“Now, my young friend.” Bess sat at the table beside Peter. “Can you remember what we went through last time?”
Peter looked at the open book, the sheets of paper and the pen-and-ink that Bess had placed on the table. “I think so, Mrs Smith.”
“Then let’s learn some more,” Bess said. “Tell me your alphabet.”
Peter sighed and recited the alphabet faltering at the letter R.
“S,” Bess encouraged, “and then T.”
“S, T,” Peter repeated and continued. He grinned when he came to Z.
“You’ve got it!” Bess said and gave him a brief hug. “Well done, Peter!”
“Can I go now, Mrs Smith? Can I read?”
“Not yet.” Bess smiled. “You have only started. There is a whole world waiting for you.” She pulled over the pen-and-ink and paper. “Now you’ll learn to write the letters.”
“Haven’t I learned enough?” P
