Taken From Her Home by C.J. Grayson

Author:C.J. Grayson [GRAYSON, C.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-01-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 39

Chorlton High School

Twenty-seven years ago

Mrs Andrews was doing her best, but the rowdy class wasn’t listening. She was losing her patience with them, although she understood they were excited about the upcoming camping trip. It happened only once in their five years at Chorlton, the opportunity to go away with the school for a few days.

‘Please,’ the teacher begged, ‘can everyone just take a seat and listen?’

The talking continued, so she waited for the rest of the class to quieten down. She smiled sadly at the patient ones, the ones on course to get good grades, the ones whose futures looked, if she was being honest, brighter than the others.

‘Right!’ she screamed, slamming a hand down on her desk. The noise echoed out into the hallway. The talkative ones suddenly became silent, watching her with wide eyes from the back of the room, awed by her sudden outburst. In her eight months of teaching them, it was the first time they’d seen any flash of anger or emotion from the normally very quiet and reserved Mrs Andrews. ‘Sit down and be quiet, now!’

The faces of the disruptive pupils warmed in embarrassment, and they returned to their seats, saying nothing further.

‘Good.’ She left her desk and wandered around the class, tapping a ruler on her palm. She was in her early twenties, with long dark hair tied back into a ponytail. She wore thick glasses but was slim, nervous yet attractive to the other male teachers around the school because of her shy, innocent personality. ‘It’s important as students that you listen to your teacher. Our job here isn’t an easy one, and I must say, normally, this class is a treat, but enough is enough. Okay?’

She specifically stared at Debbie and Patricia, who were sitting at the back. ‘Okay, you two?’

‘Yes, Miss,’ replied Debbie, breaking her eye contact, looking down at her table. Patricia shyly nodded.

‘Thank you.’ She returned to the front and spoke about the upcoming camping trip to Middleton Campsite, informing them of what they would be getting up to and what activities they would be undertaking.

One of the students — a thin girl with ginger hair — raised a hand. Mrs Andrews nodded at her. ‘Miss, I hate making fires.’

‘I hate many things, but sometimes you need to just get on with it.’ Mrs Andrews smiled, then added, ‘Why not think of it as learning something new? Just imagine you’re out with your family, trapped somewhere, but knowing how to make a fire and keep yourself warm. It sounds simple, but one day, it could save your life.’

A few of the more mature students nodded in agreement as if thinking the same.

She continued to tell them about some water activities, which piqued further interest and brought the more challenging students on board with the idea.

‘Miss,’ a voice said from the back.

Mrs Andrews looked up and noticed Debbie Johnson with her hand up. ‘Yes, Debbie?’

‘Where’s Mason today?’ she asked, pointing at the empty chair beside hers.

‘Mason is busy this morning with someone.

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