Suzy K Quinn - Don’t Tell Teacher

I can’t carry on being the invisible woman.

Tom needs a strong mother.

Behind me, a woman says, ‘Scuse me. Are you … Tom’s mum?’

The words are an elastic band, stretched to the point of limpness.

I turn to see a skinny woman, thin blonde hair almost see-through. She’s attempted a smart outfit – a blouse tucked into tight navy jeans – but it doesn’t suit her grey, tired skin or dreamy, slow-moving eyes.

There’s a large pram by her hip with a baby girl inside. I know the baby is a girl because everything is pink – snowsuit, blanket and bow.

‘Hi,’ I say. ‘Sorry, I don’t think we’ve met.’

The woman blinks slowly and says, ‘I’m … Pauly’s mum. Leanne.’ She pauses, looking momentarily confused, then regains her concentration. ‘Pauly said about Tom. They’re … friends?’

‘Oh. Right.’ My hand finds Tom’s shoulder. ‘You’re Pauly’s mum. They’re in the same class, but … I didn’t know they were friends.’

‘You’re … separated like me, aren’t you?’ says Leanne, meeting my eye. ‘That’s what Pauly … says.’

‘Yes.’ I wonder what else the kids at school know about us already.

‘My boys’ dad … left,’ says Leanne. She sways a little and adds, ‘Good riddance. Did yours leave too?’

‘Actually, I left Tom’s dad,’ I say. ‘I tried for a long time to make it work. But you can’t change people unless they want to change.’ This comment is for the two mums standing nearby. I feel them watching me and don’t want to be judged for my failed marriage. It’s Olly’s shame, not mine.

‘We need to look after … each other,’ says Leanne with a languid blink. ‘Especially at this place. It’s not right, is it?’ Her eyes are on mine now and her words become more solid. ‘Lloyd is scared and he’s never scared. And Joey’s been having panic attacks. How’s Tom doing?’

I bite my lip. ‘Not so well, actually.’

‘Listen – don’t you become one of them. “As long as we get our good grades let’s pretend it’s all okay.” They hide a lot at this place. Sweep it under the carpet to make the school look good. I mean, Lloyd is full of shit but I know when he’s lying.’

There’s an awkward silence and then Leanne says, ‘Can Tom come round … this Saturday?’

Tom looks up, eyes frightened.

I can feel lots of parents watching me now. ‘I’m not sure,’ I say. ‘I never quite know what timings are going to be like at weekends.’

‘Oh.’ Leanne’s eyes register confusion, then annoyance, and her head bobs around again.

‘Weekends are busy for us right now. We’ve just moved house.’

‘What about your … ex, can he … you know … help out?’

‘No,’ I say, hearing a hardness to my voice.

‘Adam can pick Tom up, if you like. That’s my partner.’

‘We might be away this weekend. We have to see my mother.’

Tom looks up then. ‘You said it would be just us this weekend.’

I feel myself blushing, caught out. But the last thing I need is Tom involved with a troubled family, and by all accounts the Neilsons are very troubled.

In a bid to ease the irritation in Leanne’s eyes, I hold out my hand and say, ‘I never told you my name. It’s … Lizzie.’

I’ve always preferred Lizzie to Elizabeth. It’s friendlier. And in this historical town outside London, maybe I can make friends.

At Tom’s last school, there was a cliquey vibe. Or maybe there wasn’t. Maybe I was just hard to know – the downtrodden wife, hiding in the shadows.

‘Good to meet you,’ says Leanne. ‘Hopefully we can … you know … help each other out.’ She wobbles her head towards the gossipy mothers. ‘Some people here … they couldn’t care less.’

I smile uncertainly. Then I kneel down and say, ‘Are you ready steady for school, Tommo? Take it easy today.’ I kiss him on the head. ‘Okay. Off you go.’

‘Bye, Mum. Take care today, okay?’

‘Okay, love.’

I watch Tom cross the playground. I’m still watching long after he’s disappeared into the classroom.

Eventually, the headmaster comes to padlock the gates.

As I turn to go, I nearly trip over my feet.

Oh God .

A green van cruises past in the distance.

It’s … it’s …

No, too small. Olly’s camper has a pop-top. That was just a trader’s van.

Olly couldn’t have found us. There’s no way he could have found us.

You’re being paranoid. Jumping at shadows …

Lizzie

I’m early for school pick-up today.

It’s been a few days since I saw the van, but it’s put a picture in my head that I can’t shake.

There are no other parents here yet. Standing on the pavement by the black railings, I watch the eerily silent school building, willing the time to pass.

As I wait, the headmaster heads across the playground. He’s wearing another smart suit, jet-black today, and his peculiarly boyish face is stretched in a smile.

‘Mrs Kinnock,’ he says, approaching the gate. ‘Hello again. You’re here early. Is there something I can help you with?’

I try for a smile. ‘I should have said before, Mr Cockrun, but I’m Miss Riley now. You must know that Tom’s father and I are separated.’

‘Yes,’ says Mr Cockrun, all earnest and sincere. ‘I’m always sad when families separate. Let’s hope Tom isn’t too badly affected.’

‘It was for the best in our case,’ I say, surprised by my fierceness. ‘By the way, I need to apologise. My mother said she paid you a visit. I never asked her to. She … doesn’t always read social situations very well.’

Mr Cockrun frowns in thought. Then he has a flash of recollection. ‘Ah yes! I remember now. Tall woman. Nicely spoken. Rides horses.’

My mother doesn’t ride horses, but she’ll say anything to impress people.

‘I enjoyed meeting her,’ says Mr Cockrun. ‘We were in complete agreement when it comes to children’s schooling. Wasn’t she in education herself at some point?’

‘Um … no. She wasn’t. I did tell her not to visit again without me. I know schools are busy.’

Mr Cockrun ignores me. ‘“Act the best and you’ll be the best”– that was her motto. A very astute woman.’

I laugh. ‘My mother certainly knows how to make things look good.’

‘You were very early again this morning.’ Mr Cockrun raises a questioning eyebrow. ‘I saw you from my office. And now early again for pick-up.’

‘I like to be on time.’ I lift my chin. ‘This is a new start for us. A new life. I want everything to be perfect.’

‘Best not to get here too early.’ Mr Cockrun notices a dandelion growing in a crack in the tarmac, frowns, pulls it up and pushes it under a shrub in the flowerbed. ‘The teachers like a bit of peace and quiet, and so do I.’

‘I just—’

‘Now, since you’re here, let’s have a quick word about Tom.’ Mr Cockrun turns serious eyes on me. ‘His form teacher will want a chat shortly.’

‘About what?’

‘About the standards here. The behaviour we expect.’

‘Yes, I—’

‘We were happy to make space for Tom at such short notice. But if he disrupts other children, we have a problem. A big problem. He’s already got a reputation as a bit of a troublemaker.’

Troublemaker. What?

‘ My Tom? But he never gets into trouble.’

‘Look, don’t take this the wrong way but parents always think that. They never think it’s their child.’ He gives one of the railings – a rusty-looking one – an experimental tug. When he finds it a little loose, he takes a notepad from his pocket and scribbles something, shaking his head. ‘I’d have a word with him if I were you. Sooner rather than later.’ Then he strolls away.