Saturday 9 February 2019

Hatefield Primary School

“You asked what what the easter bunny had to do with Jesus being crucified, you asked who made god and your handwriting is dreadful, and then you talked to a stranger.”

Jane looked around the classroom, the colours looked  wrong and the dulled children’s pictures had a nasty twist. The alphabet poster had the headline, “learn this or ruin your life” written at the top. Then the word examples of the letters were bizarre. “A was for abortion, B was for battery and showed a picture of a dad hitting mum with a frying pan, “c” was for crying.

“ There are no searches for you, your schoolwork was never on the wall ans you asked questions that Mrs Allit could never answer, you had fewer than 5 little friends too., no one will miss you.”

“What about mum”.

The woman turned on a projector, Mum was drinking with friends, including a heavy set man, her neighbor who always who always smelled of cigarettes flirting with her mum.”

“She’s fine”

Tears were producing in Jane’s eyes.

“Jane, Jane, will have no tears, don’t upset the other rejects, and the god you don’t beleive in.”

Jane looked around the dingy classroom to distract herself, she noticed a filthy window, skinny children and plastic chars that weren’t the right size for anyone.Jane choked her trears back and put on the blank expression that saw her through her life before.

“Tracy misses me, go on show me.”

Jane spoke in a tone she knew drove teachers mad, the teacher turned on the projector Tracy was with a pretty girl called Stacy, they were gossiping

“I only hung out with Jane because I felt sorry for her, but now we’re together forevermore, Tracy and Stacy, it’s perfect.”

“Just like our friendship “ Gushed Stacy.

Jane looked at the floor, her shoes were too big, her skirt was too short, She felt defeated and look like a an urchin who lived in a primary school.

“Carpet time”

Chimed the teacher. The children hurried to the faded green carpet .

“Now, we’re going to hear why our new girl Jane is here, Jane is here because she wanted too much truth. She was only 4 when she questioned the existence of Father Christmas, that’s way too young and then there were the questions about God making the world, poor Mrs Allit wanted to love her but Jane kept asking silly questions, what Jane doesn’t understand is we lie to protect our young from the world so hopefully she can leave Hurtfield correctional Primary school believing happy lies and with lovely, new neat handwriting as a reward.

“Jane, why don’t you believe in Father Christmas, the rest of the year is soooooo boring.”

Jane was determined to tell the class the truth.

“Don’t be silly, how does he get around the whole world in one night? And how does he watch every children all the time?”

Some of the children started crying, other nudged them and warned them against it. An old caretaker with a badge that “Crying children exterminator “ came and took the weeping children “No”


“That’s what telling children the truth does, you have to beleive in lies so so can be a productive member of society, you’re so clever and stupid Jane, no wonder no one loves you. Let’s see wheat mum is up to as you like truth so much.”

“please no”

Screamed Jane.

The crying children walked back into the room.

“Now tell the better truth Jane, the one Mrs Allit would like.”

“Father Christmas is alive and he loves you all.”

Jane, write your name at that desk

Jane produced the prettiest handwriting she had ever seen.

“Girls with lovely handwriting have better friends and their mummies love them more, you can go back.”