Longing, pages 32-41 Summary

One day it is time for the little boy to start proper school. He is walked there by his mother, this time going in the same direction as his brothers. However, school does not seem like the exciting place he thought it would be. The children are lined up in the yard and once again his mother abandons him. His teacher is not nice and encouraging like Mam Salinière, but is strict and cold instead.

The Teacher takes the boys into his classroom and begins to take the register. For most of the frightened boys, simply standing up and saying 'present' is very difficult. To make matters worse, the Teacher mercilessly picks on any boy who does not pronounce 'present' clearly and perfectly, making them repeat it until they get it right. When it is the little boy's...