Chapter 23
TWENTY-THREE
Nancy was aware of the entrance CCTV camera pointing at her and wondered why those at the other end, looking at the screen, were taking so long to answer her call.
What were they saying? Were they talking about her?
She wanted to get to Lara. Then she was buzzed in at the gate and it automatically opened at what felt like one millimetre an hour.
Her frustration building, she waited for the smallest possible gap and then slipped through and hurried across the playground.
She passed several classrooms, set back from the play area, but through the windows she could see glimpses of children sitting at desks, facing towards the teachers.
She realized she didn’t know which was Lara’s class.
Did she spend most of her day in one of these rooms she was passing now?
Esther had told her very little on the phone: something about a game that had gone wrong and Lara had received a bump to the head, and then Esther had layered it on thick about how they’d followed protocol, got the icepack, made sure Lara was in a ‘comfortable’ and ‘safe’ environment where she could rest. She was checked regularly.
They didn’t usually call out the parents if a child got a minor injury but a bump to the head was occasionally an exception.
They liked to ‘notify Mum just to be on the safe side’.
Nancy got to the entrance door of the school and had to buzz again. She was let in and a woman got up from a desk and pulled aside a glass panel that separated the office from the visitors.
‘I’m Nancy, Lara’s mum.’
The woman smiled. ‘Esther, office manager. We spoke on the phone.’ Esther came out from the office and, using her staff pass, buzzed another door at the end of the reception area.
‘She’s in here. Our sick bay.’ Nancy was led past a couple of closed doors, noting that one was marked ‘Head teacher’, and then further down the corridor into a small room adorned with cheerful pictures and bright yellow plastic chairs.
Lara was seated on one of the chairs, clutching an icepack to the side of her head.
She looked up as Nancy came in and then lowered her eyes again.
‘I’ll give you five minutes,’ said Esther, backing out.
Nancy went to sit next to Lara and gave her a hug. ‘Let’s have a look at you,’ she said, pulling the icepack away from Lara’s head.
Underneath, just visible through her hair, was a large lump. Jesus, thought Nancy.
‘Ouch,’ she said out loud. ‘That’s quite a bump.’
Lara was uncharacteristically quiet.
Nancy smiled at her. ‘Did you trip?’
Her daughter shook her head.
‘So what happened? The lady in the office said a game had got out of hand or something.’
‘It was Rosie,’ said Lara. ‘She hit me on the head with her lunchbox. Full,’ she added, for emphasis.
A surge of anger and shock welled up in Nancy. She swallowed it back down before it could erupt. ‘She did what?’
‘We were in the playground, next class to go in for lunch, and she came over to the quiet zone where I was standing with Mia. Rosie came up to us and took Mia’s arm and said she was going to sit next to Mia at lunch today.
I said that wasn’t fair, Mia and me had already decided to sit together, and she said, “Tough”, and when I tried to take Mia’s other hand, Rosie spun around and hit me on the head with her lunchbox.
On purpose,’ said Lara, upset. ‘Then she ran off. So did Mia. Except she went to get one of the lunch teachers because I was crying.’
‘But why do the teachers think you got hurt from a game that went wrong?’
‘Because Rosie told them that.’
‘But you told them the truth, right?’
‘Yes. But they don’t believe me.’
Nancy was incensed. ‘But what about this Mia? Didn’t she back you up?’
‘She said it was an accident too.’
‘What?’
Lara flinched. Nancy checked herself. She had to keep calm or she’d frighten Lara into silence.
‘Sorry. Why did Mia say it was an accident?’
‘Because she’s scared. Rosie said she’ll kill her mum if Mia tells anyone it was on purpose.’
Inside, Nancy was seething. Who the hell did Rosie think she was, going around hitting Lara and lying and threatening other kids so she could get away with it?
She was probably sitting in the classroom right now, all smug and carrying on with her day as normal, while poor Lara was isolated in this room with a lump on her head, waiting to go home.
What was going on with this school anyway? It was over a week since Nancy had asked for a meeting with Miss Young. They’d ended up having a conversation on the phone where Miss Young had promised to have a chat with Rosie. But it seemed to have made no difference.
With tremendous effort, Nancy kept her anger in check and stood up. ‘Darling, I’m just going to use the bathroom and then we’ll take you home, OK?’
Lara nodded. ‘You won’t be long?’ she pleaded.
Nancy assured her she wouldn’t, then left the room. She walked a little way down the corridor and stopped outside the door with the ‘Head teacher’ sign emblazoned on the front.
She knocked, once, but didn’t wait for an answer and let herself in.
James Whitman was sitting at his desk, typing something into his laptop. He looked up, surprised at the intrusion. Then he stood, smoothed a hand down his pale blue tie and offered up a charming smile.
‘Sorry, do you have an appointment?’ He gestured towards his laptop. ‘Only there’s nothing in my diary.’
‘No, I don’t,’ said Nancy.
‘It’s Mrs Miller, isn’t it? Lara’s mum? How are you?’
He remembered. It surprised her. Worked to disarm her slightly. She dug in firm. ‘I’m pretty pissed off.’ She walked across the room and sat herself down in his armchair.
