Chapter 26
TWENTY-SIX
A cluster of girls from Miss Young’s class gathered together in the playground, excitedly chatting about something. Their backs were turned, barring anyone else from their exclusive conversation.
It was impossible to miss. Especially if you weren’t a part of it. Nancy felt Lara slow beside her and she scrambled around for something to say, to take her daughter’s mind off it.
‘Fish and chips tonight,’ she said, but it landed flat.
Of course it did, Lara was too old to be palmed off with such distractions.
Tilly was running towards them and Nancy’s heart sank – what world record-breaking feat did this girl have to boast about now?
But to her surprise, Tilly kept on running until she’d passed them and joined the group of girls.
Nancy and Lara watched as a gap was made to let her in.
Then Rosie, who appeared to be holding court, handed her a green envelope.
Tilly threw her arms around Rosie then ripped open the envelope and pulled out a brightly coloured card – a party invitation.
The girls were still squealing and fragments of their conversation floated on the air:
‘—I’m going to be a witch—’
‘—my mum’s getting me a proper bucket for the sweets—’
‘—I swear I was sick last year—’
All the while Nancy felt Lara shrink with humiliation, and yet when she glanced at her daughter’s face, she saw a longing to be a part of the group.
Rosie looked up then and caught Lara’s eye. She gave a small, triumphant smile, then turned back to the other girls, thoroughly enjoying their attention.
Nancy glowered. ‘Whatever it is,’ she said to Lara, ‘don’t let it get to you.’
‘It’s pretty hard, Mum,’ said Lara.
Nancy’s heart cracked. She looked back at the girls.
It seemed quite a large group – there was Rosie, Tilly, Bella, that girl with the glasses, the one who was almost as tall as her mother .
. . and then something dawned on her. It was all the girls in Miss Young’s class.
All of them except for Lara. And each one was clutching a green envelope.
Anger erupted deep inside her. What a shitty thing to do.
‘How are the chickens getting on?’
Nancy turned to see Hannah dropping off Jakob. ‘What? Oh, fine.’
‘Laying well?’
‘Yes. In fact, we have more than we need. I’m selling a few in boxes at the front gate.’
Hannah suddenly noticed the squealing girls clutching their envelopes. ‘Someone having a party?’ she said, then her gaze fell to Lara, standing alone, pushing a piece of gravel around with her shoe.
‘I take it . . .?’ she said quietly.
Nancy lifted her head. ‘No, Lara has not been invited. Although it would appear every other girl in the class has.’
‘Wow,’ said Hannah. ‘Pretty low blow. Sorry,’ she added.
‘It’s not that I mind Lara being missed out – they’re hardly best friends, after all – but it’s that Imogen has let Rosie do this so publicly.’ She kept her voice low so Lara didn’t hear.
‘Yeah, well, it’s kinda the way she operates. Lara could do without friends like Rosie, to be honest.’ Hannah leaned in closer. ‘Don’t pay any attention to the petition either.’
Nancy’s head jerked up but then the bell rang and Hannah was already turning to go and Lara was collecting her bag from Nancy’s feet.
‘Bye, Mum,’ she said.
She looked so forlorn Nancy got an agonized lump in her throat. Somehow she had to gee her up. As a mother, it was her job.
She leaned down, put on her biggest smile. ‘Don’t let it get to you.’
‘But I don’t have any friends.’
Slice. Another part of her heart shaved off.
‘You do. Not all the girls are like Rosie. I’ll pick you up later, OK?’ She gave Lara a hug, part of her never wanting to let go, to take her home again and look after her and not release her to make her own way amongst the class of hyenas she would have to encounter.
She watched until Lara had disappeared into the school, her bag huge on her tiny back, then she turned and sighed.
Oh yes. What was that Hannah had said about a petition?
