Earlier in the day, she had received the call asking her to come into discuss Rachel. Rachel? She had always done so well in school. Steph had never had to discuss her behaviour. Her blood had run cold. ‘Mrs Fitzpatrick…’ Mrs Doyle said. ‘Call me Steph, please.’ She was desperately trying to make the situation less formal and more manageable somehow. ‘I wonder…’ said the head teacher, ‘if anything is going on at home.’ ‘At home?’ ‘Yes, at home.’ Mrs Doyle gazed steadily back. ‘Why… what’s going on? Is Rachel in trouble?’ ‘No, not trouble as such…’ Mrs Doyle stopped for a moment. ‘But there has been a change in her behaviour which has caused her teachers to mention it to me. And I have spoken to Rachel myself and thought it wise to talk to you. I’m sorry your husband wasn’t available.’ ‘Work, you know,’ said Steph. ‘But when you say change in behaviour… what do you mean?’ ‘There has been a sharp decrease in Rachel’s performance levels.
