The next morning dawned overcast and windy enough to ensure stinging eyes, static charged hair and hyped up children -- and no sign of her hoped for fresh start.

Jemimah was still miserable, tired and, despite the late hours of working in her classroom the night before, woefully overwhelmed by the responsibilities ahead of her. Her class arrived in the playground without any diminution of the rough play and rough language that had characterised that small handful of children who’d been testing the boundaries since the beginning of second term.

It was an unpleasantly negative start to the school day, but with the weight of her headmistress’s expectations pressing heavily on her, Jemimah explained to the children the consequences that the use of any bad language would bring. On one side of the long chalkboard she drew up a column headed “Lunchtime Detention”, explaining that there would be no more warnings and anyone swearing would be written on the list and kept in from play the very next lunchtime. Beside it she headed another column, “Privileges Withdrawn” and explained that anyone swearing a second time would not have the privilege of seeing the Friday afternoon video, but would spend the time doing work in Ms Armstrong’s class instead.

The morning proceeded quietly after this, and as she let the children into the playground for lunch she almost dared to hope that the definite threat as prescribed by the senior teacher might have already solved the problem. She was soon disabused of this dream however, on the return from the playground of her windswept, rowdy and red-cheeked charges. They had only been back in the classroom for a matter of minutes when someone’s drink bottle was knocked flying, followed by an unmistakable expletive and accompanied by a round of impressed little boy giggles.

Her heart sinking, Jemimah turned to the offender, Kai Gatley - a mostly sweet, if a little mischievous, boy of seven -- and asked him to leave the room and await her on the verandah. The rest of the class, including his five-year-old brother, Beau, waited open-mouthed to see what would happen.

Jemimah wiped up the spreading puddle from the spilt container, handed out a colouring sheet she’d copied for the class to use in case of emergencies like this, and then went out to speak to Kai on the verandah. He was pale-faced and trembling, and she crouched down to his level, quietly explaining to him that he’d broken the rules about swearing and would have his name written on the board and would be serving his detention the following lunchtime.

Her heart hurt for him as he followed her back into the room and took his seat, head bowed, at his table. She was so sorry that it had been him who had sworn -- and not one of the ringleaders of the recent troubles -- as she knew him to be a sensitive and generally well behaved child who undoubtedly was just trying to impress his rougher peers.

The awed silence continued as she wrote his name on the blackboard, explaining as she did so that anyone else who swore would also be added to the list and be spending tomorrow lunchtime on detention. She silently prayed that this action would do the trick, her heart squeezing painfully as she saw the tear that spilled onto Kai’s worksheet. She had resisted this kind of formal discipline as long as she could have, and told herself that as much as she hated to see him suffer if she didn’t follow through on Linda’s advice it was all the children, including little Lucy and Bailey Hart, who were being exposed to the bad language if it wasn’t stopped.

Comforting herself as much as her students, Jemimah read aloud a favourite story as they coloured. When the bell finally rang to mark the end of the school day, and she watched Kai slink out of the door as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders, she wasn’t sure if she was relieved or disappointed that no other names had joined his on the board.

It would be so good to get out for her run with Jarrah, she thought as she returned to her desk, quickly calculating what work she could get completed before then. With that end in mind, Jemimah settled down to her books, the time passing quickly until Jarrah strolled into the room.

“Hey, no cranky headmistress keeping you in late after school today,” Jarrah quipped, tossing her school bag onto a desk near Jemimah’s. Jemimah looked up quickly, in dread that Linda might overhear her.

“Don’t worry, her car’s already gone,” Jarrah grinned guessing her thoughts. “How late were you kept in?”

“I ended up being here until around nine. But Ms Armstrong was only talking to me for another hour or so after you left. I’m so sorry I couldn’t go for our run.”

“That’s okay, I could see how things were. We’re on for today, though?”

“Absolutely. Have you got any school work to do first?”

“Nah. I’ve gotta watch my time, though. Mum’s going out for tea, so I’ve got to be back home for Rosie.”

“Okay. I’ll just finish writing these notes up, and then we’ll go. Do you want to pick a couple of the new books to take home and read with Rosie tonight? They only arrived yesterday, so none of the kids have seen them yet. I think they’re really cute.” Jemimah indicated a small, colourful carton on the corner of her table, and Jarrah wandered over and began browsing through them.

