Read Online In Loco Parentis by Nigel Bird - Free Book Online

no.
    I couldn’t get into Breathless, though, something that’s never happened before
    Mostly I thought of Emma instead, what she’s doing, who she’s with, the huge amount of fun she must be having. The thoughts kept turning round in my head like clothes in a tumble-drier.
    Only part of the film I really got into was the end, Jean Paul Belmondo’s theatrical demise.
    â€œBattle of Algiers next week if you fancy it.” Mike has the programme spread out on the table.
    â€œSure.”
    â€œYou seem distracted Bud.” I guess there’s no hiding some things.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œBetter out than in.”
    He’s right. Truth is Mike’s been a better counsellor to me over the years than Dr India will ever be. Maybe it’s because I can tell him anything.
    â€œIt’s just the Jenny thing.” Well anything except that I’m having an affair with someone he knows better than I do and who’s the parent of one of the kids at my school.
    â€œShe’s not a blood relation, man. It’s cool.”
    I take a good swig from my bottle hoping he won’t see my liar’s blush. “I know it in here,” I say, pointing to my head. “I just don’t know it in here,” and this time I point to my heart.
    â€œLet the dog see the rabbit.” He looks at my crotch and grins. I guess you can’t always take the Marines out of the man. “Hear about Wolf?” And I let him tell me all of the things I already know until the bell rings for the next film.
    His legs stretch out into the aisle while my feet rest upon the top of the seat in front.
    La Haine opens. Hits the ground running. Has my attention from the start.
    There are no cracks for my mind to fall into.
    I think about the title for a moment. Wonder who I hate the most.
    When all’s said and done, I reckon it’s me who’s at the top of the list.

show and tell
    Twenty-five minutes to the bell for the end of the day and I’m all out of ideas.
    They’ve had enough stories to fill a collection and I need to string the show-and-tell out for as long as I can manage.
    â€œI got it for my birthday when I was 4.” Max holds up his Buzz Lightyear toy and moves it around in circles over his head. “And it can talk, see?” He fiddles about with a plastic ring and pulls the string.
    â€œTo infinity and beyond,” Buzz says and all the children sitting in the circle laugh.
    â€œThat’s amazing, Max,” I tell him. “Can he do anything else?”
    Max holds his toy at arm’s length and looks at him for a moment. “Sure.” He throws him up into the air and catches him. “He can fly.”
    â€œIt’s a flying toy,” David says and gets jumps to his feet to get a closer look.
    â€œNow, now David. What did we say about being a quality audience?” He doesn’t answer my question, just sits down and folds his arms. “That was lovely Max. Who’s next.”
    Those with things to say breathe a collective gasp, straighten their backs and have their fingers over their lips before Max is seated.
    I look around and try and build the tension, so much easier when they’re five than when they’re eleven.
    â€œAminta.” I know she hasn’t got anything with her, but it’ll make her feel like she’s part of things. The poor thing blushes and moves in tight to her cousin to find safety. At least I’m another thirty seconds closer to the bell going.
    â€œAurora?”
    Aurora stands up, hiding something behind her back. She looks round the circle to check she has everyone’s attention and she does.
    She holds out a photograph. It’s of two old people holding a baby.
    â€œThis is me when I was a baby.” She turns the picture so that everyone can get a look.
    The room gives a collective sigh.
    â€œWho are the old people?” David shouts out.
    Aurora looks at him but says nothing, then