School Reunion Year 1 by Laurel Aspen Page A

university, especially since you got there under false pretences.’
    â€˜False pretences?’ replied Penny, puzzled.
    â€˜Indeed so.’ A good few inches taller than her, Nicolas peered sternly down at his former charge. ‘You’ll no doubt recall the quite disproportionate difficulties you had with mathematics?’
    â€˜I did try,’ Penny sulked petulantly, ‘but however much it was explained I just couldn’t retain the basics, and the mere mention of geometry was enough to make me sweat.’
    Her implicit appeal to his sympathy fell on deaf ears. ‘As, I suspect, so will what I have to say next,’ he said.
    Penny stared blankly back at him, anxious and uneasy.
    â€˜In order to get a university place a GCSE pass in maths is a minimum requirement,’ he went on. ‘I not only taught you but also invigilated the exam, during which I saw you copying equations from a concealed scrap of paper. Of course I informed the headmaster.’
    Penny’s throat was dry, her voice almost gone. ‘I wasn’t really cheating,’ she said lamely, ‘I’ve already told you, it was just so hard…’
    â€˜The headmaster,’ continued Mr Knight, ‘was more concerned with exam results and league tables, so I was persuaded, reluctantly, to keep my counsel.’
    â€˜Then it’s all in the past,’ said Penny, with a sigh of relief.
    â€˜Not at all, young lady,’ relied Knight. ‘The old exam papers and invigilator’s notes are kept for ten years. Brought to the attention of your employer, or the university, they might well cause you some embarrassment.’
    â€˜Or get my degree rescinded,’ Penny said heavily.
    â€˜However,’ Mr Knight added brightly, ‘there is an upside to this dilemma. I have the honour of being appointed headmaster of the new school.’
    â€˜You?’ said Penny, incredulously.
    â€˜Don’t look so surprised, my credentials and performance were judged more than up to the task.’
    â€˜Sorry, I didn’t mean to be disrespectful,’ she replied quickly, eyes downcast, no longer the confident young professional but a wayward pupil brought to book.
    â€˜We thus have an ideal opportunity to resolve this disgraceful matter,’ went on Mr Knight. ‘In two days this building will be demolished, so who knows what might fortuitously go astray?’ He raised an eyebrow, significantly.
    Penny forced a desperate smile. ‘Oh, I see.’
    â€˜I very much doubt it,’ Knight responded sarcastically. ‘But now you’re appraised of the alternative, no doubt you’ll cooperate.’
    Penny was acutely aware of being in very deep trouble.
    â€˜I think some form of punishment is appropriate,’ he continued. ‘A short, sharp, retributory shock.’
    â€˜Punishment?’ Penny gasped. ‘But I’m not a pupil here.’
    â€˜I thought you were following my line of reasoning,’ he said sharply. ‘I still have the records.’
    â€˜But that’s blackmail.’
    â€˜Rubbish,’ he snorted. ‘However, if you wish to be pigheaded…’
    â€˜No, no I don’t,’ said Penny, backtracking quickly. ‘I suppose some sort of penance is no more than I deserve.’
    â€˜Excellent. We’ll use the maths room, SC3, on the opposite side of the school… to avoid any inconvenient disturbance.’
    â€˜What sort of… punishment … had you in mind?’ she asked cautiously, barely able to believe what was unfolding.
    â€˜I propose to cane you, Miss Harman,’ he stated with stunning frankness.
    â€˜Cane me?’ Penny was thunderstruck. ‘But th-that’s illegal,’ she stammered.
    â€˜It’s illegal for a teacher to strike a pupil,’ Mr Knight replied reasonably. ‘However, as you yourself so rightly pointed out, you are not a pupil here but an adult, entering into