Jack Johnstone the staff were not all Scrooges

Mr. Johnstone Confiscate that weapon

Charlie Carson

In the days before the shower hall was constructed, the bath and shower rooms were in the main building, I think on the 2nd floor. The room, as I recall, had about half a dozen shower heads and a couple of bath tubs. Each house was given a day and time when they could use the showers. On one of these evenings I was in the shower room, supervising the process when I became aware that all was not well. I had, as usual, allocated the bath tubs to two of the younger boys, and, whenever I turned my back on them, I heard muffled giggling and scuffles.

It will be remembered that the tubs were by the door into the shower room. These giggles coincided with the entry or exit of boys to and from the room. I kept turning quickly to catch the miscreants in the act but, until the moment that is still engraved on my heart, I saw nothing amiss...until I turned and saw a tableau that shocked and horrified me. As I spun around to look at the two in the bath-tubs, the door opened and in walked, not the next boys to shower, but the Headmaster...Mr. Wheatley...At the same second, Charlie Carson (The younger brother of Edward (Kit) the House Captain), brought a water pistol out of the bath water and squirted at the door opening, hoping to catch the next boys for showers. Both Charlie and I saw that it was "Pinhead" at the same moment and, I'm sure, both our faces registered the horror we felt.

We both awaited the blast which we expected any second. To our great surprise and relief, the Head took out a handkerchief, mopped his expansive forehead, and said, "I think you should confiscate that weapon, Mr. Johnstone." and, after a glance around the shower room, he left...without a smile or further comment. I was sure that I would be called to the office for a dressing down the following day but I heard no more about it. Perhaps Pinhead did have a sense of humour.

The following year Both Charlie and Kit left to join their family in Canada. I have not heard of them since.

Well Jack, did you confiscate the water pistol?

Jacks reply: In reply to your query.."Did I confiscate the gun?" The answer is yes.., The following year, Charlie (The gunman") and his brother Ted (Kit) moved to Canada to rejoin their family and I returned the water pistol to Charlie, just before he left, to help him ward off Cowboys, Indians and other assorted strangers in the Wild West.