THE FERALS


By Tessa Harvey


Set apart from the high school, the primary school also looked very modern and interesting, but kBrodie liked his new school and didn't seem to be upset changing schools so soon. He was a very sociable boy and easily made friends. Jake watched him, smiling as the boy hung upside down on a climbing frame, his dark curls blowing in the wind. He looked so like his mother, the same pixie face and laughing blue eyes.

The primary school was part of the school where he was now teaching, but apart in its own grounds. Brodie had been puzzled by his job change. "Don't you want to fly planes, dad?"

"Brodie, I didn't fly planes before. You know that I was teaching grown-ups about science there too, but it was a different kind of science. I like teaching."
"I'm never going to teach," his son declared stoutly, "but kids don't even listen!"

"I hope you do, Brodie!" Jake tried to sound stern, but failed. A little abashed, Brodie replied "mostly," which was perhaps as good as it got, reflected his father.

Some of the staff annoyed him at times, but mostly he enjoyed working with them. To his relief, the senior science teacher was easy-going.

It was a co-ed school and the staff were of both sexes. Alice taught English and History and was about his own age. She had a daughter, Sophie, who was nine.

Occasionally the four of them went on outings together on Saturdays. Sophie really liked Brodie and she tried to pick him up one day. Alice said "Don't do that. You will damage your back, Sophie!" Sophie dropped Brodie and they rolled in the grass, laughing. Once the little girl found English snowdrops tucked away among some tall deciduous trees. "Spring is not far away." Alice sounded glad. She adored the countryside and was instilling that kind of love and appreciation into Sophie's life, and into her students' lives.

Alice was slightly taller than Jake and had long, straight dark hair. He noticed her eyes were a deep blue. She made an effort to be cheerful and was good at her work. Still, sometimes her eyes held a faraway look and her expression was tinged with sadness.

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