THE KITTEN 

By Tessa Harvey

    Jackson Bryant was annoyed with himself. He had been having problems at home and should have anticipated this sort of question from the older boys. Prevaricating a little, he replied: "That is a very good question, Henry," he said carefully. "How about we discuss this after lunch?" "I'm starving," he added, smiling, "and I am sure you are too!"
    The boy laughed and ran off with a clatter of feet as he swung round the classroom door the way all the boys and some of the girls did also, swinging a little on the door frame.
    Jackson knew other staff would not endure this, but he believed it was better to make an effort with more serious disciplinary problems and let small children have some fun.

-------------------------

    Velma glanced again at the ornate wall clock, its beautifully carved dark woodwork surrounding the small dial. It had been bought from the Black Forest of Germany - a souvenir of their honeymoon.
    She knew Jackson was a gifted teacher and certainly no paedophile. His interest was in other women in the readily available pornographic sites on the web.
    Today she felt as though she could no longer carry such a heavy burden. For a quarter of a century since the shock of discovery had first jolted her and plunged her into a dark abyss.
    She had prayed in church for years every Sunday, but she had confided in no-one. She had tried so hard to be a good wife in every way, but nothing ever changed.

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