The Schooldays of Jesus by J. M. Coetzee Read Free Book Online

older?’
    â€˜I don’t know. I don’t yet know what I want to be.’
    â€˜You don’t want to be a fireman or a train driver like other little boys?’
    â€˜No. I wanted to be a lifesaver but they wouldn’t let me.’
    â€˜Who wouldn’t let you?’
    â€˜Simón.’
    â€˜And why is Simón opposed to you being a lifesaver?’
    He, Simón, speaks. ‘I am not opposed to him being a lifesaver. I am not opposed to any of his plans or dreams. As far as I am concerned—his mother may feel differently—he can be a lifesaver or a fireman or a singer or the man in the moon, as he chooses. I do not direct his life, I no longer even pretend to advise him. The truth is, he has tired us out with his wilfulness, his mother and me. He is like a bulldozer. He has flattened us. We have been flattened. We have no more resistance.’
    Inés gapes at him in astonishment. David smiles to himself.
    â€˜What a strange outburst!’ says Valentina. ‘I haven’t heard an outburst like that in years. Have you, Consuelo?’
    â€˜Not in years,’ says Consuelo. ‘Quite dramatic! Thank you, Simón. Now, what do you say to our proposal that young David should be enrolled at the Academy of Dance?’
    â€˜Where is this Academy?’ says Inés.
    â€˜In the city, in the heart of the city, in the same building as the art museum. You would not be able to stay here on the farm, unfortunately. It is too far. The travel would be too much. You would have to find accommodation in the city. But you wouldn’t want to stay on the farm anyway, now that harvest time is over. You would find it too lonely, too boring.’
    â€˜We haven’t found it boring at all,’ says he, Simón. ‘On the contrary, we have flourished. We have enjoyed every minute of our time here. In fact I have come to an agreement with Roberta to help with odd jobs while we stay on in the barracks. There are always odd jobs to be done, even in the off season. Pruning, for example. Cleaning.’
    He looks to Roberta for support. She gazes steadily into the distance.
    â€˜By the barracks you mean the dormitories,’ says Valentina. ‘The dormitories will be closed during the winter, so you can’t stay there. But Roberta can advise you on where to look for lodgings. And if all else fails there is the Asistencia.’
    Inés rises. He follows suit.
    â€˜You haven’t given us your answer,’ says Consuelo. ‘Do you need time to discuss the matter? How do you feel, young man? Wouldn’t you like to go to the Academy of Dance? You would meet other children there.’
    â€˜I want to stay here,’ says the boy. ‘I don’t like dancing.’
    â€˜Unfortunately,’ says señora Valentina, ‘you cannot stay here. Furthermore, since you are very young and have no knowledge of the world, only prejudices, you are in no position to makedecisions about your future. My suggestion’—she reaches out, hooks a finger under his chin, raises his head so that he has to look directly at her—‘my suggestion is that you allow your parents Inés and Simón to discuss our offer, and then conform to whatever decision they reach, in a spirit of filial obedience. Understood?’
    David meets her gaze evenly. ‘What is filial obedience?’ he asks.

CHAPTER 5
    FRONTED BY a long sandstone colonnade, the art museum lies on the north side of the main square in Estrella. As instructed, they pass by the main entrance and make for a narrow doorway on a side street over which there is a sign in florid gold characters— Academia de la Danza— and an arrow pointing to a stairway. They ascend to the second floor, pass through swing doors, and find themselves in a large, well-lit studio, empty save for an upright piano in a corner.
    A woman enters, tall, slim, dressed all in black. ‘Can I help you?’ she