Cassie felt the first icy drops, as she waited on the edge of the pavement, and grimaced inwardly with irritation. She'd left the flat so hurriedly that morning that she'd failed to bring either an umbrella or even a scarf, and a heavy shower oh her newly washed, carefully blow-dried and disciplined hair was likely to restore it to its usual riot of tumbling waves.Clearly, it was going to be one of those days. Her radio alarm had gone off early, tempting her to the luxury of 'just a few more minutes', with the result that she'd fallen deeply asleep again.And Jodie, usually the most amenable of children, had suddenly exhibited disturbing signs of a reversion to the panicky, hysterical tempers of a few years previously.'You haven't forgotten it's open afternoon at school, Mummy,' she said, as Cassie dashed between toaster and kettle. 'Miss Willard asked specially if you were going to be there.'Cassie concealed her dismay at the reminder. Yes, it had slipped her mind, like so many other things did these days, she thought glumly, resentment rising within her at Jodie's reference to her headmistress.
