YANNIS (Cretan Saga Book 1) (3 page)

Yiorgo led them to a taverna by the side of a deep pool where they ate a delicious mixture of fish and rice. Yiorgo and Yannis entered into a very quiet conversation over their raki, whilst Maria and Elena discussed bringing up their families and running their homes. Yannis put his head down on his arms and was almost asleep before they noticed him. Shaking him gently, Maria made ready to leave with Elena and her children, leaving the men to talk and drink.

Yannis hardly remembered the walk home. He stumbled along, clutching at his mother’s hand, until he finally tumbled onto the mattress he was to share with Andreas. No sooner had his eyes closed than it was morning. He screwed his eyes up tighter and tried to ignore the light, but it was useless. He squirmed his way out of his bed. Today he had to see a doctor. He had never seen a doctor before in his life. The Widow with her scanty knowledge and common sense was the person he trusted if he were ill. He dressed in clean underclothes as his mother had instructed and went down to the kitchen to wash. Yannis was fascinated by the tap he could turn to get water into a bowl and turned it on and off three times.

‘Haven’t you seen a tap before?’ Annita was gazing at him curiously.

Yannis felt his face redden. ‘No,’ he answered honestly. ‘We have to use the pump in the yard at home.’

Annita raised her eyebrows. ‘Tell me about your farm.’

Yannis sat down at the kitchen table and told her how he helped his father in the fields.

‘Isn’t it boring?’

‘Sometimes,’ admitted Yannis, ‘And it can be cold and wet.’

‘Tell me about your school.’

Without waiting for him to answer she began to tell him how fortunate she was to be able to go to school with Andreas. There were only four other girls in the school and she was the cleverest.

The adults appeared and joined the boys at the table whilst Annita made coffee for them and cut slices of Madeira cake at her mother’s request. Yiorgo consulted his pocket watch and declared the doctor would be open in an hour and he would show them the way. He insisted, winking broadly at Yannis as he did so, that the wind was too strong for him to venture out fishing that day.

Apart from the Red Cross above the doorway there was nothing to distinguish the building from all the other offices and homes along the road. Inside it was cool and bare. A few chairs were placed along a wall for waiting patients to sit and most were already occupied. The waiting people looked at them curiously as they entered and a woman spoke to Maria.

‘Why are you here?’

‘My son,’ explained Maria. ‘He has trouble with his breath sometimes.’

The woman nodded, satisfied. ‘I’ve had a bad throat. The doctor says my tonsils should come out, but at my age…’

She broke off as an inner door opened and a voice called ‘Next.’

She scuttled into the surgery and was lost to their view. Yannis shifted uncomfortably on his seat. He did not want to go to a hospital and have his tonsils out. The other patients began to discuss their various ailments until Yannis began to believe he would catch something very nasty if he stayed much longer. The time dragged as people went in and came out until finally it was Yannis’s turn.

He sat in an upright metal chair whilst the doctor peered down his throat.

‘Nothing there,’ he declared. He looked into Yannis’s eyes and ears, sounded his chest and felt his throat around the lump. ‘Does it hurt when I do this?’

‘No,’ whispered Yannis.

‘Good.’ The Doctor turned to Yannis’s parents. ‘I can find nothing. How long do you say the lump has been there?’

‘Five years, about.’

‘Then forget about it. If it troubles you in the future come and see me again.’

Yannis’s father dug into his pocket for the necessary drachmas. The doctor had said there was nothing wrong. It had been a waste of time and money. The Widow had told them it was a blocked gland. He felt a reluctance to part with the money, which could have been better spent. He handed the coins over and thanked the doctor politely for his time, waiting until he was outside in the street before commenting to his wife on the futility of their visit. Maria did not agree with him.

‘I’m glad we know it’s nothing to worry about. Suppose Yannis had been ill and we hadn’t bothered to take him to a doctor until it was too late? We would never forgive ourselves.’

Grudgingly her husband had to admit she was right.

‘Come,’ she said, slipping her hand through his arm, ‘Let’s go to the church and light a candle to say thank you that Yannis is fit and well.’

Solemnly they entered the church, which was magnificent when compared with the tiny, whitewashed building in their home village. The candle was duly lit and a picture of the Virgin kissed reverently.

