"This is a roofing square, eighteen inches by twenty-four," he said.

We gathered closer, all trying to look intelligent. He then went on to show us how to use it, without using the roofing tables printed on each side of it.

"Always use the twelve inch mark on this side we call the blade, and the amount of pitch (of the roof) on the adjacent part we call the tongue.  Remember: Half the span of the roof times the rise gives us the cuts of the common rafter."

Then it began to rain.

"Inside!  he shouted.

We all dashed undercover as if we were being attacked. Mr. Dodds continued our first lesson chalking on a piece of plywood. I was captivated. For the first time in my life I was able to grasp clever things.

During the first few weeks, batches of tools began to arrive, with everyone keeping their ear to the ground for the best bargains. Len, one of the apprentice carpenters, was particularly keen to be first down to the office to get the best of what had come in. And sure enough, he was getting together a tidy kit. Well, we had a few comedians among us, and Len was usually the fall guy. The site foreman was a good sport, and quick to size up the situation. Len frequently came back disappointed when they told him they'd run out of double-ended screwdrivers and glass hammers. Until one day, we took him aside and said:

"They must be holding out on you Len if they said they've run out of new skirting ladders. You tell them you want to order one."

After many visits to the office, the foreman began speaking to Len as if he was mentally unhinged. From then on, normal relations between them ceased. Weeks later, as I passed by, Len didn't seem to notice me.

"Who are you staring at Len?"  I asked.

"Him over there", he said, looking puzzled.

"Don't keep watching him, Len," I said, "he might turn funny!"

"He already has, said Len, "he's lost his marbles."

The foreman deliberately avoided Len's gaze, and now behaved condescendingly toward him, which only made matters worse.

- 39 -