Dempsey, or the Headmaster come to that, were not what they seemed either. And now this strange interaction between George and Bridie, what was that all about? She thought. I wonder if it’s some sort of mini epidemic or is it just me. Perhaps mum’s right, I’m just seeing things that aren’t there. Mind you, Miss Dempsey hasn’t budged from her pre-programmed stereotype one iota. If she’d come down those stairs breathing fire I could justify my suspicions. Oh come on brain, shut up and shut down.
Turning over to switch off her bedside lamp her little alarm clock cast a green glow across the pillow. The two of them tried to stare each other down until Amelia conceded with, “If you bug me in the morning, you’re straight out the window into the river.” And she turned over and reached for sleep.
Chapter Six
Turning over to turn the alarm off in the morning, Amelia felt a stab of pain between her shoulder blades. The clock had a smug look on its face.
“Somebody told you about Horace, didn’t they? Well, enjoy the moment,” she said.
Later, after her early run with Nigel and after her mother was up and about, there was a frantic knocking on the front window. It was Rayn, dressed in a topcoat, gloves and a woollen hat pulled down over her ears.
“Amelia,” she called, “let me in. It’s freezing out here.” She was panting heavily. It had transpired she’d forgotten her school clothes and had left them in Amelia’s bedroom. Amelia did a quick ironing job while Lucy made her some tea and toast, and then insisted that she finish it.
They got on the bus, both laughing. “What happened to you this morning? We waited for you but ended up doing a few laps of the village green,” said Amelia, waiting for her reply.
“Sorry,” said Rayn. “I overslept.”
“That can happen,” said Amelia.
“Not really. The truth is, it was just too cold,” she confessed.
“Don’t tell that to Nigel, he’ll say that’s no excuse at all. He said he would love to have you join us, by the way. First session is in the gym this evening. Okay?”
“Thanks,” said Rayn. “I’m not sure I’m looking forward to it, but thanks.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes as the bus trundled along.
“Oh, look!” said Rayn, pointing out of the window. They were passing the Moonraker; men in yellow jackets, hard hats and wielding chainsaws were stripping the old oak of its branches. It looked like a beached whale being torn apart by scavengers. Amelia felt sick. Both girls were silent for the rest of the journey, each lost in their own thoughts.
At mid-morning break, Amelia received a message telling her to report to the library. She was met by Jenny the librarian, and Miss Collins.
“Ah, Jaxson,” said Miss Collins. “Jenny, would you give us a moment?” Jenny left, looking rather deflated.
Miss Collins seemed very agitated. “I’m afraid I can’t let you have a copy of the professor’s book,” she said.
“Oh?” said Amelia.
“Yes,” she said. Her voice dropped considerably. “It would seem that not only have we lost it, but it’s also been deleted from the computer.”
“That’s okay, Miss Collins. I’ve got the copy you left in my locker,” Amelia reassured her.
“I don’t understand. That wasn’t me. I don’t have a master key.”
“But it was all neatly wrapped and tied with string. I was sure it was you.”
“I assure you it wasn’t. It must have been the professor himself. When was this?” she asked.
“I found it just a few minutes ago, at the start of break.” Amelia answered. Miss Collins thought for a moment and then replied.
“I did speak to him on Friday about you wanting to read it.” She picked up a book from off the desk. “Was it about this size?” she asked, holding it up.
“Oh no, Miss Collins, it’s much bigger than that. It looks about A4 paper size.”
“Ah, it must be the one he’s been working on.” she said. “This is most unusual. I wonder
Turning over to switch off her bedside lamp her little alarm clock cast a green glow across the pillow. The two of them tried to stare each other down until Amelia conceded with, “If you bug me in the morning, you’re straight out the window into the river.” And she turned over and reached for sleep.
Chapter Six
Turning over to turn the alarm off in the morning, Amelia felt a stab of pain between her shoulder blades. The clock had a smug look on its face.
“Somebody told you about Horace, didn’t they? Well, enjoy the moment,” she said.
Later, after her early run with Nigel and after her mother was up and about, there was a frantic knocking on the front window. It was Rayn, dressed in a topcoat, gloves and a woollen hat pulled down over her ears.
“Amelia,” she called, “let me in. It’s freezing out here.” She was panting heavily. It had transpired she’d forgotten her school clothes and had left them in Amelia’s bedroom. Amelia did a quick ironing job while Lucy made her some tea and toast, and then insisted that she finish it.
They got on the bus, both laughing. “What happened to you this morning? We waited for you but ended up doing a few laps of the village green,” said Amelia, waiting for her reply.
“Sorry,” said Rayn. “I overslept.”
“That can happen,” said Amelia.
“Not really. The truth is, it was just too cold,” she confessed.
“Don’t tell that to Nigel, he’ll say that’s no excuse at all. He said he would love to have you join us, by the way. First session is in the gym this evening. Okay?”
“Thanks,” said Rayn. “I’m not sure I’m looking forward to it, but thanks.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes as the bus trundled along.
“Oh, look!” said Rayn, pointing out of the window. They were passing the Moonraker; men in yellow jackets, hard hats and wielding chainsaws were stripping the old oak of its branches. It looked like a beached whale being torn apart by scavengers. Amelia felt sick. Both girls were silent for the rest of the journey, each lost in their own thoughts.
At mid-morning break, Amelia received a message telling her to report to the library. She was met by Jenny the librarian, and Miss Collins.
“Ah, Jaxson,” said Miss Collins. “Jenny, would you give us a moment?” Jenny left, looking rather deflated.
Miss Collins seemed very agitated. “I’m afraid I can’t let you have a copy of the professor’s book,” she said.
“Oh?” said Amelia.
“Yes,” she said. Her voice dropped considerably. “It would seem that not only have we lost it, but it’s also been deleted from the computer.”
“That’s okay, Miss Collins. I’ve got the copy you left in my locker,” Amelia reassured her.
“I don’t understand. That wasn’t me. I don’t have a master key.”
“But it was all neatly wrapped and tied with string. I was sure it was you.”
“I assure you it wasn’t. It must have been the professor himself. When was this?” she asked.
“I found it just a few minutes ago, at the start of break.” Amelia answered. Miss Collins thought for a moment and then replied.
“I did speak to him on Friday about you wanting to read it.” She picked up a book from off the desk. “Was it about this size?” she asked, holding it up.
“Oh no, Miss Collins, it’s much bigger than that. It looks about A4 paper size.”
“Ah, it must be the one he’s been working on.” she said. “This is most unusual. I wonder
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