Soul Music - Teacher

'Susan!'

Susan felt herself fading protectively, out of habit. She stopped it. There was no need for that. There had never been a need for that.

A figure stood at the end of the passage, in a circle of lamplight.

'Yes, Miss Butts?' The headmistress peered at her, as if waiting for her to do something. 'Are you all right, Miss Butts?'

The teacher rallied. 'Do you know it's gone midnight? For shame! And you're out of bed! And that is certainly not the school uniform!'

Susan looked down. It was always hard to get every little detail right. She was still wearing the black dress with the lace.

'Yes,' she said, 'that's right.' She gave Miss Butts a bright friendly smile.

'Well, there are school rules, you know,' said Miss Butts, but her tone was hesitant.

Susan patted her on the arm. 'I think they're probably more like guidelines, don't you? Eulalie?'

Miss Butts's mouth opened and shut. And Susan realized that the woman was actually quite short. She had a tall bearing and a tall voice and a tall manner, and was tall in every respect except height. Amazingly, she'd apparently been able to keep this a secret from people.

'But I'd better be off to bed,' said Susan, her mind dancing on adrenalin. 'And you, too. It's far too late to be wandering around draughty corridors at your age, don't you think? Last day tomorrow, too. You don't want to look tired when the parents arrive.'

'Er . . . Yes. Yes. Thank you, Susan.'

Susan gave the forlorn teacher another warm smile and headed for the dormitory, where she undressed in the dark and got between the sheets.

***

Soul Music - p254