‘Now,’ smiled Maria, brightly, ‘Let us go and tell Yiorgo and Elena the news from the doctor, then we should think about leaving.’

Maria shifted herself restlessly. Her husband seemed enthusiastic about her cousin’s proposal that Yannis should live with them and attend the Gymnasium in Aghios Nikolaos, but where would they find the money? Schooling was expensive and the meagre amount she earned from her embroidery would not cover the additional cost to the family. There was also Yannis to think of, would he want to leave his home and live with strangers? What would he do when he finished at the Gymnasium? Would he want to become a shopkeeper as Yiorgo had suggested and marry Annita? Then there were the other two boys to consider. If Yannis went to Aghios Nikolaos to be better educated they should also have the opportunity. She sighed deeply and turned over again, disturbing Yannis as she did so.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘I’m worried about Yannis.’

‘Why? The doctor said he was fit enough.’

Maria sat up and hugged her knees. ‘It’s this idea Yiorgo has about him going to school in Aghios Nikolaos. I’m not sure about it.’

Yannis sighed. He knew from experience that if Maria had something troubling her there would be no sleep for him until he had put her mind at rest. He sat up beside her and placed his arm around her shoulders.

‘We don’t have to make any decision tonight. We need to speak to Father Theodorakis and see what he has to say. There’s no point in sending the boy if he hasn’t got the ability. If Father Theodorakis thinks it’s a good idea, then we’ll speak to Yannis and see how he feels.’

Maria nodded in the darkness. ‘But the money? How are we going to pay?’

‘You don’t need to worry about that. Yiorgo and I have come to an understanding on a business matter. There will be more than enough money from that to cover Yannis’s schooling.’

‘What kind of business?’

‘A contract to send food to the island. Leave it to Yiorgo and myself. We’ll speak to Father Theodorakis tomorrow evening. Now that you’ve thoroughly woken me up, I can think of something that will take your mind off Yannis.’ Her husband reached out an exploratory hand and Maria gave a girlish giggle.

Maria busied herself in the kitchen and by the time her husband entered the house his supper was ready for him. He muttered to himself as he washed and changed into his best suit, then to Maria’s consternation insisted on sitting and smoking a cigarette before strolling leisurely down the road to the church.

Father Theodorakis greeted them with a glass of wine and a considerable amount of curiosity. Maria had asked if they could visit that evening, but had not disclosed the nature of their errand.

‘This is a pleasure,’ he beamed. ‘How can I help you?’

‘It’s about Yannis.’

‘Yannis? I thought you were coming to ask if I had room for Stelios in the school room!’

Maria smiled. ‘Stelios is too young. In another year, maybe.’

‘Is he intelligent? If we sent him to the Gymnasium would he be able to keep up with the work there?’

Father Theodorakis smiled at the anxious father. ‘Yannis is the most intelligent boy I have taught in a long time. With the proper education he could become a school teacher, go into politics, almost anything he had a mind to do.’

Maria settled herself more comfortably in the chair and took a sip from her wine. Yannis shifted uneasily. ‘Are you sure? If he went to the Gymnasium and had his head stuffed full of fancy ideas what happens when he leaves?’

‘If he is successful at the Gymnasium there are scholarships offered for the University in Heraklion, even in Athens. He would have to work hard, but the opportunity would be there.’ Father Theodorakis could not help but think how his estimation would go up in the eyes of the villagers if a pupil of his went on to University.

‘And if he didn’t get a scholarship? If he’s not as clever as you think? He would hardly want to come back here and be a farmer.’

‘Have you asked Yannis what he wants? He might not want to go to the Gymnasium, he might want to be a farmer.’ Father Theodorakis avoided the question.

Yannis shook his head. ‘We wanted to speak to you first.’

Father Theodorakis drained his glass. ‘You speak to Yannis and let me know what decisions you make. I will happily write a recommendation for him.’

Yannis took the empty glass as a signal for them to take their leave. He rose and shook the schoolteacher’s hand. ‘We’ll think about it and let you know within a day or two. There’s just one other thing.’

Father Theodorakis frowned. What else could there be?

‘If Yannis did go to Aghios Nikolaos, there would be a space in your class. I’d like my Maria to get a bit of schooling, just to read a bit and do her numbers.’

