It’s Monday, the last week of Form Five. English is first and I’m dreading it. I ‘forgot’ to bring in my 5000 word essay on Macbeth. Not a good start to the week! Oh well, maybe Ms Deville is in a good mood today.

I’m wrong.

“Miss Parker, I seem to be missing an essay! Could you possibly explain why?” she screeches in that ghastly voice of hers.

“Well, erm…you see…” I anxiously look around, desperately raking my brain for an excuse I hadn’t used before. Bethany (my best and most loyal friend) was waving frantically to and fro, making these stupid signs I could not understand. Ms Deville – Cruella Deville we called her, finally puts me out of my misery.

“Detention! Tomorrow lunch time with me at precisely 1pm, DO NOT BE LATE! Have I made myself clear?”

Crystal Clear.  

“Oh, and Annie, make sure your essay is on my desk by tomorrow morning, otherwise you will be attending…Summer School!” The class gasp in disbelief. She grinned, revealing a set of yellow rotting teeth with this morning’s breakfast on them.

The Bell Rings.

“Class dismissed!” Cruella yells so close to me that my ears are still ringing five minutes later. Bethany waits for me at the door.

“Tough Luck!” she sympathizes. I nod, everyone knows that Ms Deville means every word she says and Summer School is the last place I want to be, especially when everyone else will be heading for the beach and clubbing all through the night. I’m so caught up in my sea of misery that I arrive ten minutes late for art – my favourite subject.

Once I apologize, Mr Mackenzie insists that it is ‘quite alright’ and ‘not to worry my little self.’ He was always cheerful with round rosy cheeks and unmistakable Irish accent.

Jaye grins at me and pulls out a chair next to his, indicating for me to sit next to him. He’s captain of the rugby team, which is blatantly obvious if you look at his bulging muscles – which I tend to do a lot! Looking at him, suddenly I feel light headed, like I’m standing on a cloud, and I forget all about English, forget about the essay, forget about Summer Camp…