Jemimah quickly finished up on her bookwork, smiling to herself as she looked up to see the teenager, turning the pages of one of the readers in absorption. “I’ll just get changed then,” Jemimah called on her way to the door.

When she returned a couple of minutes later, Jarrah had put aside four books she wanted to read with Rosie, and joined Jemimah as she locked up the classroom door. Jemimah could have hugged the girl for the effort she was putting into her little sister but felt it was wiser not to make a fuss.

As they walked down the stairs, Jemimah was surprised to see two adults walking purposefully across the playground in her direction. A moment later she recognised the woman as Kai and Beau’s mum and guessed that the man with her, a burly fellow at least the size of Jack Hart, was her partner or husband.

Cold dread spread through her even before they came close enough for her to see plainly that the expression on their faces was anything but friendly.

Hasn’t enough gone wrong for me already, she thought miserably. I can’t take any more ...

She took a deep breath and stepped forward to meet them, trying to portray a confidence that was entirely opposite to the way she was feeling.

“Hello, Julie, isn’t it?” She held out her hand in greeting, but the woman ignored the proffered hand and crossed her arms across her chest.

“And I don’t think we’ve met?” Jemimah turned to the man beside her, looking like he’d come straight from a hard day’s labour in his muddy work boots and navy shorts and shirt.

“Shane Gatley,” he supplied curtly. “Kai’s dad. I hear you’ve been picking on him.”

“Is it right he’s got detention tomorrow?” Julie demanded before Jemimah had a chance to answer. “That all the boys were mucking up but he was the only one who’s got in trouble?”

Jemimah’s heart was pounding almost as hard as it had on Saturday when she’d thought there was an axe murderer standing behind her. She had to dig deep to hold onto her composure and keep her voice steady as she replied.

“It’s good you’ve come straight to me to discuss your concerns. I’ll unlock the class room, and we can sit down and I’ll explain it all to you inside.”

They looked at her with misgiving, but followed her up the stairs to the little classroom. Jemimah opened the door for them, and indicated for them to go inside ahead of her. “I’ll just be a moment.” She turned and ran back down the stairs to where Jarrah was still standing, watching with interest.

“I’m so sorry, Jarrah!” Jemimah whispered, her hands spread out in helplessness. “But I’m going to have to deal with this now.”

“Oh no, I’m sorry for you. Julie can be a real mean bit.” Jarrah’s voice was a little loud for Jemimah’s comfort. “And her bloke’s not looking too friendly, is he? Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?”

Jemimah shook her head hastily. “No. But thank you. And you’ve got to get home to Rosie.”

“Yeah, I better. Good luck. And we’ll try again for our run tomorrow, hey?” Jarrah flashed her a bright smile, and turned and headed for the school gate.

Jemimah went back up the stairs to her classroom, yet again acutely aware of her unflattering appearance. She dreaded to think how young and unprofessional she must look in her track pants and t-shirt and with her hair pulled back from her face in a high ponytail.

“You’ll have to excuse my running gear -- I was just about to go for a run with one of the high school girls,” she said as she entered, as though Julie and Shane were there for a friendly chat. “I’ve been doing the cross-county for sport with the school, and she’s been kind enough to help me train.”

Her words seemed to fall flat to the floor. Shane was standing in front of the chalk board, hands on hips as he glared at his son’s name on the board. “No wonder he was upset having his name written up on the board in front of everyone. You need to take that down.”

His tone was so aggressive that Jemimah couldn’t answer, and her knees had become so trembly that she was relieved she actually made it across the room to her desk to sit down in her chair.

“Please, have a seat.” She spoke the four words as if she hadn’t heard his demand, and waited.

Perhaps they thought she was the stern, authoritarian type, arrogantly refusing to talk until they complied, but the truth was that she simply couldn’t speak until she had more time to gather her wits. They both glared at her for what seemed an unbearably long time, and then moved to sit on the front two desks opposite hers.

