# The Odd Trick explained — School Stories

> Chapter companion for School Stories by P. G. Wodehouse.

## What happens

Harrison, a student at Merevale's House, habitually uses passive-aggressive tactics to settle scores. After being caught and punished by prefect Tony Graham for a dormitory prank, Harrison retaliates by unfairly umpiring a cricket match, calling Graham's bowling 'no-ball' and denying clear wickets. Later, Harrison oversleeps and, in his rush to chapel, borrows Graham's mackintosh without permission. Graham reclaims it publicly, leaving Harrison exposed in his nightshirt, and he is seen by Merevale and the Headmaster.

## Themes in this chapter

### Trickery and Cunning

Harrison uses deceptive tactics—first a string-and-tin prank, then biased umpiring—to settle scores, but his cunning backfires when he is caught wearing Graham's mackintosh.

### Authority and Rebellion

Harrison rebels against prefect Graham's authority through covert pranks and unfair umpiring, yet ultimately faces consequences from the school authorities.

## Character check-ins

### P. St. H. Harrison

Protagonist of the chapter; orchestrates a prank and later retaliates against Graham by biased umpiring, but ultimately suffers humiliation when his borrowed mackintosh is reclaimed.

### Tony Graham

Prefect in Merevale's House; punishes Harrison for ragging, is victim of Harrison's biased umpiring, and later reclaims his mackintosh, leaving Harrison exposed.

### Scott

School slogger; benefits from Harrison's biased umpiring, scoring heavily, and later discusses the incident with Graham.

### Mr. Merevale

House master; appears at the end with the Headmaster, witnessing Harrison's embarrassing state.

### The Headmaster

Seen with Merevale at the private entrance, observing Harrison in his nightshirt.

## Key lines

> Harrison’s forte was diplomacy. When he forsook the arts of the diplomatist for those of the brigand, he naturally went wrong.

Harrison was best at subtle scheming; when he tried direct confrontation, he failed.

_Highlights Harrison's typical approach and foreshadows his downfall._

> Nemesis, as the poets tell us, though no sprinter, manages, like the celebrated Maisie, to get right there in time.

Retribution may be slow but always arrives eventually.

_Foreshadows Harrison's eventual comeuppance._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/school_stories_se/chapters/the-odd-trick
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/school_stories_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/school_stories_se/chapters