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Chapters 39 & 40

Monday 12th Oct

We were at the court by nine thirty so we could speak to Mr Dixon. Also waiting there was Ms Holts, and Mr Davis, the Chair of the school governing body. He walked over.

"Good morning all, I had a call last night suggesting I should be here."

There was a hiss from across the room and the former school bursar was waving her finger at our group. A suited man spoke to her abruptly and she put her arm down, but continued to stare. We moved to a corner, leaving Mr Davis to become the subject of Ms Holts' seething.

"Right, the charges for the father are going to be theft, handling stolen property, assault and resisting arrest. The son has assault on a police officer, affray, criminal damage, and breaching an ASBO. Apparently the ASBO was granted last monday after a request by the shopping precinct management and the local council. I only found out this morning."

Mum picked up on this, "So which charges relate to which incidents?"

"I believe the criminal damage is your car, the affray covers incidents in the town centre, you know about yesterday's assault and may be called as a witness. The father's charges are not apparently related to the son's, apart from the assault charge. Of course, nothing may actually happen today."

"Why?"

"The magistrates have various options here, we'll have to see what happens first."

"Oh."

The court lobby was starting to fill up so we stopped discussing the case, concentrating our gossiping to clothes and TV, mostly. Mr Davis wandered back and saw the ring on my finger, then on Claire's. He was obviously thinking for a moment before he spoke.

"Miss Jones, Miss Johnson, are I to believe that you have some news?"

"Yes Mr Davis, as of yesterday we are engaged."

"This should prove interesting at the school, if you have no objections I'll inform the headmaster."

"He'll find out by tomorrow no doubt, so we don't mind, do we Claire?

Claire shook her head and Mr Davis walked away. Mr Dixon now took interest in the rings but said nothing. We held hands, unafraid of anyone's opinions.

The clerk to the court called the parties in the case of Stevens and Stevens to the court room. In the end it was a distinct anti-climax and we left rather bemused. The father was processed first and pleaded not guilty to all charges, the magistrates simply committed him for trial at the Crown Court. He was then bailed, albeit with a severe curfew and a ban from every pub in the district.

For the son, the charge of assault on a police officer had become attempted murder and was sufficient for committal to the Crown Court, he was remanded to a Young Offenders Institute fifty miles away. His solicitor had attempted to argue that, due to his age, he should be tried in a youth court but was almost laughed at by the lead Magistrate who questioned if the solicitor was aware of the severity of the main charge. No application for bail was made so he was taken down to the cells.

At that point Ms Holts screamed and swore at the magistrates. She was told to be quiet but refused. She was threatened with thirty days for this outburst but continued, in the end she was also sent to the cells. She was added to the day's list, probably to be dealt with after three o'clock.

We gathered outside and spoke to our solicitor. It was my turn to do the questioning. "So what happens next?"

"Oh, the father won't now be in court for six months unless he changes his plea. The boy will be in court again in two weeks and could apply for bail, but it's unlikely given the charges. There'll also be an enquiry into the family circumstances. If found guilty he could be looking at a long sentence, there could be some bargaining over the lesser charges, or they could be dropped entirely."

"Great." It wasn't an upbeat comment.

"Look, he's in the system now and you have to let the system deal with him. I'll make sure you get your moment in court, if you still want it. I need to get back to my office, I'll let you know later what happens to Ms Holts."

We said goodbye to Mr Dixon, Mr Davis had already disappeared. It was midday now, the whole proceedings had been very slow, considering how little was achieved.

As we walked out of the building the sun shone brightly, someone's bad joke perhaps? We walked the short distance into town and sat outside a newly opened cafe. A young Italian man came out for our orders, he smiled at me and Claire then saw us holding hands. The smile became a little forced as he reached for his order pad.

We each had a panini and a fruit juice, somehow coffee wasn't on any of our minds today. We ate in silence then took a stroll into the shopping precinct. Outside M&S we bumped into the assistant manager who we'd met weeks earlier, he saw our hands, I don't think we'll be letting go of each other too soon. Mum told him about the court case.

"I was at the court last week applying for the ASBO as we'd run out of options with his anti-social behaviour. We had the council's and the police's support so the magistrates granted it in a few minutes. We had to eject him from the precinct a few days later but haven't seen him since, thankfully."

"That must be why he was out of town?" I thought.

The four of us wandered around a few shops but left the town centre empty handed. We had parked out of the way, in case of retaliation, but, as it turned out, that's difficult from inside a lock-up. We drove home and headed with Sharon into her house, establishing a war cabinet in the kitchen, Claire provided the coffee that everyone finally needed.

