Catching Waves

Part Two

It is a universal camping truth that the morning after is never as much fun as the night before and the small group worked quickly to pack away and get going. Cold and achy, the boys - despite having enjoyed the Friday night, were reluctant to spend a single second of the weekend with their teachers, little guessing that these feelings were mirrored by the committed professionals who packed hurriedly alongside them. Miracles were performed with unruly sleeping bags and flimsy storage bags, provisions and cutlery were slotted away with military precision and the charred remains of the bonfire kicked aside.  

Finally the boys were given permission to leave and off they ambled, seriously debating the merits of a TripleWhammoChilliBurger versus a fry up cooked by Adam's Aunty Rita. The teachers relaxed, relieved that the evening had gone without hitch. No one liked to mention The Night They'd Lost Fin: Fin was a 15 year entrepreneur who - whilst delighted to have won the opportunity to camp out, had no intention of it getting in the way of his weekly shift selling competitively priced weed in the toilets of the local night club. He'd thought nothing of sneaking off in the middle of the night to fulfil his clients' needs and the memory of the panic that had ensued when they'd discovered his absence lingered on like the smell of a cheap curry. Subsequently, to end the trip with as many students as they'd started out with was always a bonus that they celebrated. 

Just as the last box had been stowed in the back of Simon's van, a black Mazda pulled into the car park. Out stepped a tall, chiselled, well-built man with closely cropped dark hair, manfully handling a tray of coffees from the local Bean Around. "What's he doing ..." muttered Josh as Reg bounded up to meet and greet the latest arrival.  

"Good, I caught you - thought you might need some warming up, it was pretty chilly last night". 

Preston Spencer. The Head of the Unit where they all taught, he'd been master and commander for the last 18 months which was still not long enough to lose the Our-New-Head tag that followed every mention of his name. He was hard working, professional and courteous in everything he did but his lack of interest in social niceties had made it difficult for his staff to bond with him. The man lived and breathed for the Unit which was commendable but as a person, he was utterly inscrutable. Caitlin had been one of Preston's first appointees and because she was crazy grateful for the break he had given her, always half-heartedly chastised the others when they gossiped about him. Half-heartedly? Well, he did tend to err on the very enigmatic side and all that hard work professional blah blah had done little to dispel the wild rumour that underneath his sharp suits and sensitive ties, he was actually a Government operative sent to monitor all the up-and-coming social subversives who passed through the Unit's doors.  

Despite these outrageous James-Bond-esque theories, Caitlin and the others still crowded round him, murmuring appreciatively at this unprecedented move. The foursome fell smoothly into the ritual of preparation that preceded that all important first sip; the milk, the sugar, the stirring. And then - first sip supped, the caffeine spurring on a jovial burst of light hearted small talk to which Preston listened, nodded and smiled thinly. Looking at Caitlin, Heidi widened her eyes fractionally for this effusive gushing was most unlike their stoic boss. Eventually however there was no more small to be talked and the conversation drifted towards departure. In the midst of the goodbyes, Preston abruptly turned to Caitlin and said "We really must discuss that Reluctant Readers' Literacy Programme you outlined in this term's action plan. I'm curious, what foundations have you been laying?" She turned to her boss, blinked and opened her mouth before closing it again. Her brain helpfully informed her that this was a crisis before initiating melt down. Aghast, Caitlin could only wonder why Preston would ask her a Monday morning question at the start of the weekend. Meanwhile, he waited patiently, head cocked, eyebrows lifted slightly in anticipation. As he waited, Heidi and the others waved ruefully at her before scuttling off, not wanting to be next in Preston's firing line.