Page 82 of A Class Act

‘Oh, God, really?’ Sorrel, on the scrounge for peanut butter, had come round from Mum’s cottage. ‘Please,notthe head teacher.’

‘Robyn fancies him,’ Jess whooped.

‘I do not.’ I found myself flushing.

‘Just listen to the pair of you,’ Sorrel said, shaking her head. ‘You’re like a couple of adolescents. Grow up, would you, and act your age?’

That really set Jess and me laughing, relief that Sorrel appeared, almost overnight, to have had a bit of a reality check. I think she knew the situation she’d got herself into and, seeing this, Jess suddenly turned from her mixing bowl and demanded, ‘Sorrel, why in God’s name did youkeep ongoing to his apartment? You’re not daft, you must have known he had ulterior motives – apart from to make you “a star”?’ She air-quoted the words irritably.

‘He said if I didn’t keep on coming, I’dneverbe any good,’ Sorrel replied. She hesitated and then went on, ‘But I was worried about Joel too.’

‘Joel?’ I asked, frowning. ‘Joel Sinclair’s big enough and daft enough to take care of himself.’

‘He’s not actually. He’s a very sensitive person under all that Mr Big bravado.’

I wanted to smile at that: Sorrel being aware of how another kid was actually feeling under all the hard exterior he had to portray to keep at the top of his game was heart-warming. ‘And?’ I now asked gently.

‘And what?’

‘Why were you worried?’

‘Peter said I had to do as he instructed or he’d tell school and the police about Joel being a drug dealer and a gang member. He’s already on a referral order from court.’

‘Well, that’s utter rubbish for a start.’ Jess tutted. ‘Peter Collinson would be in just the same shit as Joel. More so actually. Joel’s selling, probably been groomed and at the hands of whoever’s gang he’s got himself involved in. He’s a minor, he’s vulnerable, the courts would take a view?—’

‘Yes, and the gang would takeanother view,’ Sorrel snapped. ‘You live in a cosy world, Jess, where the police and authorities will protect you from your dad’s druggy mates…’

‘OK, OK!’ Jess put up her hands. ‘You obviously know more about it all than Robyn and me. But, as far as I can see, that slimy Peter Pervert wasbuyingdrugs,usingdrugs and having kids in his apartment for ulterior motives. When are you going to the police about him, Robyn?’

I glanced across at Sorrel. We’d already discussed this, and she’d been quite adamant she didn’t want me to even though earlier she’d agreed we should. I’d argued that he needed stopping, he’d just move on to groom and hurt other children, some, as I’d been, too young, scared and without the understanding of what was really happening to do anything about it. I determined I was going to discuss what to do with Mason. ‘It’s in hand,’ I said and then, changing the subject, asked, ‘And do you like Joel, Sorrel?’

‘He’s my mate,’ she replied.

‘Mr Donoghue will be able to help him…’ I started.

Sorrel pulled a face as she spooned peanut butter straight from the jar into her mouth. ‘Really?’ Her voice and face held nothing but cynicism. ‘He’s a head teacher! Ms Liversedge at Beddingfield High did nothing to help me when I was being bullied. Anyway, he’s old.’

‘Oy, use a knife and spread it on some bread.’ I passed a loaf of Jess’s home-made sourdough in her direction. ‘Old? What’s that got to do with it? Anyway, he’s only mid-thirties,’ I protested. ‘I asked him – wanted to know how he’d made head teacher at his age. And he told me how old he was then.’

‘Put the head teacher down, Robyn.’ Sorrel grinned through a mouthful of bread. ‘Stand away from the head teacher.’

That made me laugh.

‘D’youreallyfancy him?’ Sorrel went on. ‘Half the teachers at St Mede’s do. Even the men: I see how they look at him in assembly. Like he’s a god or something.’

‘Since when have you ever made it to assembly?’ Jess asked.

‘I have, haven’t I, Robyn?’ Sorrel was indignant. ‘I’ve only bunked off a couple. I like his assemblies.’ She swallowed and made to cut another slice of bread and then stopped. ‘D’you think Mum’ll be OK?’ she suddenly blurted out. ‘It makes me really nervous, watching her, just waiting to see if she’s about to have another attack. I feel panicky. I don’t know what to do if she has one and has a fit or passes out.’

‘Have a chat with Mr Spencer about it, Sorrel. Come with me now to pick her up.’

‘OK.’

‘Really?’ Jess and I both turned in her direction.

‘Stop looking at me,’ she ordered, ‘like I’m some strange specimen.’

‘There’s no way Matt Spencer will come to eat with us,’ Jess said, almost sadly. ‘He’s probably got a wife and four kids at home.’

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