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‘—and　Miles　mentioned　Bellchapel；　and　I　was　quite　–　quite　dismayed　by　the　way　he　talked　about　the　issues　involved。　I　told　him　I’m　dealing　with　a　family　at　the　moment；’　Kay　remembered　her　indiscreet　mention　of　the　Weedons’　names　and　proceeded　carefully；　‘and　if　the　mother　is　deprived　of　methadone；　she’ll　almost　certainly　end　up　back　on　the　game。’

‘That　sounds　like　the　Weedons；’　said　Tessa；　with　a　lowering　sensation。

‘I　–　yes；　I　am　talking　about　the　Weedons；　actually；’　said　Kay。

Tessa　reached　for　another　biscuit。

‘I’m　Krystal’s　guidance　teacher。　This　must　be　the　second　time　her　mother’s　been　through　Bellchapel；　is　it？’

‘Third；’　said　Kay。

‘We’ve　known　Krystal　since　she　was　five：　she　was　in　our　son’s　class　at　primary　school；’　Tessa　said。　‘She’s　had　an　awful　life；　really。’

‘Absolutely；’　said　Kay。　‘It’s　astounding　she’s　as　sweet　as　she　is；　actually。’

‘Oh；　I　agree；’　said　Colin　heartily。

Remembering　Colin’s　absolute　refusal　to　rescind　Krystal’s　detention　after　the　squawking　incident　in　assembly；　Tessa　raised　her　eyebrows。　Then　she　wondered；　with　a　sick　lurch　in　her　stomach；　what　Colin　would　say　if　Sukhvinder　was　not　lying　or　mistaken。　But　surely　Sukhvinder　was　wrong。　She　was　a　shy；　naive　girl。　Probably　she　had　got　the　wrong　end　of　the　stick　…　misheard　something　…

‘The　point　is；　about　the　only　thing　that　motivates　Terri　is　the　fear　of　losing　her　kids；’　said　Kay。　‘She’s　back　on　track　at　the　moment；　her　key　worker　at　the　clinic　told　me　she　senses　a　bit　of　a　breakthrough　in　Terri’s　attitude。　If　Bellchapel　closes；　it　all　goes　belly…up　again；　and　God　knows　what’ll　happen　to　the　family。’

‘This　is　all　very　useful；’　said　Colin；　nodding　importantly；　and　starting　to　make　notes　on　a　clean　page　in　his　notebook。　‘Very　useful　indeed。　Did　you　say　you’ve　got　statistics　on　people　going　clean？’

Kay　shuffled　the　printed　pages；　looking　for　the　information。　Tessa　had　the　impression　that　Colin　wanted　to　reclaim　Kay’s　attention　for　himself。　He　had　always　been　susceptible　to　good　looks　and　a　sympathetic　manner。

Tessa　munched　another　biscuit；　still　thinking　about　Krystal。　Their　recent　guidance　sessions　had　not　been　very　satisfactory。　Krystal　had　been　standoffish。　Today’s　had　been　no　different。　She　had　extracted　a　promise　from　Krystal　that　she　would　not　pursue　or　harass　Sukhvinder　Jawanda　again；　but　Krystal’s　demeanour　suggested　that　Tessa　had　let　her　down；　that　trust　was　broken。　Possibly　Colin’s　detention　was　to　blame。　Tessa　had　thought　that　she　and　Krystal　had　forged　a　bond　strong　enough　to　withstand　that；　although　it　had　never　been　quite　like　the　one　Krystal　had　with　Barry。

（Tessa　had　been　there；　on　the　spot；　the　day　that　Barry　had　e　into　school　with　a　rowing　machine；　looking　for　recruits　to　the　crew　he　was　trying　to　start。　She　had　been　summoned　from　the　staff　room　to　the　gym；　because　the　PE　teacher　was　off　sick；　and　the　only　supply　teacher　they　could　find　at　such　short　notice　was　male。

