‘We’re down to four hundred and ninety.’ Mason sighed. ‘Beddingfield High has already taken another ten of ours this month, now that it’s out that St Mede’s is on borrowed time. Sometimes, you know, running a school like St Mede’s is a bit like wading through treacle. Or shit.’
Robyn pulled a face, not relishing that particular picture Mason had put into her head. ‘But what about your plans for St Mede’s as a school at the forefront of the performing arts?’
Mason laughed somewhat hollowly. ‘That was just me trying to promote the school when we had Focus North in to those earlyGreaserehearsals before Christmas.’
‘Oh? Really?’ Robyn found herself disappointed at Mason’s volte-face. ‘Focus Northdid say they’d be in again once we were heading for the actual performance.’
‘Don’t bank on them coming in again, Robyn. You ready to roll? I watched your rehearsal last week and it seemed to be coming together – apart from a couple of issues with the kids not turning up for rehearsal.’
‘Sorrel as Sandy and Seb Kingsley in Year 10 as Danny Zuko are certainly on target. Have you seen Seb when he’s performing? He really was a good choice for Danny.’
‘You wanted Joel.’ Mason shot her a look.
‘Of course I did. That would have been so good. He’s a superb dancer, Mason.’
‘You don’t have to remind me, Robyn. I’ve seen him in action.’
‘Well, it’s a good job Joel refused to have anything to do with the performance from the get-go. The production would have come to nothing once he was arrested for drug pushing. Even though he would have been absolutely superb in it.’
Robyn mulled this over for several minutes as Mason concentrated on pulling on to the motorway. Eventually, once they were in the fast lane, Robyn said, ‘So,“moving on”,Mason? What’s all that about?’
Mason frowned. ‘Forget it. I should never have said anything. I do sometimes forget that I’m your boss and that you’re a member of my staff rather than my ex-lover and my mate.’
Reminded of her two months’ affair with this charismatic headteacher when she’d returned to her hometown and, very unwillingly, taken the teaching post at St Mede’s back in September, Robyn found herself embarrassed, refusing to look across at Mason.
‘So, your mum still seeing Kamran Sattar?’
‘Seeing him?’ Robyn laughed at that. ‘They can’t keep their hands off each other. It’s so lovely. I’m really pleased for her.’
‘Even though she’s sleeping with the enemy?’
‘Isn’t that a film with Julia Roberts?’
‘And your dad, Jayden, is now out of the picture then? I was hoping he might come and present prizes at speech day.’
‘St Mede’s has a speech day?’ Robyn stared.
‘Well, if Jayden Allen is prepared to come along, I’ll make sure we have one.’
Robyn wasn’t sure if Mason was joking but, glancing across at him, he appeared deadly serious. ‘I’ll have words,’ she promised, laughing at the very idea of her dad, with his almost neurotic phobia of educational establishments, coming into St Mede’s to hand out prizes.
‘Do, do. Please, do it.’ Mason paused. ‘And how does he feel about your mum – his wife – being with someone else?’
‘Jayden never married Mum, even though, as you know, she always called herself Lisa Allen. I’m afraid my dad has absolutely no right to be dog in the manger now Mum’s finally moved on with someone else.’
‘But does Jayden actuallyknow?’
‘I’ve no idea. Not seen him for a couple of months. He does keep in touch – he sent Jess a cheque for her recent birthday – but he’s in the middle of a big tour of the Caribbean at the moment. They love him over there.’
‘Well, he is one of their own; boy done good and all that. Right, this is it.’ Mason pulled into the NCP car park. ‘Let’s show Joel we’re here to support him.’
* * *
‘So, what happens now?’ Joel, together with his aunt, a plethora of support workers, youth justice service workers and Fabian were gathered on the concourse of the courthouse as Mason and Robyn joined the group once the sixteen-year-old’s case was concluded. ‘I’m a bit confused,’ Joel went on.
‘As I hoped, Joel,’ Fabian was saying, ‘the CPS had to concede you’d been a victim of modern criminal exploitation. I was able to defend you with clear evidence that you had been subject to coercion on a very large scale.’
‘Yes,’ Joel replied, ‘I know all that, Mr Carrington, but what happens this minute? Do I have to go back to Castleford with my Aunty Judith?’
