Daddy’s Little Princess and Will You Love Me 2-in-1 Collection. Cathy Glass

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СКАЧАТЬ slightly nervous and apprehensive about approaching Miss Willow and kept running through what I wanted to say. The school secretary-cum-receptionist was in the office and said good morning. I asked her if it was possible for me to speak with Miss Willow and she glanced at the wall clock.

      ‘Just a quick word,’ I added.

      ‘I should think so,’ she said. ‘She’s usually in her classroom at this time. Go on up. You know where it is.’

      ‘Thank you.’

      I took Paula’s hand and headed for the staircase to the first floor, aware that parents (and carers) were asked to make appointments to see teachers rather than just turning up, but I hadn’t wanted to leave this any longer. I hoped Miss Willow would understand. On the landing I saw the door to Miss Willow’s classroom was open and as we approached I could see her standing at the front of the room writing on a wall chart. She looked up. ‘Hello. How are you both?’ she said, slightly surprised. ‘Have you come to see me?’

      ‘Yes, please, if you can spare five minutes.’

      ‘Certainly. Come in.’

      She put down the marker pen she’d been using to write on the chart and drew out three children’s chairs from under the front table. We sat down.

      ‘I won’t keep you long,’ I said. ‘I know how busy you must be, but I need to talk to you about something quite urgent.’ Her face immediately grew serious. ‘I thought you should know that some of the children in the class have been calling Beth’s father names.’

      ‘What!’ Miss Willow said, horrified. ‘What sort of names? I certainly wasn’t aware of this.’

      ‘It seems that some of the children have been calling her father “a nutter” and similar derogatory names. One child said it to Beth, and some others have been saying it behind her back.’

      ‘That’s dreadful,’ Miss Willow said, truly appalled. ‘Who is responsible?’

      ‘Beth doesn’t want to get anyone into trouble,’ I said. ‘And there is more than one person involved.’

      Miss Willow shook her head. ‘I’m so sorry. I’ll deal with it immediately. I really had no idea this was going on. Poor Beth.’

      ‘Thank you. I was wondering if perhaps you could speak to the whole class? Perhaps about name calling in general and how hurtful it can be, rather than mentioning Beth specifically.’

      ‘Absolutely. Of course,’ Miss Willow agreed. ‘And I’ll explain that people go into hospital for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes it’s because they are physically ill and sometimes it’s because they’re very unhappy and need help. There seems to be a lot of ignorance surrounding mental health.’

      ‘Yes,’ I agreed, relieved. ‘That would be perfect. Thank you. I am grateful.’

      ‘No need. I should have picked this up sooner. I’m usually more tuned into bullying, which is what this is.’

      Aware that school was due to start soon, I made a move to go.

      ‘How is Beth?’ Miss Willow asked.

      ‘She’s doing very well,’ I said. ‘She saw her father last Friday and I expect she’ll see him again this Friday. I understand he’s making a good recovery and should be discharged soon.’

      ‘And Beth will be returning to live with him?’ she now asked.

      ‘Yes, as far as I know.’

      ‘Despite the concerns you and I raised with her social worker?’

      ‘Well, yes,’ I said, a little taken aback. ‘Didn’t Jessie tell you that the concerns were completely unfounded? I felt dreadful because I caused Derek so much distress.’

      Miss Willow studied me carefully for a moment and then said something rather odd. ‘I wouldn’t feel too bad. Jessie did tell me the outcome, but the file’s not closed yet.’ The klaxon sounded for the start of school and Miss Willow stood. ‘I’ll walk you downstairs,’ she said. ‘I have to go into the playground to bring my class in.’

      The three of us went out of the classroom. ‘Does Beth know why you’ve come to see me?’ Miss Willow asked as we walked.

      ‘Yes. She wasn’t altogether happy about it, but I felt it was best.’

      ‘Absolutely. I’m very grateful you told me, and please be reassured I’ll deal with the matter today.’

      ‘Thank you,’ I said again.

      We arrived in reception and went out of the main door. We said goodbye and Miss Willow went over to her class, where Beth was already standing in line. Beth saw us and gave a little wave and Paula and I waved back. Adrian was also lining up in his class, but he was too busy chatting to his friends to see us. As Paula and I left the playground and began towards the car, I felt relieved and vindicated for going in to see Miss Willow. She had taken the matter seriously and would deal with it sensitively, for, as she’d said, name calling was a form of bullying, although I doubted the children involved would have thought of it as such.

      I stopped off at the local shop on the way home for a few essentials, and then the rest of the day disappeared in household duties and playing with Paula. Paula would be three in April and would start nursery – mornings only – in September. I thought she was ready for the extra stimulation and socializing that nursery would bring. Once she was settled I was planning on looking for a part-time job that would fit in with school and fostering – possibly administration work, which I’d done before.

      Although the day was cold, it was dry and the sun was out, so I decided to walk to school to collect Adrian and Beth, but I took the pushchair just in case Paula tired. As we waited in the playground I chatted to some other mothers. I saw Jenni’s mother and her friend standing some distance from me, but she didn’t look over. The klaxon sounded and when Beth and Adrian came out they were both in good spirits and Beth looked relieved, so I thought that whatever Miss Willow had said must have been exactly right. However, on the way home Beth asked, ‘Why was my social worker in school?’

      ‘I didn’t know she was,’ I said, surprised. ‘Did she speak to you?’

      ‘No. I was in class. I saw her through the classroom window.’

      ‘Perhaps she went into school about another child,’ I suggested, which seemed a reasonable possibility.

      Beth gave a small shrug and then began hopscotching the paving stones as we walked. Adrian and Paula joined in, so our progress home was slow but fun. Even I had a quick hopscotch, which made them all laugh.

      I thought no more of Beth’s comment about seeing Jessie in school and the rest of the afternoon and evening continued as usual, with dinner, Adrian and Beth doing their homework, a few games and then the bath and bedtime routine. Beth telephoned her father at seven o’clock while I bathed Paula and they talked mainly about what she would wear when she visited him the following day, although I intended to have a say in that. I hadn’t heard from Jessie that week so I’d assumed the arrangements for Beth visiting her father would be the same as the previous week, which from their conversation is what Beth and Derek appeared to assume too. They were naturally looking forward to seeing each other, but it wasn’t to be.

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