Stephen Buxton had just turned thirteen. He was quite tall for his age and well-built. He had short blond hair and blue eyes. He was wearing a clean white shirt tucked in and his navy school tie with yellow stripes straightly tied. Instead of his usual black school trousers, today he wore a new pair of smart grey flannels, fastened with a black belt. His black shoes were well-polished.
As he was walking to school a girl in his class came up behind him. She was slightly shorter than he was and had long dark hair. She wore a white blouse and a navy skirt.
'Good morning, Mr Buxton,' she said. Stephen blushed. He had called her Miss Pearson before, but she had always called him Stephen until now.
'Good morning, Miss Pearson,' he replied.
'You look very smart today,' she said.
'Thank you,' Stephen replied. He had not overcome his uneasiness, knowing she was looking at him adimringly, as if trying to work out what was different about him.
'Are those new trousers, Mr Buxton?' Rachel asked.
'Yes, Miss Pearson,' Stephen replied.
'They're lovely,' Rachel said. 'I think grey suits you.'
'Thank you.' There was a pause as they walked along tog