He waited a moment then came from around the desk and took the armchair opposite her. Opened up his hands. ‘Go for it.’
She’d been expecting more resistance. It threw her.
‘I have just been called into school to pick up my child who has been hit on the head by another child.’
‘I’m so sorry, Mrs Miller. Sometimes the children’s games get out of hand.’
‘Out of hand?’ Nancy could feel her blood pressure rising again. She took a deep breath. ‘It wasn’t a game. It was a deliberate attack on my daughter.’
‘I understand that’s what Lara also told the teachers.’
‘Yes, because it’s true.’
‘Except the other two children involved both said it was an accident.’
‘They’re lying. Mia is under duress.’
‘And Rosie has been nothing but contrite,’ said James.
‘I’ll bet she has.’
Mr Whitman paused. ‘Mrs Miller, I am aware that children can – and do – lie. All children. And I’m also aware that there have been other incidents here at the school where Lara has reported unkind acts – although not physical – by Rosie.
Today’s incident is a difficult one,’ he continued.
‘No member of staff witnessed it. I’ve asked all the lunch teachers to keep a close eye on them.
Miss Young is also going to keep a distance between them in the classroom.
’ He leaned forward, his arms resting on the tops of his thighs, his hands clasped together.
He looked younger up close, Nancy realized, more good-looking.
He had a sort of George Clooney thing going on: eyes alive with intelligence, flecks of grey in his hair. Good for him. But she wasn’t done yet.
‘Rosie has done nothing but pick on Lara since she started at this school.’ She looked him in the eye. ‘It’s bullying.’
‘That’s a very strong word.’
‘But appropriate in this case.’
He didn’t answer at first. Nancy knew he didn’t want to admit to the accusation. It made it official, something that he had to take more seriously.
‘We all here – especially myself – take any sort of unkindness, whether it’s bullying or not, extremely seriously. There’s no place for it in this school and I won’t have children made to feel unhappy.’
Nancy considered him. He sounded genuine but it was the sort of stuff every head teacher across the land would say.
Had to say. And he still hadn’t admitted bullying was what was going on in his school.
Right now. She had a sudden overwhelming longing for Sam, so acute it felt like a heavy weight had landed on her chest. God, it was hard doing this alone.
‘Have you spoken to Rosie’s mother?’ she asked.
‘Imogen?’ Mr Whitman indicated his desk, presumably referencing a notepad or something. ‘I was actually just about to before you popped in.’ He smiled, to soften what could be construed as a criticism.
Nancy nodded. She believed him but there was something about the way he’d said it that sat a bit strangely with her. She couldn’t put her finger on it.
‘Please reassure Lara it’s not that we don’t believe her.
We just have to be sure. And I know Miss Young has spoken to Rosie about the previous incidents and Rosie has recognized that what she did was wrong.
So I hope Lara knows we do act when we have all the evidence.
’ He sat back in his chair again. ‘And hopefully, to reassure you, my door is always open.’ He smiled. ‘Even when it’s closed.’
Was she supposed to be amused at that? She suddenly felt awfully tired.
Maybe she was too uptight. She looked at him and his expression was warm and genuine.
She knew he would be accommodating should she barge into his office any time she wanted.
He also appeared to have the situation in hand, so why did she feel dissatisfied?
Maybe it was simply because it was her child with the bruise on her head, she thought. Lara. Poor thing, she’d be wondering where her mother had got to. Nancy stood up. They shook hands and said their goodbyes.
She stepped out of the room and closed the door behind her. In the corridor she could see Miss Young talking to Lorna. They both looked up.
‘Oh, hi, Nancy,’ said Lorna, her eyes flickering to the head’s door.
God, does the woman never stop poking her nose in other people’s business? thought Nancy.
‘I’m sorting out the second-hand uniform sale, ready for Friday,’ said Lorna. She indicated a cupboard behind her, full of bags spilling over with blue and grey clothing.
‘Is Lara OK?’ asked Miss Young quietly.
‘Oh, is she ill?’ asked Lorna. ‘Poor thing.’
Nancy didn’t confirm or deny. She looked at Miss Young. ‘She’s been better.’
Miss Young seemed uncomfortable, as if there was something else niggling her, something she wanted to say, but couldn’t. Nancy wanted to get to Lara, take her home. She said as much and left them to it.
As she walked back across the playground, Lara beside her, Nancy realized what it was that Mr Whitman had said which had seemed so off to her. Teachers always, always referenced other parents as ‘Mrs So-and-So’ or ‘So-and-So’s mum’. Particularly in a situation like this.
But Mr Whitman had said ‘Imogen’. Without a second thought.
Nancy wondered why.
29 September
RIPTON PRIMARY, YEAR 6
Lorna Fielding, Phoenix’s mum
Poor Lara’s ill. Went home from school early today. Hope ours don’t all go down with it! 16:03
Erin Mackie, Tilly’s mum
It wasn’t illness. It was high jinks in the playground. Got a small bump on the head apparently. Although I hear she was trying to stop Rosie from hanging out with Mia. Bit controlling if you ask me. 16:04