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‘Aw! My girl’s all grown up. So, am I forgiven for bailing on you?’ Kate asked with a grimace.
‘Maybe,’ Sophie said, tight-lipped and half joking. ‘Anyway, I’m off on duty.’ She was thankful she could get away from the conversation. Her nails were a state after the past few days. She hoisted herself out of the beanbag and put on her coat. ‘I’ll let you digest that little lot and I look forward to seeing you at the staff Christmas drinks tonight for the next instalment,’ Sophie teased, spinning on her heel and leaving the classroom.
She could hear Kate’s excited screams as she walked down the corridor.
Outside, the wind was up and across the playground it looked as though both leaves and children were being thrown about in a tornado. A crisp packet scuttled past Sophie’s feet, so she bent down to pick it up and wandered over to the litter bin. She shivered and pulled her bobble hat down a little firmer on her head.
Sophie began her usual figure of eight around the grounds, giving her the perfect view of the playground, but keeping her moving and warm in the process. The children were running in all directions, presumably doing the same. She missed the heady days of summer where children collected in groups and sat on the field to eat their picnic lunches. At this time of year, the games they played became much more boisterous, and duty was a terrifying gauntlet.
As Sophie rounded the corner, three children ran towards her, just missing her in their frolics. She turned to scold them, but changed her mind. They were just having fun and one of them had shouted ‘Sorry’ as they’d passed. She turned back and noticed a figure sitting on the ground, leaning against the school building. It was Cassie. Her hands were in her pockets, and her hood was up to fend off the icy wind. What little of her cheeks Sophie could see were red and her nose looked runny. If Sophie didn’t know any better, she would guess that Cassie had been crying.
‘Hello, Cassie,’ Sophie said, ignoring the obvious tear tracks down her cheeks. ‘How was your lunch?’
Cassie looked up at her and then looked back down at the ground. ‘OK,’ came the reply, along with a shrug.
‘Are you all right?’
‘Fine.’
Sophie let the silence hang for a moment. ‘You can tell me if something’s up, you know.’
‘I know.’ Cassie still sounded sullen, but relented slightly.
‘So …’ Sophie left the word dangling in the hope Cassie would finish the sentence with what was bothering her.
‘I just want to be by myself.’
‘Shall I go?’ Sophie asked.
‘No. I didn’t mean that. You don’t have to go.’
Sophie sat on the floor next to her, pulling her skirt and coat underneath her bum to try to protect herself from the frozen ground.
‘Where are your friends?’ Sophie said.
‘I haven’t got any.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Everyone’s on Lily’s side. No one wants to be my friend.’
Sophie hated ‘sides’. They caused all kinds of trouble and were really hard to break down once they’d been created. She pressed on. ‘I don’t think that’s true. Plenty of children would be lucky to have you as their friend.’
Cassie stayed quiet, scuffing her feet on the ground. ‘I hate this stupid place. I wish we’d never come back.’
‘Come on,’ Sophie said, jumping up and offering Cassie her hand. Cassie took it and she pulled her to her feet. ‘Let’s sit over here.’ Sophie walked her over to the friendship bench, and they both sat down. ‘I’ll bet in no time at all someone will come over and ask you to play – plus, it’s warmer and dryer than the ground. And in the meantime, you get to tell me all about your plans for Christmas.’
Cassie looked at Sophie for a long moment, as if wondering whether or not to trust her. Sophie willed her to engage in the conversation. It would be a genuine breakthrough, and she was keen to see Cassie happy.
Cassie didn’t say anything, but tucked some of her long hair behind her ears. ‘Well, it’ll just be me and Dad in the morning,’ she began after a stretch of silence. ‘It always has been since Mum, but I like it that way.’
Sophie smiled, thinking of the bond between Liam and his daughter. It was endearing to see that despite such tragedy, Cassie and her father had such a lovely relationship.
‘Don’t you visit any other family?’ Sophie asked.
‘Grandma and Grandpa come over and help us cook Christmas dinner,’ Cassie said, her body visibly relaxing, ‘except we always have it in the evening.’
‘That’s lovely. I bet they enjoy coming over to help, and seeing you both,’ Sophie said, imagining Liam’s kitchen full of Christmas fare and excited chatter.
