Once inside, I was stuck on the slow-moving conveyor belt of that school day. Short of running out of the front door, there was no way off it. I signed the late register, then went into assembly. Mr Cornish sat by the side of the hall. PC Liphook stood at the front, speaking to Mrs Lewis. My class was already sitting down so I had to push my way along the row to get to Angus. ‘Where have you been?’ he asked when I sat down. ‘I have no idea,’ I replied honestly. ‘I saw you at the bus stop. You ran off.’ ‘How can everything be just the same?’ I said. ‘I mean, if so much is different, then how can all this be the same? I don’t see how it can.’ ‘It is confusing,’ agreed Angus. ‘Wait. Do you know what I’m talking about?’ I said. Angus laughed. ‘No, but I agree that what you’re saying is confusing.’ Mrs Lewis stood up. ‘Now, everyone, we have a very special guest so let’s show her what a polite and well-behaved school we are as we welcome Officer Liphook.’ The usual round of applause followed.
