We Are Family by Beth Moran

Author:Beth Moran [Moran, Beth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boldwood Books

16

In the three weeks that Maggie had been mooning about since the bonfire party, glued to her mobile phone and blushing copiously, I heard nothing from school about her behaviour. It appeared that the lovebirds were smart enough to discern that the prize for staying out of trouble was time together. I briefly tried explaining to Maggie that her being allowed a certain measure of freedom when it came to her boyfriend was about trust, not reward… I might as well have told the wood pigeons who roosted in the oak tree behind the shed.

Then one Thursday afternoon, I had the pleasure of hearing Mr Hay’s voice on the end of my phone. I was transferring washing to the drier when he called.

‘Ruth.’ We had started using first names somewhere around half-term.

‘Hi, Ken. Long time no speak. I can’t say I’m happy to hear your voice. Unless… are you phoning to let me know how hard Maggie’s been working? She’s won a prize for her exemplary behaviour? Ooh – I know. You want to make her a prefect.’

‘I wish I were. And we’re getting there. She’s coming on much better at school – started to hang around with some of Seth Callahan’s new friends. I never thought I’d say this, but that boy is actually becoming something of a positive influence. Matt and Lois Harris are miracle workers.’

‘So what’s the problem?’

The headmaster turned grave, using his oh-dear-I-am-very-sorry-for-your-awful-child voice. ‘Hannah Beaumont has been in touch. Three times. She’s been having some issues with Maggie.’

‘Oh dear.’ I shut the door of the drier, and slid down onto the tiled floor. I had been half expecting this.

‘Apparently, Maggie has been increasingly late for her visits. Last Saturday, she didn’t turn up at all. A couple of times, she has hung around in the garden talking and, ahem, interacting with Seth for quite some time, instead of being with Mrs Beaumont. She’s—’

‘Hang on a minute. Interacting? You mean kissing? And how long is “quite some time”?’

‘Um, yes. Kissing. According to Mrs Beaumont’s records, the first occasion was for thirteen minutes, the second twenty-five.’

‘She keeps records? Of two teenagers interacting in her front garden?’

‘It was her neighbour’s garden.’

‘I don’t know what to say to that. You’d better go on.’

‘Mrs Beaumont also complained that Maggie was, and I quote, “discourteous, disrespectful, disengaged and dismissive”.’

‘Do you think she got stuck on the letter D in her dictionary of insults?’

‘I have to ask that you take this seriously, Ms Henderson. Maggie is on probation here. If she fails to complete the placement…’

Whoa. I was back to being Ms Henderson again. Not a great sign. ‘I know. I’ll speak to her. Thanks for giving me the heads-up.’

‘I’m not sure that will be enough.’

‘What?’

‘Mrs Beaumont has asked to be removed from the programme. If it was for any other reason, for example illness, we could transfer Maggie to someone else, but under the circumstances, that wouldn’t be appropriate. This will constitute a fail.’

‘Can’t it be put down to a personality clash? You said yourself Maggie’s doing much better.

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