Taken unawares Father Theodorakis could think of no good excuse to refuse the request. ‘I suppose I could have her, for a couple of mornings maybe.’

Yannis was sitting at the kitchen table reading when his parents returned. His father looked over his shoulder. ‘What are you reading?’

‘Aristophanes, “The Birds”.’

Yannis nodded. It meant nothing to him. ‘You enjoy reading?’ He could struggle through a newspaper, but he had never attempted to read a book.

‘I love reading. Aristophanes is so clever with words.’

‘What did you think of Aghios Nikolaos when we visited?’

Yannis noted the number of the page and closed the book. It was evident that his father was not going to let him read in peace. ‘I enjoyed it. Everything was so much bigger than here, even the fishing boats were bigger, and the shops, they were marvellous.’

‘Did you like your cousins?’

‘Yes. Andreas was a bit quiet, but I liked him.’

‘And Yiorgo and Elena, did you like them?’

Yannis nodded.

His father seemed at a loss for words, finally he continued, ‘Yannis, what would you like to do when you leave school?’

‘I don’t want to be a fisherman with Uncle Yiorgo,’ his lip trembled. He was going to be sent away to work on his uncle’s boat. ‘Please, Pappa, don’t send me away. I’ll work harder on the farm for you, I promise.’

‘Do you like working on the farm?’

‘Yes, I love it.’

‘Better than reading?’

‘Much better than…’ Yannis voice trailed off and he reddened. ‘No, I love reading best, but I don’t mind working in the fields.’

‘Suppose I said you could leave the village school, what would you say to that?’

Yannis’s face fell. ‘And work in the fields all the time?’ He felt his eyes begin to fill with tears. ‘I don’t want to be a farmer, Pappa, or a fisherman.’

‘What would you like to do?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Would you like to go to the Gymnasium in Aghios Nikolaos? See how you get on, then make up your mind.’

Yannis opened his mouth to reply and no words came.

‘Think about it, let me know tomorrow.’ His father patted him on the shoulder. ‘I’ll let you get back to your reading.’

‘Pappa! There’s nothing I would like more.’ The unshed tears began to spill from Yannis’s eyes. ‘Pappa, do you really mean it?’

Yannis drew out the chair and sat down next to his son. ‘Father Theodorakis says that you are a clever boy, but you’d have to work hard. You could stay with Yiorgo and Elena, you’d have to help Yiorgo on his boat at the weekends, the same as Andreas, but that won’t hurt you. Maybe you could get a job in Aghios Nikolaos when you’ve finished your schooling, in a shop or something.’

Yannis nodded, still hardly daring to believe his father. ‘Would I go to the proper school, with Annita and Andreas? They learn about different countries and things that happened in the past, like the way that Aristophanes lived when he was alive and the great battles that Alexander fought. Annita can add up faster than I can, and she doesn’t use her fingers.’

‘That’s settled then. I’ll ask Father Theodorakis to write you a recommendation. I’ll send a message to Yiorgo at the same time and he can make the arrangements.’

It was June before a reply was received from Aghios Nikolaos. Maria straightened up from her vegetable garden as her cousin shouted to announce his arrival and Stelios was sent running to fetch his father from the fields. Maria fussed around her cousin, longing to know the news he brought with him, but dutifully waiting for her husband to arrive.

The children were sent out into the yard to play and Yannis produced a bottle of raki. ‘Is your visit business or pleasure?’

‘Both,’ smiled Yiorgo and lifted his glass. ‘I have the letter from the Gymnasium offering a place for Yannis. I decided to deliver it myself. Your letter took five weeks to reach me. Takis made three trips to Aghios Nikolaos before he remembered.’

Maria crossed herself. ‘What does it say, Yannis?’

‘I’ll call Yannis. He’ll be able to read it.’

Yannis took the flimsy piece of paper in trembling fingers. His throat felt so dry he could hardly utter the words.

“On the recommendation of Father Theodorakis we will be pleased to offer Yannis Christoforakis, a place at the Gymnasium of Aghios Nikolaos for one year.

At the end of this time, if his results are of a satisfactory standard, he will be eligible to apply to a High School if this is your wish.

If you accept the place offered to him we should point out that suitable accommodation should be found for him in Aghios Nikolaos, as we are a day school only.

All fees are payable termly in advance.