The　fourth…year　girls；　in　their　shorts　and　Aertex　tops；　had　been　giggly　when　they　had　arrived　in　the　gym　to　find　Miss　Jarvis　absent；　replaced　by　two　strange　men。　Tessa　had　had　to　reprimand　Krystal；　Nikki　and　Leanne；　who　had　pushed　to　the　front　of　the　class　and　were　making　lewd　suggestive　remarks　about　the　supply　teacher；　he　was　a　handsome　young　man　with　an　unfortunate　tendency　to　blush。

Barry；　short；　ginger…haired　and　bearded；　was　wearing　a　tracksuit。　He　had　taken　a　morning　off　work　to　do　this。　Everybody　thought　his　idea　was　strange　and　unrealistic：　schools　like　Winterdown　did　not　have　rowing　eights。　Niamh　and　Siobhan　had　seemed　half　amused；　half　mortified　by　their　dad’s　presence。

Barry　explained　what　he　was　trying　to　do：　put　together　crews。　He　had　secured　the　use　of　the　old　boathouse　down　on　the　canal　at　Yarvil；　it　was　a　fabulous　sport；　and　an　opportunity　to　shine；　for　themselves；　for　their　school。　Tessa　had　positioned　herself　right　next　to　Krystal　and　her　friends　to　keep　them　in　check；　the　worst　of　their　giggling　had　subsided；　but　was　not　entirely　quelled。

Barry　demonstrated　the　rowing　machine　and　asked　for　volunteers。　Nobody　stepped　forward。

‘Krystal　Weedon；’　said　Barry；　pointing　at　her。　‘I’ve　seen　you　dangling　off　the　monkey　bars　down　the　park；　that’s　proper　upper　body　strength　you’ve　got　there。　e　here　and　give　it　a　go。’

Krystal　was　only　too　happy　to　step　into　the　spotlight；　she　swaggered　up　to　the　machine　and　sat　down　on　it。　Even　with　Tessa　glowering　beside　them；　Nikki　and　Leanne　had　howled　with　laughter　and　the　rest　of　the　class　joined　in。

Barry　showed　Krystal　what　to　do。　The　silent　supply　teacher　had　watched　in　professional　alarm　as　Barry　positioned　her　hands　on　the　wooden　handle。

She　heaved　on　the　handle；　making　a　stupid　face　at　Nikki　and　Leanne；　and　everyone　laughed　again。

‘Look　at　that；’　Barry　had　said；　beaming。　‘She’s　a　natural。’

Had　Krystal　really　been　a　natural？　Tessa　did　not　know　anything　about　rowing；　she　could　not　tell。

‘Straighten　your　back；’　Barry　told　Krystal；　‘or　you’ll　injure　it。　That’s　it。　Pull　…　pull　…　look　at　that　technique　…　have　you　done　this　before？’

Then　Krystal　really　had　straightened　her　back；　and　she　really　had　done　it　properly。　She　stopped　looking　at　Nikki　and　Leanne。　She　hit　a　rhythm。

‘Excellent；’　said　Barry。　‘Look　at　that　…　excellent。　That’s　how　you　do　it！　Atta　girl。　And　again。　And　again。　And—’

‘It　’urts！’　shouted　Krystal。

‘I　know　it　does。　That’s　how　you　end　up　with　arms　like　Jennifer　Aniston；　doing　that；’　said　Barry。

There　had　been　a　little　ripple　of　laughter；　but　this　time　they　laughed　with　him。　What　was　it　that　Barry　had　had？　He　was　always　so　present；　so　natural；　so　entirely　without　self…consciousness。　Teenagers；　Tessa　knew；　were　riven　with　the　fear　of　ridicule。　Those　who　were　without　it；　and　God　knew　there　were　few　enough　of　them　in　the　adult　world；　had　natural　authority　among　the　young；　they　ought　to　be　forced　to　teach。

‘And　rest！’　Barry　said；　and　Krystal　slumped；　red　in　the　face　and　rubbing　her　arms。

‘You’ll　have　to　give　up　the　fags；　Krystal；’　said　Barry；　and　he　got　a　big　laugh　this　time。　‘OK；　who　else　wants　a　try？’