Ultimately, we weren't at all happy with the day's proceedings but there was nothing we could do about it, at least one of them was off the streets. That's where Annie found us when she arrived back from school.

"They want to see your rings!"

"Who?"

"All the girls, the boys are just upset that you're off the market, sis."

"They'll get over it, eventually. How do they know?"

"Not sure, but news like this goes round the school in minutes. I gave Andrea and Suzie the news about Friday, they want to finally meet you Eve."

"That could be interesting." I was the master of understatement today.

"Eve, they never met Simon, and they don't believe everything they're told. You'll meet them on Friday, we'll deal with the rest of the sixth form when you get back in a few weeks."

"I need to see the head before then."

"Yes, oh did Claire give you the message?"

"What message?"

"The one from last week? A few teachers were asking."

"What message?"

"About the homework. It's overdue."

"Claire, what was the message?"

"They gave me some coursework for you last Wednesday, it was due back today. Didn't I tell you?"

"Claire!"

"Look, you were otherwise occupied last week."

Sharon joined in the discussion, "Claire do you still have the coursework?"

"I don't know."

"Right, if you can't find it tonight then you will apologise to each of Eve's teachers tomorrow morning."

"Yes mum."

"Then you'll ask them to give anything else to Annie, as of right now."

We had pizza together and I wouldn't have left if we weren't forced apart. As it was we were all shattered and I was in bed by nine. Neither of us checked the answerphone.

It really felt odd to be in bed on my own.

I was up at seven, unable to sleep any more. When I walked downstairs in my dressing gown I saw a few items of post on the mat inside the front door. We'd come back in through the kitchen door last night and had missed it, there were two envelopes for me.

Both were marked NHS but were from different addresses, the first was a new medical card with my revised name. The second was a staff parking permit for the hospital, I suppose that was easier than free parking in the public parking area. There was an envelope for return of any recent parking receipts. I decided to deal with that later.

Mum had wandered down while I was sorting the post, she went towards a small flashing red light that I'd not seen. Mum pressed the play button:

"Eve, this is Dr Fox. I have agreement in principle to see you at your GP surgery but the surgery wants to establish appointment dates in advance and we don't currently have any appointments booked. I hope this helps."


Some help indeed, I'm no better off but at least they know I was angry. I sat with mum and picked up a mug of coffee she'd just made. I put the radio on to fill the silence and made some toast to satisfy a growling stomach, I'd not been too heavy on the pizza last night, my appetite had taken a day off.

After showering I just managed to grab a kiss and a cuddle with Claire as she and Annie headed to school. It felt like an empty day, mum had an appointment after lunch with her shrink, otherwise it was clear. Mum retreated to the utility room to do some laundry and I picked up on the housework. I then spent half an hour checking emails andd installing Skype. I found Claire in the directory and sent her a message. We reconvened at lunch, after taking only one coffee break.

The morning's post was sitting on the kitchen table, mum was looking at a bank statement.

"Eve, I'm going to have to go back to work sooner than I thought. we've spent too much  money recently and I don't want to cash in my investments, but if I don't have income soon then that's exactly what I'll have to do."

"Mum, you know I'll help."

"I know, but I want to support us, that is my responsibility, not your's. Can you get last week's local paper?"

I walked into the lounge and picked it up, but I wasn't really sure who'd bought it. Mum opened it at the jobs page, the recession was definitely affecting the number of available jobs, but one advert stood out.

School Bursar required
Must have financial amd management experience.
Will be responsible for a small support team.
Send your CV to St Peter's Comprehensive and Sixth Form College
Applicants will be subject to police checks.


Mum stared at the advert for a minute, cogs turning in her head. I was very unsure, the previous occupant of that job was the aunt of a pupil. I was not keen on my mum being on the premises every day. That was quite apart from her current mental state.

The phone rang and I reached for it.

"Miss Jones?"

"Yes."

"It's the headmaster's secretary, he'd like to see you before the end of the week if possible."

"Has he said why?"

"Only that it's to do with your return to school. He'd like your mother present, how about Thursday morning?"

"I think that's ok. What time?"

"Ten?"

"Right."

I turned to mum and shrugged, it was an odd co-incidence that the school should ring but I don't believe in co-incidences, I wrote the appointment on the calendar, the week was starting to fill up.

We used frozen bread to make some sarnies, after defrosting it of course. I was beginning to think that a bread maker might be a good idea as we were indoors much of the time, then I remembered that I was back at school at the start of November, under three weeks from now.

