It’s nothing, Seb tells himself as he turns left to take the longer way to school again. Martin has always been over-friendly, too keen. His wife has probably finally drummed it into poor old Martin that he needs to be less eager, that’s all. Seb keeps walking and as he approaches school he realizes that he’s being left strangely undisturbed. A parent whom he recognizes as a friend of Rosie’s passes him but keeps her head down, feigning absorption in something her son’s telling her. Vita, usually so overwhelming, keeps her eyes fixed on her phone, smiling and pretending not to notice him as he passes; another parent glues herself to a wall to avoid him. It’s like it’s his first day on the job at this school and no one knows who he is. The students seem normal, some calling out, ‘Hi, Mr Kent,’ while others totally ignore him.
As he walks through the school gates Seb falls into step with Mr Clegg.
‘Morning, Ben.’
Ben nods and Seb notices how his eyes widen. ‘Seb, hi.’
‘Have I got a massive boil on my face or something?’
Ben’s lips curl into a half-smile on one side of his mouth as he replies, ‘You haven’t checked your work emails yet, have you?’
Coldness creeps through Seb but he forces himself to shake his head and Ben, smiling properly now, says, ‘I think we’d better have a little chat.’
Ben steers Seb into the SEN room, a home office-style shed, separate to the rest of the school. Seb puts the ‘session in progress’ sign on the door so they won’t be disturbed. As soon as the door is closed, Ben hands Seb his work phone. It’s open on an email and Seb immediately recognizes the Action! website – an organization that hosts and facilitates online petitions. Seb has signed plenty in his time; he remembers one against a huge development just outside Waverly. He looks at the headline for the one Ben’s showing him.
Petition to Remove Sebastian Kent from Waverly Community Secondary School
Seb feels the initial shock of recognition, the sting of his name so formally written, and then every vein in his body seems to tighten and tighten as he reads on.
Since September, Sebastian Kent has been head teacher at our beloved school. But recently some disturbing truths have come to light that reveal his true nature. It transpires that Sebastian Kent has dubious moral standing and his values do not align with those of the school. He has recently been involved in disturbing, transgressive and immoral behaviours and we are very concerned for the safety and wellbeing of our children. We do not feel that he is safe to be around.
Seb can’t read any more, forcing himself to look at the bottom of the page. The petition to destroy him already has forty-two signatures.
His hands shake as he passes the phone back to Ben.
‘Well then,’ he says, having to stop to swallow, ‘at least that explains why no one said hello this morning.’
Ben looks serious as he asks, ‘Do you know who wrote it?’
Seb breathes out. Anna loves this website, often emailing links to various petitions.
‘I have a good idea.’ He adds, ‘Do you know who’s seen it?’
‘I don’t know any staff member who hasn’t, I’m afraid, and it’s …’ Ben looks at his watch. ‘Not yet quarter to nine,’ he says before hurriedly adding, ‘We’re all hoping there’s nothing to it, of course.’
Seb looks directly at him. ‘Do you think I’m unsafe?’
‘Seb, we’ve worked together for almost a decade. No, I don’t think you’re
Ben’s doing his best to ally himself, but Seb can still feel his eyes on him, uncertain, ready for Seb to twitch or give any sign that there might be some credence to the gossip.
‘I see.’
‘Maybe if you tell us what it is about, then all this insane speculation will come to an end …’
‘Maybe.’
‘So go on, then,’ Ben says, narrowing his eyes. ‘Have you gambled with school money?’
Seb feels like he’s going to vomit as Ben raises one eyebrow and asks, half joking, half not joking, ‘Or do you have a secret life no one knows about?’
Seb realizes he’s run out of energy to defend himself. He won’t do it, he can’t. Ben’s face drops as he sees that Seb can’t return his smile. ‘Thanks for filling me in, Ben. I’d better get going.’
‘Yeah, don’t want to add to the rumour mill. Mr Clegg and Mr Kent discovered in the SEN shed!’
Seb doesn’t acknowledge Ben’s lame joke, lets the door bang closed behind him as he leaves.
By midday the petition has seventy-two signatures and has been viewed hundreds of times. Seb heads out into the sunshine and walks quickly to the far end of the playing fields, behind the crumbling sports pavilion, just over the school boundary, where the older kids come to smoke and snog under the protective boughs of an ancient oak tree. He thinks about going to see his mum, but he can’t bear the thought of telling Eva about the petition. She is strong and clear-sighted, yes, but she isn’t immune to anguish. Feeling her shame at this new twist would uproot him entirely.