, blood pouring from his nose. ‘C’mon guv, I was just showing them how to score.’ ‘That’s not how to score and a blue belt should know that, you’d be disqualified anywhere for lack of control.’ Jaimey turned two huge brown eyes on William. ‘Honest guv, he ran onto it,’ she said innocently. ‘He must be Usain Bloody Bolt then,’ William said. He tried to examine Terry’s nose but the green belt shook his head and disappeared into the changing rooms. Sensei was still leaning on the wall, watching. William pointed a finger at Jaimey. ‘You: fifty push-ups,’ he said. ‘Without the gloves!’ Jaimey regarded him for a long moment. Everybody fell silent, feeling the clash of wills. A black belt carries authority and this was normal club discipline but, after all, it was William’s first night. At last Jaimey put her head on one side and smiled. ‘I can tell we’re going to get on,’ she said. Then, tossing her gloves into the corner, she started doing push-ups. Sensei smiled and wandered away. William started another two fighters, then Jaimey was standing at his side. ‘Fifty, guv,’ she saluted him. ‘The name’s William.’ ‘Righto guv, I’ll make a note of it.’ ‘You do go to school, don’t you?’ William asked. ‘On and off.’ She grinned. ‘And at this school do they teach Maths?’ ‘You know, I’ll bet you’re going to come to the point in a minute,’ she said brightly. ‘That was thirty eight, not fifty.’ ‘Sorry, anything above ten and I run out of fingers.’ ‘Well, if it’s all you can manage…’ he let the statement hang in the air. Immediately Jaimey got down onto her hands. ‘I can do push-ups faster than anyone else in this club,’ she said. ‘You count.’ William dropped down beside her. ‘No,’ he said, ‘you count.’ The whole dojo had stopped to watch by now. Jaimey started off pumping vigorously but William waited until she had reached twenty five before he started. She had just reached forty eight when he finished his fifty and spun effortlessly to his feet. Jaimey sat on the floor, red-faced and gasping for breath. ‘Now I’m going to try very hard,’ she panted, ‘but I don’t think I’m going to like you.’

Oliver

Nicholas Walker — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 00:27:47 +0000

Leonie lay in the bushes waiting until Dee had walked the soldier off, then she dashed across the road, ducked under the barrier and hurried up the driveway. The main doors of the Institute were locked but Oliver had told her where to go. The fire escape ran right up the side of the building and she went up it to the fourth floor. She carefully tried the fire door but of course it was locked. Leonie stared along the row of windows. Oliver’s was the fifth one and by this time he should be hanging out waiting for her but everything was still in darkness. She put a finger in each corner of her mouth and gave a whistle. It was the fifth whistle before the light went on and Oliver slid open the window and looked out blinking blearily at her. ‘Sorry, I fell asleep,’ he called quietly to her. ‘Fell asleep?’ she demanded. ‘Look, I’m sorry to keep you up, I’m sure.’ ‘Don’t go on,’ he said, ‘and shut up a bit I’ve got to concentrate.’ Leonie sighed and leaned back against the wall so as not to distract him. ‘I wonder if the Scarlet Pimpernel had this trouble?’ she muttered. Oliver was staring intently at the fire door. Nothing seemed to be happening and nothing went on happening for some minutes. At last Leonie grew fed up with waiting. ‘What are you playing at?’ she demanded. Oliver shook his head, ‘Sorry, I can’t seem to feel the lock,’ he said. ‘Hang about I’ll put the light off, that sometimes helps.’ He disappeared back into the room. ‘The first time he’s going to do something useful with his head and it doesn’t work,’ she said to herself. Oliver returned and sank back into a reverie studying the fire door even more intently. Then suddenly his eyes blazed and she heard the electric lock in the door stir. Leonie gave the door a push and she was inside and seconds later she was in Oliver’s room. ‘Anybody about?’ she mouthed, remembering the bugs. He shook his head, ‘Remember only five seconds,’ he said in her ear, ‘anymore and someone might come and investigate.’ She nodded and handed him a torch then crept off up the corridor. Only once did she see anyone, a man in a white coat, but she ducked into a doorway and he disappeared into one of the rooms without noticing her. Finally she found what she was looking for, a cupboard containing the knock out switches for that floor. She found the one for Oliver’s corridor, flicked it off for the count of five then put it back on again. When she got back to the fire door Oliver was already waiting for her. ‘Thanks,’ he said giving her a quick kiss. ‘Hey, it was more trouble than that,’ she said indignantly. She pulled his head down and this time he kissed her properly. She crinkled her eyes up at him when he finally released her. ‘I was scared to death you’d be electrocuted or something when you stepped through the doorway,’ she said. ‘So was I,’ he admitted. ‘I wasn’t sure it was on the same power circuit. Thanks kid.’

The Autobiography of a Short, Fat, Ugly Man: The Making of an Author

Nicholas Walker — Sun, 30 Aug 2020 01:17:26 +0000

Kissing on Ice

Nicholas Walker — Sat, 29 Aug 2020 01:03:42 +0000

The gripping story of the four fanatical ice dancers continues taking us right up into the highest levels of the sport. Samantha is still banned from the Olympics while Benjamin and Belinda seem to be headed straight for the Gold but things start to unravel. Frustrated from her ambition Samantha turns back to dance and Alex loses his love for the ice and unbelievably it seems that the pair are on the verge of quitting, will they even remain together if they no longer skate together? Then out of the blue the world is stunned when Belinda fails a drugs test and it seems that the UK will be heading towards the most important Winter Olympics ever without any serious contenders. This, the seventh in this best-selling series, rips the top off the world of Ice Skating to reveal all the heartbreak and hard work that lies beneath and shows just what these youngsters have to go through every day of their lives for that magic four minutes out on the ice.

Skating on Thin Ice

Nicholas Walker — Sat, 29 Aug 2020 00:55:13 +0000

This is the follow up to The Ice Mountain when Benjamin and Belinda first skated together before they were World Champions in the Crackling Ice series. The two are working towards their first serious competition but the tremendous workload starts to impact on their schoolwork and both are threatened with suspension. But even more of a problem arises as they are becoming more and more fond of one another and this leads to jealousies between them and after an argument Belinda goes with Benjamin’s best friend to the school disco. Benjamin retaliates by taking Belinda’s friend and they have a massive fight and agree to look for new partners after the competition. Then Benjamin has a bad fall and is unable to skate and Belinda starts dancing with another boy. Can they bring it all together before the competition or will they split up forever? This exciting novels rips aside the glamour of the Ice Dancing world and reveals all the hard work and tears and the tremendous pressures these children live under every day of their lives!

The Ice Mountain

Nicholas Walker — Sat, 29 Aug 2020 00:45:36 +0000

Benjamin and Belinda are in the same class at school when suddenly they are thrown together as Ice Dance partners and all the classroom politics go flying out of the window. As they skate in secret from their classmates their developing relationship on the ice brings them into massive conflicts: I don’t care if you hate each other’s guts in school … out there on that ice you have to love one other! Benjamin and Belinda became famous in the Crackling Ice series and this is their very first outing! An exciting and heart-warming book.