Join Anissa to present the petition

First break and you meet Anissa in the staff room. She looks nervous.

“You ready for this?” you ask.

For a moment, she pauses, her hazel eyes focussed inwards. Then she nods.

“Oui, I’m ready. We have enough signatures.”

Time to present your petition to Dr Stricture.

Reception is busy, busier than you’ve ever seen it. Layla sits at her desk, her beauty still spoiled by her scowl. This time, though, her scowl is only momentarily fixed on you, before being directed to the other people in the room.

“You’ll have to wait; the headmistress is currently occupied.”

All the seats are taken by five men, dark haired, most with curls, wide-shouldered, plain faces, all dressed in dark suits with white shirts. One of the men on the end stands up, and he gestures to the man next to him that he should stand as well. That man reluctantly rises and shuffles under the gaze of everyone to the far wall. The first man who stood indicates that you and Anissa should take the two emptied seats. Anissa takes the seat furthest from the men. You take the seat next to her.

Anissa’s discomfort is magnified by the presence of these strangers. Her hazel eyes keep flicking to them, especially the three in the centre. You can see sweat on her forehead.

“Are you alright?”

She takes a deep breath. Then leans in. You’re overwhelmed by her perfume, mixed with her own personal scent. You lean closer. She whispers. “They’re the men from the leisure centre. The ones who you know...”

They are? You glance over. You would look closer but at that moment the door to Dr Strricture’s office opens.

Dr Stricture is proceeded by a tall, thin, dark-haired distinguished man in his late forties. He’s wearing probably the most expensive, fashionable suit you’ve ever seen; dark, with thin stripes, so smooth it appears almost part of his skin. Draped over one arm in a pale, camel-haired coat and in one hand he holds a bowler hat. He’s still talking to Dr Stricture in a commanding voice as he steps out.

“I thank you again for accepting my personal apologies, and I’m glad we could come to an agreement. This is the most apt solution. And I assure you, nothing like this will ever happen again.”

Dr Stricture nods her head, and her red curls bounce. She turns her attention to Layla.

“Miss Coventry, will you call the head groundskeeper. These three men will be joining the groundskeeping staff for the rest of the term.”

Layla’s reaction is one of complete shock. “But… but…”

“Don’t worry, we have Mr Altobello’s personal assurance that while working here, none of them will go anywhere near either staff or students. Ah, yes, Miss De Gaulle and Mr Smith, you’re here for your meeting. I hope you don’t mind, Mr Altobello, but I have a school to run.”

“Not at all,” the tall man states. Then he turns a pair of dazzling blue eyes on you. “Not the famous Mr Smith, your new history teacher. I was hoping to meet you.” He steps forward and offers up a large, calloused hand. You stand to shake it.

“Hello. You’re Melanie’s father?”

Melanie Altobello, one of your Upper Sixth ‘C’ Stream students, academically she’s nothing much, but her main claim to fame is that she’s Ellie’s principal bully.

This is the Mr Altobello for whom the Altobello estate is named after. Everyone told you that he’s the head of a crime family, and he does give that impression. He’s confident. He’s brusque. He’s well dressed. He could easily slip into the Godfather and not look out of place.

“Yes. I hope she’s behaving herself. I know you’ve been quite a hit with her.” You have? You hadn’t noticed. She’s a surly teenager, who’s obsessed with her position in the hierarchy of the students. “Much better than your predecessor, that what was her name, that lesbian …”

“Mis Wandering. A woman you promised the town council you’d find for us,” Dr Stricture states.

“Yes, and I will. The moment she pops her head up, wherever she is, I’ll know. There’s nowhere in this country where she can hide from me and my associates. And as soon as I know, I’ll tell the Town Council. I promised as much. I’m a man of my word.” He turns to you. “Holding your word is the most important thing. It’s something I’ve impressed on all my children. My daughter is the most wilful of them. She’s promised me she’ll concentrate on her studies this year. If she doesn’t, then just let me know and I’ll have a word with her. In return I expect you to overlook her overexuberance in other behaviours. I run a tight house, and school is the one place where she can be youthful.”

Is he calling her bullying youthful exuberance? And is he stating that you should overlook it? The look in his blue eyes suggests a seriousness in his words. It gives you the chills.

Thankfully Dr Stricture comes to your rescue. “I hope you don’t mind, these two are here for a meeting, and we don’t have long. Lessons.”

“Of course, of course. Good to meet you. And if you ever need any help. Don’t hesitate to come and talk to me. The Altobello family are friends of St Perpetua’s”

While Dr Stricture has a few words with Layla, you and Anissa enter her office.