“May I say first of all that both your boys are a pleasure to teach.” Jemimah hoped by taking the initiative, she’d be able to steer the conversation in a more positive direction. “And I’m as disappointed as you are about Kai’s detention. But the whole class, including Kai, was clearly warned what the consequences for swearing would be. There has been an ongoing issue with swearing with several students this term and I have no alternative but to follow through with appropriate discipline --”

“So you did single him out!” Shane Gatley was on his feet again, towering over her.

“You said yourself he’s a good kid -- you just picked on him to make a point,” Julie added in a demanding whine, “and we’re not going to take that.”

“As I was saying, Kai is generally well behaved, but on this occasion he broke a very clear classroom rule, and he has to face the consequences just like any of the students would.” Jemimah was surprised how calm her voice sounded despite the way her whole body was shaking on the inside. “He has obviously taken it to heart; I really think this will be the end of it.”

“Too right it will be the end of it!” Shane folded his huge arms across his chest. “He’s a good little boy and he’s not getting put on detention for just doing what all the other kids do. You cancel it, right?” There was no doubt this was a demand and not a request.

“I’m sorry -- but I can’t do that.” Jemimah spoke slowly and carefully, desperately hoping she could keep the tremor from her voice. “These are not merely my own rules or standards -- disciplining swearing is a matter of school policy. Yes, Kai has been the first to receive detention for this, but anyone else who swears will face exactly the same --”

“Nah, we’re not taking this. You got no right coming here and shoving your holier-than-thou religious rubbish down our kids’ throats!”

Julie jumped up beside her husband. “We won’t have you treating our kids as if they’re not good enough because we don’t go to church. The kids are here to get a proper education, not be brainwashed with superstitious religious nonsense.”

The unexpectedness of their vicious attack took Jemimah off guard. Her skin felt like ice and as though it were two sizes too small as it tightened against her. This obviously wasn’t just about the detention for swearing -- but where had these accusations come from?

“I’m sorry, but I really don’t know what you’re talking about,” was all she could manage.

“Come off it,” Julie snapped back. “Ever since you’ve come here the boys haven’t stopped asking about God and church and who knows what other rubbish you’ve been telling them.”

“But - I haven’t ...” Jemimah shook her head in confusion. “Some of the children would know that I am a Christian and go to church but I have never taught anything about it in the classroom --“

Julie laughed harshly. “Oh yeah? Don’t pretend you haven’t been trying to indoctrinate the kids. Kai came home end of last term saying how you were telling them how you have to believe in God, and only people who go to church go to heaven.”

“But I’ve never spoken to Kai about my beliefs -- and I would never say anything like that. The Bible doesn’t teach that we get to heaven by going to church or because of any other things that we try to do, but --”

“What -- are you saying my boy’s a liar?” Shane demanded.

It was as though Jemimah had fallen into quicksand, and every move she made was sinking her deeper and deeper. She tried to think. Occasionally questions had come from her pupils about whether she believed in God or why she went to church, which she answered honestly and with a minimum of fuss, but she couldn’t remember Kai or Beau ever asking her anything even remotely related to Christianity.

Unless ...

A wave of fear swept across her. On playground duty toward the end of last term one of Kai’s friends had been asking her if there was a God or if he was just like Santa and the Easter Bunny. While she’d sidestepped the question about Santa and the Easter Bunny she had taken the opportunity to explain the reason she believed in God was because he’d made the whole universe and he showed his love for people by telling them about how to be his friends through the Bible and through Jesus - but she couldn’t remember whether Kai had been within earshot. It was possible.

But even so, she hadn’t said anything remotely like what she was being accused of! She had done nothing wrong! She had just been honestly answering a child’s question -- surely that was perfectly legitimate - but would other people see that as her teaching the children about her religion?

Jemimah felt as though she were burning up under the glare of the angry couple, and instinctively knew that trying to explain any further would only make things worse. If she tried to tell them what she really believed, like she had with Linda Armstrong, they would surely take that as further proof she was someone who was always pushing her religion on people.

A new terror rose in her mind. If they made a formal complaint that she was acting inappropriately toward their children could she be dismissed from the school? Never teach her little students again?