15 October
RIPTON PRIMARY, YEAR 6
Imogen Wood, Rosie’s mum
I think it’s time we made a stand on the Head of School. 07:45
Erin Mackie, Tilly’s mum
Yh, it’s not like we haven’t given it a chance. 07:45
Imogen Wood, Rosie’s mum
It’s almost the school’s fault, not Lara’s. Too much for her when she’s only just joined. 07:45
Erin Mackie, Tilly’s mum
None of the kids really respect her. 07:46
Hannah Chapman, Jakob’s mum
FFS ever thought it’s because your kids haven’t exactly made her feel welcome? 07:46
Cheryl, Aisha’s mum
I object. Aisha’s been friendly. 07:46
Imogen Wood, Rosie’s mum
Let’s not forget she tried to drown one of those kids. Mine. No wonder she’s not exactly flavour of the month. I think we need a petition. I’m happy to collate votes and hand them in to Mr Whitman. A show of thumbs, please. Up to keep Lara, down to request another vote. I’ll kick off. 07:46
Cheryl, Aisha’s mum
07:46
Stacey, Fred’s mum
07:46
Erin Mackie, Tilly’s mum
07:46
Helen, Lottie’s mum
07:47
Nicole Wilson, Bella’s mum
07:47
Hannah Chapman, Jakob’s mum
07:47
Lorna Fielding, Phoenix’s mum
07:47
Erin Mackie, Tilly’s mum
You can’t have both. 07:47
Lorna Fielding, Phoenix’s mum
OK, I abstain. I do think it’s unfair she got it when she only just joined the school but it doesn’t seem right to kick her out. She’s only ten. 07:48
Imogen Wood, Rosie’s mum
Those CVs start ever earlier. Do you know what ‘Head of School’ can do to your prospects? 07:49
Sarah Ramsay, Noah’s mum
Come on, guys! It’s anti-bullying week! 07:50
Hannah Chapman, Jakob’s mum
You know Mr Whitman will completely ignore this. It’s totally unfair. 07:52
Imogen Wood, Rosie’s mum
Doesn’t matter. The important thing is that we know we’re all on the same page. 07:53
Hannah Chapman, Jakob’s mum
Not all. 07:53
Imogen Wood, Rosie’s mum
Almost all. 07:54
‘The complete and utter bitch!’ exploded Beth down the phone. ‘Just because you bought her house. Who the fuck does she think she is?’
‘Well, I don’t know it was Imogen who started it—’ said Nancy.
‘I bet it was.’
‘Yes, but I don’t know that.’ Nancy was sitting at her breakfast bar, absentmindedly stirring her coffee.
‘How did you find out?’
‘Another mum told me. Hannah. She’s pretty cool. Sold me the chickens.’
After drop-off, Nancy had gone home and brooded on Hannah’s last words so much she’d called her.
Hannah had been embarrassed, explained how it was insecure mums with too much spare time on their hands, just venting behind the safety of their screens.
They did it with loads of stuff and it always blew over.
It was the same with the school changing the team house names; Nancy should have seen the uproar when they changed from the world’s highest mountain peaks to more local landmarks.
She should give it a ‘damn good ignoring’.
As Hannah was speaking, Nancy had become acutely aware that whatever group it was, she hadn’t been invited to be a part of it.
‘What do the school say about all this?’ asked Beth on the phone.
‘I haven’t spoken to them about the petition – I’ve only just found out myself. But they are aware of Rosie’s general behaviour.’
‘What are they doing about it?’
Nancy sighed. ‘They say they’re addressing it . . .’
‘. . . but bugger all seems to be happening?’ finished Beth. ‘You need to get on to the Chair of Governors. Put it in writing. You’ll find his or her email on the school website.’
‘I already looked,’ said Nancy.
‘Something tells me this isn’t good news,’ said Beth.
‘The Chair of Governors is Erin Mackie. Best friend of the mother of the bully.’
‘For God’s sake!’
Nancy took a sip of her coffee. ‘The most important thing is that Lara doesn’t hear about this petition.’
Both she and Beth lapsed into silence. Neither had to say anything to know they were thinking the same thing. There was a very good chance Rosie would make sure Lara did hear about it.