Underworld

‘So, you haven’t brought your PE kit again, Fiona?’
Fiona Duncan stood in front of the teacher, her very stance an act of defiance. Tapping her foot impatiently, balancing her bag on her hip. She made an art of looking bored, staring straight ahead, chewing her gum. She shrugged an answer.
Mr Marks looked just as bored. ‘This is the third week in a row.’
‘Really? I’ve not been counting myself.’ Fiona’s voice was full of sarcasm. That was what broke her teacher’s temper at last.
‘Yes, really! And this time you are in trouble.’
Fiona blew a bubble. ‘Think so?’
‘Yes, I think so, Fiona.’
Fiona didn’t say anything for a moment, then her face creased into a triumphant smile. ‘You can’t make me do anything, sir.’
She watched her teacher’s shoulders slump in defeat. She had won. She knew she had.
‘Yes, you’re right. I can’t. Just promise me one thing, Fiona.’
‘Anything, sir.’
‘Don’t be a teacher. It’s a thankless job.’
She turned away from him, laughing. No fear of that, she mumbled, and she barely caught his next muttered words.
‘No fear of that indeed. Once a loser, always a loser.’
She almost spun round then. Who was he calling a loser? Just because she thought his beloved PE was boring. Maybe that was his fault. He was a rubbish teacher. Yet, even as she thought it, she knew it wasn’t true. The rest of the class, all dressed in their PE kit, thought he was great. Jumping about, eager to start. She’d held the lesson up. They weren’t happy about that.
‘What am I supposed to do now, sir?’
He looked at her as if he really would like to tell her what to do. She caught the look, understood it.
‘Now, now, sir, don’t be rude.’
A murmured giggle broke out in the class.
Finally, Mr Marks shook his head. ‘Sit on the bench and do nothing. That seems to be the only thing you’re good at. I’ve wasted enough time on you.’
Fiona threw down her bag and flopped on to the bench. It banged against the wall. She knew he’d probably report her, then she’d be disciplined by the head. Somebody would phone her mum. Her mum would rant and rave at her, and then forget it. Same thing every time. But it was better than