When　Krystal　rejoined　her　watching　classmates；　she　was　no　longer　laughing。　She　watched　each　new　rower　jealously；　her　eyes　darting　constantly　to　Barry’s　bearded　face　to　see　what　he　thought　of　them。　When　Carmen　Lewis　messed　it　up　pletely；　Barry　said；　‘Show　’em；　Krystal；’　and　her　face　lit　up　as　she　returned　to　the　machine。

But　at　the　end　of　the　exhibition；　when　Barry　asked　those　who　were　interested　in　trying　out　for　the　team　to　raise　their　hands；　Krystal　kept　her　arms　folded。　Tessa　watched　her　shake　her　head；　sneering；　as　Nikki　muttered　to　her。　Barry　carefully　noted　down　the　names　of　the　interested　girls；　then　looked　up。

‘And　you；　Krystal　Weedon；’　he　said；　pointing　at　her。　‘You’re　ing　too。　Don’t　you　shake　your　head　at　me。　I’ll　be　very　annoyed　if　I　don’t　see　you。　That’s　natural　talent　you’ve　got　there。　I　don’t　like　seeing　natural　talent　wasted。　Krys　–　tal；’　he　said　loudly；　inscribing　her　name；　‘Wee　–　don。’

Had　Krystal　thought　about　her　natural　talent　as　she　showered　at　the　end　of　the　lesson？　Had　she　carried　the　thought　of　her　new　aptitude　around　with　her　that　day；　like　an　unexpected　Valentine？　Tessa　did　not　know；　but　to　the　amazement　of　all；　except　perhaps　Barry；　Krystal　had　turned　up　at　try…outs。）

Colin　was　nodding　vigorously　as　Kay　took　him　through　relapse　rates　at　Bellchapel。

‘Parminder　should　see　this；’　he　said。　‘I’ll　make　sure　she　gets　a　copy。　Yes；　yes；　very　useful　indeed。’

Feeling　slightly　sick；　Tessa　took　a　fourth　biscuit。

X
Parminder　worked　late　on　Monday　evenings；　and　as　Vikram　was　usually　at　the　hospital；　the　three　Jawanda　children　laid　the　table　and　cooked　for　themselves。　Sometimes　they　squabbled；　occasionally　they　had　a　laugh；　but　today；　each　was　absorbed　in　their　own　particular　thoughts；　and　the　job　was　pleted　with　unusual　efficiency　in　near　silence。

Sukhvinder　had　not　told　her　brother　or　her　sister　that　she　had　tried　to　truant；　or　about　Krystal　Weedon’s　threat　to　beat　her　up。　The　habit　of　secrecy　was　very　strong　in　her　these　days。　She　was　actively　frightened　of　imparting　confidences；　because　she　feared　that　they　might　betray　the　world　of　oddness　that　lived　inside　her；　the　world　that　Fats　Wall　seemed　able　to　perate　with　such　terrifying　ease。　All　the　same；　she　knew　that　the　events　of　the　day　could　not　be　kept　quiet　indefinitely。　Tessa　had　told　her　that　she　intended　to　telephone　Parminder。

‘I’m　going　to　have　to　call　your　mum；　Sukhvinder；　it’s　what　we　always　do；　but　I’m　going　to　explain　to　her　why　you　did　it。’

Sukhvinder　had　felt　almost　warm　towards　Tessa；　even　though　she　was　Fats　Wall’s　mother。　Frightened　though　she　was　of　her　mother’s　reaction；　a　tiny　little　glow　of　hope　had　kindled　inside　her　at　the　thought　of　Tessa　interceding　for　her。　Would　the　realization　of　Sukhvinder’s　desperation　lead；　at　last；　to　some　crack　in　her　mother’s　implacable　disapproval；　her　disappointment；　her　endless　stone…faced　criticism？

When　the　front　door　opened　at　last；　she　heard　her　mother　speaking　Punjabi。

‘Oh；　not　the　bloody　farm　again；’　groaned　Jaswant；　who　had　cocked　an　ear　to　the　door。

