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‘Duty calls!’

Megan snapped back to the present, to see Jessica A at her

‘All the parents are waiting outside for us to tell thes their poppets have been all term!’

‘Most of theh I can think of a few…’

‘With Doory?’

Megan laughed ‘But at least he waved his arh I did notice that Lucy the donkey kept her distance A what a spot of blackmail can do I told him he could watch h her colleague’s and together they headed out to the e disaster zone of discarded props and costu afternoon, when the school would be empty

The main hall was a majestic space that was used for all the school’s theatrical perfornificent Christmas tree, donated by one of the parents, stood in the corner, brightly lit with twinkling lights and festooned with decorations—many from the school reserves but a fair few also donated by parents Elsewhere, along one side, were tables groaning with the delicacies and also bottles of wine—red and white

The place was buzzing with parents and their offspring, who had changed back into their school gear, and nuled, and enjoyed the thought that ter a three-week break fros

Megan was not returning to Scotland for the holidays Her parents had decided to take the to the in-laws’ Playing the abandonreat fa put in London There was a lot going on, and Charlotte would be staying down as well They had already put up their tree in the little house they shared in Shepherd’s Bush, and had great plans for a Christmas lunch to which the dispossessed had been cordially invited Provided they arrived bearing food or drink

A surprising number of people had seeory, and so far the nuht rooan The more the merrier, as far as she was concerned

She heard Dominic before she actually spotted hi one of his class him He seemed utterly convinced that the requested shed-load of presents would all be delivered, and Megan wondered whether he had threatened the poor guy with a prison sentence should his demands not be met