She’s late for school again. Her mum waves and drives off. She clutches her bag, enters the gate.

It will be a good day.

She has a nice lunch: a wrap, orange, chips and a chocolate. Some students stare as she passes by. (She will save the chocolate for Maths, just in case.)

It will be a good day.

Nobody will throw a basketball at her.

Or food.

Or a duster.

Not today.

She heaves the admin door open, the principal greets her.

“Good morning Miss Patch”.

“Morning Tony”.

She collects her teaching schedule and heads towards the staffroom.