up on holiday gossip instead of settling down to work , but many of them had taken to heart what Adam had said about sex and boys, and there was less bragging about sexual conquests.
In the staffroom they were sharing holiday photographs, most of them family pictures taken round groaning Christmas tables, or bundled under layers of clothing as they ventured out for walks in the light sprinkling of snow they’d had on Christmas day. Except for Kate O’Brien and her husband who had gone to Italy for a second honeymoon, which had elicited a few knowing winks and hints of babies that Kate had quickly dispelled with, “We want a house before a baby.”
Adam , however, had returned with a deepened tan and his brown hair a sun-kissed shade lighter. “What about your photographs?” said Barbara Crook.
“Yes, we could do to see a bit of sunshine,” agreed Lauren Mathews , glancing out of the window at the slate sky.
“You must have taken some photographs,” urged Lisa.
“We did take a few to send to Nicole,” Adam said, reluctantly opening his laptop. They crowded round with jealous ‘oohs’ as Adam revealed a picture of Polly and Jack lounging next to the shimmering palm-fringed swimming pool with the ocean as a back-drop. “My in-laws,” said Adam. The next one showed Adam and another man, both bare-chested and in shorts, posing on a yacht beneath a brilliant blue sky.
“Who’s the hunk?’ asked Barbara Crook.
“My brother-in-law,” said Adam. “We jointly own the yacht. He’s been looking after it while I’ve been away.”
The third picture had been taken on the beach with Adam emerging from the crashing waves a surfboard under one arm and the other around an attractive bikini-clad girl who was laughing up at him.
“That’s the beach that fronts our home,” he said. “I must say it felt good to be back in the surf and to feel the sand under my bare feet.”
When he didn’t offer a further explanation Lauren Mathews ventured, “Is that your girlfriend?”
He laughed. “No. It’s my youngest sister , Robyn. She’s the same age as Nicole and they made a terrible twosome when they got together as teenagers,” he added, snapping the laptop shut.
“ We can’t compete with that. You’ve made us all jealous,” sighed Lauren Mathews.
“I can’t understand why you’d want to come back,” said Jenna Murray , haughtily.
“I have my reasons,” said Adam quietly.
During the next few days the school settled back into a routine. On the following Monday Neil phoned Lisa to say he would be late so Adam offered to give her a lift home. He was driving slowly through the throng of girls spilling out of the gates when he brought the Jeep to a sudden stop. Before Lisa could ask any questions he leapt out and strode hurriedly towards a boy who was in an intimate conversation with a redheaded senior girl. Suddenly grabbing the boy’s lapels he threw him up against the fence. “Empty your pockets,” he demanded. When the boy didn’t immediately respond Adam gripped him even harder, almost lifting him off his feet. “I said, empty your pockets!” He turned to the girl, “You. What’s your name?”
“ SssSandra Atkins, Ssir,” she stuttered.
“Be outside my office first thing in the morning. Do you understand?” She nodded, her eyes wide with fright.
The boy began emptying his pockets, but he was taking his time and a crowd was gathering. Adam put his hand in the boy’s blazer pocket and found what he was looking for – several small packets of tablets. “Aspirin, I suppose,” he said, transferring the packets to his own pocket. “What’s your name, boy?”
“Danny Jackson.”
“Danny Jackson – what!”
“Danny Jackson, Sir.”
Adam took out his phone and punched in a number with his thumb and waited for the call to be answered. “Don, I have one of your boys here. Danny Jackson. I think you should deal with this. I’m outside the school gates. OK. Five
In the staffroom they were sharing holiday photographs, most of them family pictures taken round groaning Christmas tables, or bundled under layers of clothing as they ventured out for walks in the light sprinkling of snow they’d had on Christmas day. Except for Kate O’Brien and her husband who had gone to Italy for a second honeymoon, which had elicited a few knowing winks and hints of babies that Kate had quickly dispelled with, “We want a house before a baby.”
Adam , however, had returned with a deepened tan and his brown hair a sun-kissed shade lighter. “What about your photographs?” said Barbara Crook.
“Yes, we could do to see a bit of sunshine,” agreed Lauren Mathews , glancing out of the window at the slate sky.
“You must have taken some photographs,” urged Lisa.
“We did take a few to send to Nicole,” Adam said, reluctantly opening his laptop. They crowded round with jealous ‘oohs’ as Adam revealed a picture of Polly and Jack lounging next to the shimmering palm-fringed swimming pool with the ocean as a back-drop. “My in-laws,” said Adam. The next one showed Adam and another man, both bare-chested and in shorts, posing on a yacht beneath a brilliant blue sky.
“Who’s the hunk?’ asked Barbara Crook.
“My brother-in-law,” said Adam. “We jointly own the yacht. He’s been looking after it while I’ve been away.”
The third picture had been taken on the beach with Adam emerging from the crashing waves a surfboard under one arm and the other around an attractive bikini-clad girl who was laughing up at him.
“That’s the beach that fronts our home,” he said. “I must say it felt good to be back in the surf and to feel the sand under my bare feet.”
When he didn’t offer a further explanation Lauren Mathews ventured, “Is that your girlfriend?”
He laughed. “No. It’s my youngest sister , Robyn. She’s the same age as Nicole and they made a terrible twosome when they got together as teenagers,” he added, snapping the laptop shut.
“ We can’t compete with that. You’ve made us all jealous,” sighed Lauren Mathews.
“I can’t understand why you’d want to come back,” said Jenna Murray , haughtily.
“I have my reasons,” said Adam quietly.
During the next few days the school settled back into a routine. On the following Monday Neil phoned Lisa to say he would be late so Adam offered to give her a lift home. He was driving slowly through the throng of girls spilling out of the gates when he brought the Jeep to a sudden stop. Before Lisa could ask any questions he leapt out and strode hurriedly towards a boy who was in an intimate conversation with a redheaded senior girl. Suddenly grabbing the boy’s lapels he threw him up against the fence. “Empty your pockets,” he demanded. When the boy didn’t immediately respond Adam gripped him even harder, almost lifting him off his feet. “I said, empty your pockets!” He turned to the girl, “You. What’s your name?”
“ SssSandra Atkins, Ssir,” she stuttered.
“Be outside my office first thing in the morning. Do you understand?” She nodded, her eyes wide with fright.
The boy began emptying his pockets, but he was taking his time and a crowd was gathering. Adam put his hand in the boy’s blazer pocket and found what he was looking for – several small packets of tablets. “Aspirin, I suppose,” he said, transferring the packets to his own pocket. “What’s your name, boy?”
“Danny Jackson.”
“Danny Jackson – what!”
“Danny Jackson, Sir.”
Adam took out his phone and punched in a number with his thumb and waited for the call to be answered. “Don, I have one of your boys here. Danny Jackson. I think you should deal with this. I’m outside the school gates. OK. Five
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