It was all too horrible to bear! Despite all her hard work and love toward their children since the beginning of the year, Julie and Shane had come here already angry and decided against her. Jemimah desperately wanted run from the classroom and give way to her tears and let someone else deal with this terrible mess.

A tiny shred of remaining strength kept her in her seat, chiding her that no matter how badly she was handling everything else in her life, she was an adult and a professional and she had an obligation to see this through responsibly. She took a deep breath.

“Let’s deal with one issue at a time,” she began, deliberately trying to sound as business-like as possible and not betray how much their accusations had frightened her. If only she could get the focus off religion ...

“My classroom rules regarding swearing have nothing to do with my faith or anything else concerning me personally. I am simply implementing the school policy. Not only are the consequences I am imposing -- the detention first and then an escalating withdrawal of privileges for repeat offences - perfectly legitimate, they have been determined by the headmistress herself.”

She opened her drawer and pulled out a copy of the school discipline policy and set it on the desk in front of them, hoping they would not notice her trembling fingers.

“A notice reminding parents about the school’s discipline policy was sent home just last week, I’m not sure if you have had opportunity to read it, but you are welcome to take home the entire document. You will see that I am only acting in accordance with this policy. And as for your other accusations, they are simply not true.”

Even as she said the words she felt guilty for not telling them about the conversation with Kai’s friend, but she was so frightened of making everything even worse that she only dared add, “The only time I have ever spoken about anything regarding my beliefs is when I have been asked a direct question by a child, and there is nothing wrong with that.”

“I’d like to see what the Education Department says about that -- you’ve got no right in the world to tell my kids there is a God!”

Somehow Jemimah managed to stand, and began gathering her things. “I think that is about as far as we can take things right now. If you wish to pursue things further may I suggest we arrange a meeting with the principal?”

She walked to the door and held it open for them, relieved to see them walking toward it. Her breath caught though, when Shane stopped in front of the chalkboard, and swept his fist across the detention list, smearing Kai’s name.

“Just drop the detention,” he snarled, and stormed from the room. Julie strode after him, and Jemimah locked the door behind them with shaking hands.

Jemimah leaned back against the door, glad beyond belief that she’d pulled all the blinds down over the windows when she’d locked up the first time so they could not look in and see the tears that were streaming down her face.

She was so afraid.

Frightened by how much they despised her, frightened of what the repercussions might be, but mostly frightened of herself and the black misery that was opening up to swallow her again.

Her gaze fixated on the chalkboard, on the ugly smear where Shane had tried to obliterate Kai’s name. Tried to obliterate her role as his teacher. Tried to obliterate her.

Jemimah tried to stifle her rising sobs, scared she’d lose possession of herself like she had at the Turnbull’s on Saturday and never be able to stop crying.

I must stay in control of myself, she told herself, the Turnbulls aren’t around to rescue me this time. I have to fix this.

She could not take her eyes from the smudged letters on her chalkboard that danced and weaved through her tears. That was the first thing she had to fix.

Jemimah snatched up her duster and scrubbed at the desecration until the board was shiny where the smeared mess of Kai’s name had been. She picked up the chalk and tried to rewrite it but instead of her usual careful writing it came out as a spidery scrawl. She rubbed it out - it had to look exactly as it did before. She tried again but the chalk snapped in two.

It had to be fixed -- before anyone arrived in the morning or it would seem they’d won. She had no choice about the detention; Linda said she must enforce the discipline.

Jemimah crossed her arms tightly across her chest and walked across the room to her desk.

She had to call Linda, get to her first -- before any formal complaint was made. But how could she phone her now, when she was too upset to think straight? Too upset to write a simple name on the board?

Jemimah stopped abruptly as she reached the door. She had paced back across the room without realising it. The tension coiled python-like around her body -- so tight she could barely breathe. And now it was too late to even go for her run.

She needed to run, to clear her head. She needed to run until she gasped for air and could breathe again. She needed the heat that flowed through her muscles as she ran to melt away the icy tightness that gripped her heart.

A glance at the clock told her it was far later than she had ever left for her run.

But she needed to run. Today of all days she had to run.

Without letting herself contemplate a moment longer, Jemimah left the echoes of accusations and the condemning chalkboard behind her in the empty classroom.

And ran.