could hear her championing a ‘tried and tested’ debate: ‘You should be choosing a current and highly contentious issue, not some nice safe topic that’s been discussed to death already!’
‘But the ZOOS one will be much better!’ Sadie spoke up. ‘It won’t be too difficult and it’s a more important topic. I already know loads of arguments and –’
‘Sadie, I want this to be a well researched debate with equal representation for both sides,’ Mrs Smee interrupted impatiently. ‘I do not want it turning into some kind of animal rights presentation!’
Meanwhile, Sean was whispering something to Josh, who seemed to be struggling not to laugh.
Mrs Smee glared at them. ‘Perhaps you’d like to share the joke, boys?’
Sean grinned as he readily complied. ‘I was just telling Josh something I … um … heard about Mr Jamieson. Apparently he’s always going on about how Edinburgh Zoo is the best zoo in the UK , because some ancient relative of his actually founded it.’
Everyone started talking at once then. Most people thought that would make the zoo debate even more entertaining and that we should definitely do it.
‘Though I think Sadie should argue FOR zoos!’ Sean said mischievously. ‘Just to give herself more of a challenge!’
‘I’m NOT arguing for something I don’t believe in!’ Sadie declared hotly. ‘And no way am I going to try and convince people that locking up animals and taking away their freedom is a good thing!’
‘Yes, yes, calm down …’ Mrs Smee was looking at her watch impatiently. ‘I would like six volunteers to make up the two debating teams, please.’ She looked at me expectantly and I swiftly ducked my head.
‘So are we doing the one about zoos or the one about uniforms?’ Anne-Marie asked.
‘I’d like volunteers who are prepared to debate either topic,’ Mrs Smee stated firmly.
Out of the corner of my eye I could see Josh and Sean grinning at each other before raising their hands to volunteer. Anne-Marie volunteered too and so did Sadie. Julia also put her hand up and persuaded Katy to join her. I let out a sigh of relief as Mrs Smee said, ‘That’s six, then. Good. Now I’m going to quickly hand round these worksheets which have some examples of sensible “for” and “against” arguments. Of course, you can also prepare your own.’
‘But these are just arguments for the school uniform debate, Mrs Smee,’ Katy said.
‘Yes, well, quite frankly I can imagine the zoo debate getting rather one-sided.’ She was staring at Sadie as she said that. ‘However, if you wish, we can have a debate about zoos at a later point.’ She handed round the sheets, completely ignoring everyone’s protests.
Sadie looked terribly disappointed and she even stayed behind afterwards to try and convince Mrs Smee to change her mind. I stayed too, but for a different reason. My tummy cramps were back and I felt like I needed to sit down for a minute.
‘Are you all right, Poppy?’ Mrs Smee asked as she noticed me sitting there clutching my abdomen.
‘I’ve got a bit of tummy pain, that’s all,’ I muttered.
‘Sadie – please take Poppy to the medical room,’ she instructed.
‘But –’ Sadie was scowling.
‘It’s OK , Mrs Smee … I can go on my own,’ I said as I stood up quickly.
Unfortunately Mrs Smee insisted – I had a feeling she was only too pleased to get rid of Sadie herself – and my cousin ended up accompanying me, looking extremely cross.
Chapter Fifteen
‘She’s a miserable, dictatorial old bat,’ Sadie spat out as soon as we were no longer close enough to be heard.
‘I think she just wants to play it safe and not offend anyone,’ I said quietly.
She snorted. ‘Can you imagine what those debates in the House of Commons would be like if nobody wanted to offend anyone else?’
I smiled. Now she was starting to sound like my dad.
She turned to me to say something else, but stopped when she saw me hugging my tummy.
‘But the ZOOS one will be much better!’ Sadie spoke up. ‘It won’t be too difficult and it’s a more important topic. I already know loads of arguments and –’
‘Sadie, I want this to be a well researched debate with equal representation for both sides,’ Mrs Smee interrupted impatiently. ‘I do not want it turning into some kind of animal rights presentation!’
Meanwhile, Sean was whispering something to Josh, who seemed to be struggling not to laugh.
Mrs Smee glared at them. ‘Perhaps you’d like to share the joke, boys?’
Sean grinned as he readily complied. ‘I was just telling Josh something I … um … heard about Mr Jamieson. Apparently he’s always going on about how Edinburgh Zoo is the best zoo in the UK , because some ancient relative of his actually founded it.’
Everyone started talking at once then. Most people thought that would make the zoo debate even more entertaining and that we should definitely do it.
‘Though I think Sadie should argue FOR zoos!’ Sean said mischievously. ‘Just to give herself more of a challenge!’
‘I’m NOT arguing for something I don’t believe in!’ Sadie declared hotly. ‘And no way am I going to try and convince people that locking up animals and taking away their freedom is a good thing!’
‘Yes, yes, calm down …’ Mrs Smee was looking at her watch impatiently. ‘I would like six volunteers to make up the two debating teams, please.’ She looked at me expectantly and I swiftly ducked my head.
‘So are we doing the one about zoos or the one about uniforms?’ Anne-Marie asked.
‘I’d like volunteers who are prepared to debate either topic,’ Mrs Smee stated firmly.
Out of the corner of my eye I could see Josh and Sean grinning at each other before raising their hands to volunteer. Anne-Marie volunteered too and so did Sadie. Julia also put her hand up and persuaded Katy to join her. I let out a sigh of relief as Mrs Smee said, ‘That’s six, then. Good. Now I’m going to quickly hand round these worksheets which have some examples of sensible “for” and “against” arguments. Of course, you can also prepare your own.’
‘But these are just arguments for the school uniform debate, Mrs Smee,’ Katy said.
‘Yes, well, quite frankly I can imagine the zoo debate getting rather one-sided.’ She was staring at Sadie as she said that. ‘However, if you wish, we can have a debate about zoos at a later point.’ She handed round the sheets, completely ignoring everyone’s protests.
Sadie looked terribly disappointed and she even stayed behind afterwards to try and convince Mrs Smee to change her mind. I stayed too, but for a different reason. My tummy cramps were back and I felt like I needed to sit down for a minute.
‘Are you all right, Poppy?’ Mrs Smee asked as she noticed me sitting there clutching my abdomen.
‘I’ve got a bit of tummy pain, that’s all,’ I muttered.
‘Sadie – please take Poppy to the medical room,’ she instructed.
‘But –’ Sadie was scowling.
‘It’s OK , Mrs Smee … I can go on my own,’ I said as I stood up quickly.
Unfortunately Mrs Smee insisted – I had a feeling she was only too pleased to get rid of Sadie herself – and my cousin ended up accompanying me, looking extremely cross.
Chapter Fifteen
‘She’s a miserable, dictatorial old bat,’ Sadie spat out as soon as we were no longer close enough to be heard.
‘I think she just wants to play it safe and not offend anyone,’ I said quietly.
She snorted. ‘Can you imagine what those debates in the House of Commons would be like if nobody wanted to offend anyone else?’
I smiled. Now she was starting to sound like my dad.
She turned to me to say something else, but stopped when she saw me hugging my tummy.
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