Lesson73:Therecord-holder
Childrenwhoplaytruantfromschoolareunimaginative.Aquietday'sfishing,oreighthoursinacinemaseeingthesamefilmoverandoveragain,isusuallyasfarastheyget.Theyhaveallbeenputtoshamebyaboywho,whileplayingtruant,travelled1,600miles.HehitchhikedtoDoverand,towardsevening,wentintoaboattofindsomewheretosleep.Whenhewokeupnextmorning,hediscoveredthattheboathad,inthemeantime,travelledtoCalais.Noonenoticedtheboyashecreptoff.Fromthere,hehitchhikedtoParisinalorry.Thedrivergavehimafewbiscuitsandacupofcoffeeandlefthimjustoutsidethecity.ThenextcartheboystoppeddidnottakehimintothecentreofParisashehopeditwould,buttoPerpignanontheFrench-Spanishborder.TherehewaspickedupbyapolicemanandsentbacktoEnglandbythelocalauthorities.Hehassurelysetuparecordforthethousandsofchildrenwhodreamofevadingschool.