Chloe Hadjimatheou

the cafe instance. Yeah, we're coming to that. But that's a little over a year after that first interaction with Miss Bowen. So let's jump forward to 1988. Now Gareth's 14. He's in his fourth year at school. That's year 10 in the UK these days or ninth grade in the US. And he's doing pretty well.

the cafe instance. Yeah, we're coming to that. But that's a little over a year after that first interaction with Miss Bowen. So let's jump forward to 1988. Now Gareth's 14. He's in his fourth year at school. That's year 10 in the UK these days or ninth grade in the US. And he's doing pretty well.

At some point that spring term, Miss Bowen starts taking the same bus as Gareth to and from school.

At some point that spring term, Miss Bowen starts taking the same bus as Gareth to and from school.

And soon the conversation moves on to the bus. They're sitting next to each other, Gareth and Miss Bowen. Do you think you'd have been walking to Golders Green Station in the morning or waiting at the bus stop in the evening after school and thinking, I hope she's there?

And soon the conversation moves on to the bus. They're sitting next to each other, Gareth and Miss Bowen. Do you think you'd have been walking to Golders Green Station in the morning or waiting at the bus stop in the evening after school and thinking, I hope she's there?

They talk about all sorts of stuff, like what they got up to on the weekend. He asks her about the other teachers at Christ College. Who out of the men does she fancy? And she tells him. He doesn't remember whether Miss Bowen asked him if he had a girlfriend. He didn't and hadn't ever. At this point, he's briefly kissed a girl once, outside her place on an estate in Hendon, but that's it.

They talk about all sorts of stuff, like what they got up to on the weekend. He asks her about the other teachers at Christ College. Who out of the men does she fancy? And she tells him. He doesn't remember whether Miss Bowen asked him if he had a girlfriend. He didn't and hadn't ever. At this point, he's briefly kissed a girl once, outside her place on an estate in Hendon, but that's it.

That's the extent of his experience with the opposite sex. Do you think at that time, having her give you that kind of level of attention, which was very kind of specific to you on the bus, you're slowly creating a friendship?

That's the extent of his experience with the opposite sex. Do you think at that time, having her give you that kind of level of attention, which was very kind of specific to you on the bus, you're slowly creating a friendship?

Right, so I'm going to need you guys to come a little bit closer. I can't remember how I thought when I was 14, at what point in my development I was. I know I felt very grown up. And although I try, it's really hard to imagine Gareth aged 14. All I see when I look at him is this large, angry man with a deep voice.

Right, so I'm going to need you guys to come a little bit closer. I can't remember how I thought when I was 14, at what point in my development I was. I know I felt very grown up. And although I try, it's really hard to imagine Gareth aged 14. All I see when I look at him is this large, angry man with a deep voice.

I have two boys, but they're much younger. So I ask a friend of mine if I can talk to her 14-year-old son and his friends.

I have two boys, but they're much younger. So I ask a friend of mine if I can talk to her 14-year-old son and his friends.

We meet in a cafe round the corner from their school. It's 3.30 and they're still in their school uniforms. And right away, I'm surprised by how young they look. I'd pictured 14-year-olds as halfway to adulthood. But actually, these guys are still baby-faced, not quite through puberty. Can I ask you something else? Are you all shaving?

We meet in a cafe round the corner from their school. It's 3.30 and they're still in their school uniforms. And right away, I'm surprised by how young they look. I'd pictured 14-year-olds as halfway to adulthood. But actually, these guys are still baby-faced, not quite through puberty. Can I ask you something else? Are you all shaving?

Are you shaving your faces?

Are you shaving your faces?

They do go to the occasional party at friends' houses and there are girls there. But like, so is there ever anybody getting together at these parties?

They do go to the occasional party at friends' houses and there are girls there. But like, so is there ever anybody getting together at these parties?