‘Are you offering?’ Brendan asked.

The man really would have a heart attack then.

Brendan had been relieved to leave that school, particularly after the slapping incident. The ancient teacher had exploded when one of the kids vomited on his desk following a Mother’s Day morning tea. Brendan didn’t know if it was the sight of spewed cake or the fact that the other kids were screaming that led to the meltdown. Apparently, the teacher slapped the annoying boy who was yelling out: ‘Chun-der! Chun-der! Chun-der!’

He’d slapped the boy multiple times on the legs and arms.

The parents took to Facebook to complain, and were contacted by a newspaper. Before the principal had a chance to arrange a meeting with the family, the story went viral. At school, they dealt with the fallout for months: new training programs, a department inquiry, families leaving midway through the year, parent discussions, low class numbers, unsettled kids. The ancient teacher had the full mid-life crisis—left his wife and children (whom he’d never mentioned) and went to live in Thailand.

Merrigang Primary School was much, much smaller but it had three male teachers in total. Apart from the over-sensitive year six teacher, the staff were good value and the Christmas party had been a hoot. Brendan hoped Jeff would stay for another few years, but it all depended on student numbers. And Jeff himself. He seemed to like moving schools; setting up a new sports program, streamlining the athletics carnival, bringing in extra programs like gymnastics and yoga, and then leaving it for someone else to run. This was Jeff’s sixth school.

‘I like the challenge,’ Jeff had told him. ‘The thrill of the chase.’

‘But don’t you want to make sure your programs keep going?’

‘Nah, that’s the boring part.’

Jeff would be ace up at the snow. He said he’d only been snowboarding a few times but the man was an athlete, he’d pick it up in no time. And Jeff partied as hard as he played. Yep, Brendan would invite him this arvo.

Brendan dragged his focus back to the classroom and finished checking off the roll. He should tell Kathleen in the front office today that Fox was still absent. At least with the Tiny Terror away, they’d have an easier day. Brendan would gather all the kids on the mat for a story to calm them down. Then whizz through their maths. Maybe after lunch they’d read the short play and do some acting. The play featured a lion, a lion tamer, a clown, three acrobats and two strongmen. That would take their minds right off the missing girl.

At recess and lunchtime, the talk in the staffroom centred on Bella. Everyone seemed to expect an announcement each time they entered the staffroom. A clue, a child found, a dead body.

And each of the nine teachers had a theory.

‘It’s always the father. Always.’