Page 81 of Don't Tell Teacher

‘The caretaker thought he saw me with something, didn’t he? Fucking army sergeant Jones. But he got it wrong.’

‘And then what happened?’

‘He tried to put his hands on me. So I went for him – self-defence. And then that fat fucker sat on top of me and called the police. When I get back to school, I’ll kill him. And that pervert policeman.’

Lloyd was sexually abused by a neighbour when he was seven years old while his mother was absent. I imagine being sat on by the caretaker brought back some bad memories.

‘The police say the caretaker saw you with tablets.’

‘If I had tablets, where are they? Search the school, if you want. Search the office. You won’t find anything. Pervert Jones is lying.’

‘Did you hide them somewhere?’

Lloyd raises an eyebrow at me. ‘If I did, I’d be stupid to tell you, wouldn’t I?’

‘The caretaker says your brother was around during the scuffle. They think you gave the tablets to Pauly—’

‘They already searched him!’ Lloyd shouts. ‘Ask him, if you don’t believe me. They never foundnothing. They’re lying.’

‘Pauly plays with Tom Kinnock, doesn’t he?’ I say.

Lloyd stiffens. ‘Who?’

‘Your brother’s friend.’

‘I don’t knowno onecalled Tom.’

‘Well, there’s a Tom in your class, for a start,’ I say. ‘You told me you beat him up once.’

‘I don’t know anyyoungerToms, then.’

‘I’m surprised. You usually get to know your brother’s friends. It’s been a source of trouble before, hasn’t it?’

‘What are you saying?’

‘That you’ve asked Pauly’s friends to carry things, hide things. It wouldn’t be the first time you’d got a younger friend of Pauly’s to look after tablets so you wouldn’t be caught with them.’

‘Prove it.’

I decide to try another line of questioning. ‘Listen, the police are going to ask you this. Did your mum ask you to get medicine for her?’

‘No.’ Lloyd’s eyes become shifty, roaming the bare room.

‘But it’s an obvious link, don’t you think? Your mum has a problem with prescription drugs, and you’re caught breaking into the medicine cabinet. I’m here to help you, Lloyd. And I can only do that if you tell me the truth.’

‘No comment.’

It’s going to be a long night.

Lizzie

Isit up late into the evening holding the tablets, watching the packet turn from yellowy silver to grey shadow as the sun sinks in the sky.

What are they? Where did they come from? What should I do? What should I do?

The thoughts go around and around, unanswered, for hours.

Eventually, I lock the tablets in the medicine box and try to sleep, but can’t. Thoughts continue to whirl.

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