The　Jawandas　owned　a　patch　of　ancestral　land　in　the　Punjab；　which　Parminder；　the　oldest；　had　inherited　from　their　father　in　the　absence　of　sons。　The　farm　occupied　a　place　in　the　family　consciousness　that　Jaswant　and　Sukhvinder　had　sometimes　discussed。　To　their　slightly　amused　astonishment；　a　few　of　their　older　relatives　seemed　to　live　in　the　expectation　that　the　whole　family　would　move　back　there　one　day。　Parminder’s　father　had　sent　money　back　to　the　farm　all　his　life。　It　was　tenanted　and　worked　by　second　cousins；　who　seemed　surly　and　embittered。　The　farm　caused　regular　arguments　among　her　mother’s　family。

‘Nani’s　gone　off　on　one　again；’　interpreted　Jaswant；　as　Parminder’s　muffled　voice　perated　the　door。

Parminder　had　taught　her　first…born　some　Punjabi；　and　Jaz　had　picked　up　a　lot　more　from　their　cousins。　Sukhvinder’s　dyslexia　had　been　too　severe　to　enable　her　to　learn　two　languages　and　the　attempt　had　been　abandoned。

‘…　Harpreet　still　wants　to　sell　off　that　bit　for　the　road　…’

Sukhvinder　heard　Parminder　kicking　off　her　shoes。　She　wished　that　her　mother　had　not　been　bothered　about　the　farm　tonight　of　all　nights；　it　never　put　her　into　a　good　mood；　and　when　Parminder　pushed　open　the　kitchen　door　and　she　saw　her　mother’s　tight　mask…like　face；　her　courage　failed　her　pletely。

Parminder　acknowledged　Jaswant　and　Rajpal　with　a　slight　wave　of　her　hand；　but　she　pointed　at　Sukhvinder　and　then　towards　a　kitchen　chair；　indicating　that　she　was　to　sit　down　and　wait　for　the　call　to　end。

Jaswant　and　Rajpal　drifted　back　upstairs。　Sukhvinder　waited　beneath　the　wall　of　photographs；　in　which　her　relative　inadequacy　was　displayed　for　the　world　to　see；　pinned　to　her　chair　by　her　mother’s　silent　mand。　On　and　on　went　the　call；　until　at　long　last　Parminder　said　goodbye　and　cut　the　connection。

When　she　turned　to　look　at　her　daughter　Sukhvinder　knew；　instantly；　before　a　word　was　spoken；　that　she　had　been　wrong　to　hope。

‘So；’　said　Parminder。　‘I　had　a　call　from　Tessa　while　I　was　at　work。　I　expect　you　know　what　it　was　about。’

Sukhvinder　nodded。　Her　mouth　seemed　to　be　full　of　cotton　wool。

Parminder’s　rage　crashed　over　her　like　a　tidal　wave；　dragging　Sukhvinder　with　it；　so　that　she　was　unable　to　find　her　feet　or　right　herself。

‘Why？　Why？　Is　this　copying　the　London　girl；　again　–　are　you　trying　to　impress　her？　Jaz　and　Raj　never　behave　like　this；　never　–　why　do　you？　What’s　wrong　with　you？　Are　you　proud　of　being　lazy　and　sloppy？　Do　you　think　it’s　cool　to　act　like　a　delinquent？　How　do　you　think　I　felt　when　Tessa　told　me？　Called　at　work　–　I’ve　never　been　so　ashamed　–　I’m　disgusted　by　you；　do　you　hear　me？　Do　we　not　give　you　enough？　Do　we　not　help　you　enough？　What　is　wrong　with　you；　Sukhvinder？’

In　desperation；　Sukhvinder　tried　to　break　through　her　mother’s　tirade；　and　mentioned　the　name　Krystal　Weedon—

‘Krystal　Weedon！’　shouted　Parminder。　‘That　stupid　girl！　Why　are　you　paying　attention　to　anything　she　says？　Did　you　tell　her　I　tried　to　keep　her　damn　great…grandmother　alive？　Did　y