I have been a bad sleeper since I was sent to boarding school at the age of nine. One of the first thing I discovered was that we were not Meant to go and pee after Lights Out. It wasn't a School Rule, just Frowned Upon. It drew unwelcome attention to yourself.
I was terrified of needing to pee - so I couldn't relax until I had. I waited until everyone appeared to be sleep, the crept put of the dormitory and along the endless corridor to the lavatories. By the time I got back I sometimes convinced myself I needed to pee again. In one dormitory, I took to peeing out the window, until one night I imagined I heard voices below.
Eventually, I was "caught" on one of my trips to the loo, and given a pot. Soon I learnt how to slither out of the bed, and use the pot without making a tincking sound.
I explained my dilemma to my French and Music teacher. "Le peau sur la pot" he quipped (but getting the words' genders right, even if I haven't here). Later, during a piano lesson, he put his hand on my knee and told me I was a beautiful person, but I don't think it went any further.


