****
“Good Lord!” Principal Stewart remarked as they entered his office, shock and disbelief written clearly across his face on what was otherwise a quiet Monday morning. “What on earth has happened?”
“We’re going to need to contact the police and press charges.” Sally ordered him as she motioned for Simon to sit down in one of the comfortable chairs in front of his desk. “This isn’t the first time Rowena Hardwick has sent her son to school bruised and beaten, but it’s surely the worst case of child abuse I’ve seen yet!”
“Hang on a sec’ Sally, you’re telling me his mother did this to him?” He stood up, mind racing as he ran his fingers through his thinning silver grey hair pondering what to do next. His 25 years of teaching had conditioned him to handle any crisis that reared its head, and right now he was at the top of his game.
“Damn right she did and I’ll see to it that she is charged and that custody is given to Simon’s father….”
“Whoa, Sally. First of all, let’s all calm down for a moment. We have to get the boy to a doctor, I think that wound needs some medical attention and secondly, the school can certainly report this matter to the police, but it’s up to them or the boys’ father to press charges. I mean we don’t know the full extent of the story here….”
“Well get on to it then, you make the calls and I’ll ring Doug and get him to come down here straight away.”
“Sally,” he paused as he stepped out from behind his desk. “I’m quite aware of your relationship with the boys’ father. To me it’s not a problem. You’ve always conducted yourself professionally but let’s not turn this into a personal situation. The school needs to deal with this on a professional level, so please remember that.”
“Of course.” Sally stopped and stared at him surprised.
“I’ll start talking to Simon to get his story written down. In the meanwhile, can you get reception to get in contact with Simon’s father? Make sure they let him know the school can make an appointment with a doctor once we have his consent, I don’t think we’ll be needing the emergency ward at the hospital, and under no circumstances is the boys’ mother to be contacted. I want it left to the police to decide what to do once they have spoken with his father.”
“Got it, I’ll be back in a few minutes then.” She said as she turned to walk out of the office.
“Actually Sally.” He stopped her before she reached the door. “I will take care of it from here. You can return to your class and I’ll organize another teacher to relieve you after the police have taken a statement from Simon, no doubt they will want to speak to you also.”
“I’m sorry but no, I’m not leaving Simon to go through this alone.” She protested.
“Sally listen to me, this is in the best interests of both yourself and Simon. I’ll have the vice-principal sit in with me and we will see to it that this matter is dealt with thoroughly, I don’t tolerate this sort of action lightly either.”
Simon turned to look at Sally as she stood frozen in the doorway, torn between two thoughts. He needed her to stay and reassure him that everything was going to be alright and that he was going to get to live with his Dad, she was after all the only woman he trusted. Then she could marry his Dad and they would finally be one happy family together, forever.
“Simon, everything’s going to be alright.” She walked back over to where Simon sat alone in the chair and tried in vain to reassure him with a parting hug. “I’m going to go and phone your Dad, he’ll be down here very soon. In the meantime, I want you to tell Mr Stewart everything that you told me in the hallway before. Make sure you tell the police that it isn’t the first time that this has happened and that you’re scared to go home to your mother when they come too. I’ll be back a little later.”
“That will be all thank you Sally.” Principal Stewart hurried her along. “Simon will be fine. I’ll personally see to it myself.”
Sally McKenzie hurried out of the room and disappeared from view through the reception area of the school office, along with any hope Simon held for finding a way out of the nightmare. He pictured a room full of police officers, his Mum and Dad all gathered in Principal Stewarts’ office only to be told that he had to go home with his mother until the court decided where he would live and wished now that he had never said anything.
The Long Way Home Page 70