Mum and I drove to the hospital to see Dr Masters. It was strange to use the staff carpark but it was closer to the buildings so no argument there. Of course, it was my turn to sit in the waiting room while mum saw her shrink. I was in a world of my own when my name was called.

"Err, yeah?"

"Could you join us, Eve?"

I walked in and sat next to mum, placing my hands on my lap.

"I understand you have had an eventful couple of days, including quite a shock for your mum?"

"I suppose so, but things just happen, they're not planned."

"That's okay, your mum doesn't appear to have any lasting effects. Congratulations by the way."

"Thanks. Is that all?"

"No, I'd ask that you support your mum and try not to stress her. Can you be back here next Tuesday?"

"I'll do what I can, Tuesday is fine."

"Thank you, I'll see you both then."

We walked back to the car and drove home. Mum told me that he'd simply asked for an account of the time since she left hospital, in particular any talks with her family and close friends.

Once indoors mum asked me about learning to drive.

"Of course, what do we have to do?"

"We'll get into town tomorrow and pick up an application form for a provisional licence, in fact we'll pick up a couple more in case Sharon doesn't have any for the girls."

"But, what do I put down for sex? I'm still legally male despite everything."

"We'll work that one out dear."

"But what do we have to do?" I was crying by now.

"Eve, dear, I don't know. We'll have to talk to Dr Preston. What did he say last week?"

"That he'd be writing to me."

"Nothing more?"

"I asked to be seen at St Saviour's instead of there." I waved my arm in the general direction of the hospital.

Mum sat next to me and I started sobbing again, what was happening to me? I felt so vulnerable. Claire must have crept in and she took mum's place. I laid against her and fell asleep.

I was woken for dinner, Claire took me to the bathroom to tidy up my face, of course I need the loo as well, but neither of us had any reason for privacy when it was just us.

When we got back to the lounge Claire handed me an thick A4 envelope. I opened it to find at least a week's worth of coursework. Annie was supposed to handle this for now, but it wasn't a good time to argue; I decided that killing the messenger would normally be easier but I simply couldn't manage that, not this time.

"Who's joke is this?"

"Come on Eve. I managed to persuade them that last week's work wasn't done because of problems ...."

"But did you say you forgot to give it to me?"

"No, they never asked that."

"So they've given me double?"

"They did say something about catching up. It's got to be in by Monday morning, sooner if possible. They also said there could be more on Friday."

"Thanks, just don't expect to see too much of me before it's finished."

"Do you mean that?"

"Claire, if I want to get back to school then I have to do it. No choice. It's Tuesday now so I've got to get cracking as soon as dinner's out the way."

"Well, if that's how you feel!"

Claire got up and walked out.

I burst into tears, I'd blown it two days into our engagement. At least she hadn't returned the ring, yet.

Mum had heard the kitchen door slam and came into the lounge to see me crying. She got the story from me and said she'd speak to Sharon.

"No, don't."

"Look, Claire needs to be talked to."

"Maybe, but let me handle it. Regardless what was said, I really do have to do this work. There'll be a few words said over there as Annie was supposed to collect the coursework and Claire didn't apologise, the school will think it's my fault. But it still doesn't matter, the work is there to be done."

"I still think someone should talk."

"I will, later. She'll have calmed down by then."

"If you're sure?"

"I am."

I took the envelope and went upstairs. There was a mixed bag of work from each subject area, although there was some obvious overlaps. Much of the work so far had been a rehash of the work we'd done just before the exams in May. With students joining the sixth form from other schools, there had to be some levelling up to account for differing teaching methods, that's what we'd heard anyway.

I worked for two hours before my eyes were starting the stream. The light had started to go after half five so I was working using my spot lamp, never a good idea for prolonged work. It's not that I really had a choice.

Mum called me for dinner just after six and we ate quietly. I watched the national and local news while we ate so I had an idea of the current major stories. I headed back upstairs and worked until nine, I was just about to switch off my laptop when Claire called me via Skype.

"Sorry."

"Claire, I'm sorry too."

"What do yo have to be sorry about, I'm the one who messed up."

"Look, I was a bit abrupt with you."

"I got into all sorts of trouble when mum found out, and I'm not talking to Annie right now."

"Claire, get over it. We all make mistakes. Why don't we go for a ride when you get back from school tomorrow. Ill have spent all day on my school work so I'll need a break by four."

"That's a date, but I'm out at two thirty, so we'll say three!"

We declared our undying love for each other, several times, before cutting the connection. I went downstairs having shut down my laptop and joined mum. She'd had enough of the night's telly so we made some hot choocolate. I was tired but happy.