Tutor Forum Icebreaker. Shared.

Introducing Mike Ragan

Mike? Oh yes, I sat next to him at school. I suppose he was pretty good at writing stories. Most of his were read out at the beginning of English lessons by the English teacher Mr Gifford. But he never became a writer or anything like that. Then again, some of the kids in the same class were good at maths but I know of no eminent maths professors who went to Clanceworthy Secondary in the 1970s.

At the start of English lessons it was always the same, you knew whose homework stories had been selected to be read aloud Mr G by the colour and design of the exercise books he had in his hand as we slouched in. The pile changed often, but there were two that always seemed to be there, nestling in his hand - one was covered in pictures of lambs gamboling about in some improbable green field. That one belonged to Poppy Salisbury. The other was a battered looking magnolia thing, distinct only by its blandness. That was Michael's. All the books were covered with wallpaper for their protection but had the unfortunate effect of also showing our parent's taste in 1970's home decor.

For Poppy, it was the lambs (70's sentimental tosh, obviously chosen for her bedroom). For Michael, Mike, it was the magnolia coloured wood chip - cheap, practical. Those two, always there. Dinner money bankers, both. The Superman paper came and went, the psychedelia seventies' gold and orange swirls dropped in and out, even a stately flock deigned the occasional appearance, but always, always, the lambs and the dirty looking magnolia thing.

Poppy went on to become senior features editor of the Manchester Globe and has had several books of short stories published. Michael took a steady job with the civil service. It's interesting that he's showing an interest in writing again. After all these years.

(Bit longer than I had hoped. Sorry.