An hour earlier
“For Christ’s sake come on. You can’t be late. You’d be ready if it was for her wouldn’t you?”
The venom in Felicity Davidson’s voice was total. Her husband of five years, Roger Davidson, might have gone on his knees and begged forgiveness for his fling with Patricia Patel, but Felicity wasn’t going to let him forget it soon. She had put her career on hold to help him up the ladder and had given him the child he so desperately wanted. And what had he done?
“Started screwing that bitch from the Modern Languages department”.
“Come on, we’ve got to drop Rebecca off at kindergarten on the way.”
Felicity Davidson stormed out the front door, play group bag in one hand while dragging Rebecca with the other. Roger had known for a long while that things were going sour with Felicity. He wasn’t sure if his pursuit of his various ‘other interests’ was the cause or the result of things at home. And he could not work out whether his affair with Patricia Patel was chance or inevitable.
The night that he had given her a lift home proved to be the start of the most passionate relationship he had ever had. Roger Davidson had never experienced sex like it and he grew to hunger for every minute he could spend with her. They were almost caught once in a storeroom at Woodlands. And yet…
But Patricia Patel was obsessive. It took Roger a while to realise this but by then it was too late. As far as Patricia was concerned, Roger Davidson was hers. She found his ‘other interests’ rather amusing.
“Have you ever longed for Felicity like you have for me, Rog? Could you really stand not being near me? Tell her it’s over. You know that I am the one for you. I mean it Roger, tell her it’s over!”
Roger Davidson’s head was buzzing. He had broken it off with Patricia only two days earlier, just after he had received his call from Robert Hamsby. Roger might fantasise about Patricia Patel’s body, but nothing was going to stop his rise and rise. He was only twenty nine, and Robert Hamsby had rung ‘him’. He knew the affair had to end. He knew that a life with Felicity was the price he would have to pay for his ambition, at least in the short run.
As he stepped into the hallway, he received a text. It was Patricia. She was not going to let go of him that easily.
“See you at school baby. I’ve been thinking of your tongue all night.”
Mixed emotions swirled around his head. As he closed the front door, he heard Felicity’s voice: “For fuck’s sake Roger get a move on”.
Back at the staff meeting
Robert Hamsby stepped forward.
“Right everybody, let’s get started. Welcome back to the start of another year’s adventure in learning.”
He knew this comment would get catcalls and gentle jeers, which it did, which is why he said it. Robert Hamsby had learned long ago that the best way to get an audience onside was some immediate self-deprecation. He had the staff smiling; now he was ready to get down to work.
“Ladies and gentlemen, as you know Bill Williams passed away during the summer holidays. It was expected but still a shock. I’ve been to see Jean a few times since the funeral; she’s holding up pretty well considering. Bill may have been dealt a bad hand health wise, but he was certainly lucky finding Jean.”
There were murmurs of agreement around the room.
“You all know Bill had a passion for music and did great things with the kids. Even when he was poorly earlier in the year, he was there at the Town Hall concert working with the school band. Jean wants to establish a memorial prize in Bill’s name for student involvement in music. Bill had put money aside for this. Carol I’ll talk to you about that in a day or two once we’ve got things moving here.”
Carol Bryson was the head of music. She nodded, tears in eyes. She and Bill had worked closely over the years on the annual concerts.
“But we have to move forward. As many of you know, the School Council has allowed me to choose my new Deputy from the existing staff, allowed me to choose a man or woman who has the skills of organisation, communication and the ability to get along with me, the staff and the kids. A leader.”
He paused for effect.
“As I went through the list of staff we have here, I thought, ‘Christ, you’ve gotta be joking’.”
The room erupted with good-hearted protests. At a stroke, Hamsby had broken through the seriousness of Bill Williams’ passing and managed to re-establish the light-hearted mood of before.
Patricia Patel readied herself for school. It might be a staff development day but she had no intention of going in wearing jeans and a sweater. She pulled out the close fitting red piece she was wearing the first time she had seduced Roger Davidson. He’d get the message. He’d better.
“The job of deputy must be the worst in this place. You’re in charge of the admin, discipline and the general running of the school. The rest of you experience the joy of teaching while I’m able to swan around with the local member.”
Again the staff were amused. The public stoush between the headmaster and the local Conservative MP, Alistair Fitzsmythe, was the stuff of legend. When Fitzsmythe had openly attacked Hamsby’s staff and students because of an incident in Swindon town centre, he came out all guns blazing in defence of his people. When he got the staff and students involved back to school, he ripped into them.
“Don’t you ever let me or my school down again. You understand?” They did.
As Roger Hamsby surveyed his staff, he knew that he was about to cause a major stir. Charlie Page was good but Hamsby also thought he was an arrogant shit. He’d thought of Jack Deans but Deansie was too much the family man to take on Deputy. Deidre Palmer was smart.
“But just imagine having to deal with her every day,” he had thought to himself.
Fran Wilcox was a possible, she ran the science department like clockwork and her staff admired her. She was a bit young but he could hardly use that as an argument. She would certainly want it, that’s for sure. She had said as much last term.
But Hamsby thought, “No Fran, you’re not the one for this role.” As he looked across the room, there were easily half a dozen he could have chosen. Just then Patricia Patel walked in, late. Hamsby thought to himself:
“Christ, what is she wearing today; maybe she’s got an interview at Marlborough College – either that or the new escort agency in Town.”
Tim Hawkins, the PE Master, was a staff favourite and everyone believed he would do a great job. Everyone except Deidre Palmer that was. Tony Lukacs in Social Science was an odd one, but he was a smart man. And then there was…. But no, Roger Hamsby recognised potential and he was willing to take a risk.
“Okay, now the new Deputy Headmaster…”
CHAPTER FOUR
Late May, earlier in the year
“You know Mr Davidson, you’re the only teacher Ryan takes any notice of. He says you make History interesting, especially when you start getting carried away and pretend to be Henry VIII.”
Roger Davidson smiled. He liked Margaret Roberts. She was overweight, forty going on fifty-five. Her husband had walked out years ago and she was clearly doing it tough but she somehow always managed to remain upbeat. Ryan Roberts was a difficult boy and the staff that had to teach him couldn’t wait to pass him on. Everyone that is except Roger Davidson. Roger was willing to spend time with the boy and Margaret Roberts was genuinely