‘So, is ’e in ’eaven?’ asked Bertie.

‘Yes, I imagine so,’ said Joseph, although without conviction.

Bertie frowned. ‘So ’ow old will ’e be –’cause ’e were twenty-one when t’Germans shot ’im.’

Suddenly there were animated children all raising their hands and calling out in excitement.

‘Will ’e allus be twenty-one, sir?’ shouted Frank Shepherd.

‘An’ when ah die will ah be older than m’grandad?’ Bertie wanted to know.

‘What will we do all day?’ asked Daphne.

‘That’s right,’ added Reggie. ‘If it’s jus’ clouds an’ sky there’s not much t’do.’

‘An’ will we jus’ ’ave t’clothes that we die in, ’cause they’d get mucky after a while,’ continued Daphne.

‘An’ there’s nowhere t’put a washin’ line,’ muttered Rosie Finn.

‘Do cats and dogs go as well?’ asked Sam Grundy suddenly from the desk at the back.

‘Will ah see our ’Arry again, sir?’ asked Arnold Icklethwaite.

Joseph had taken a step back, such was the torrent of questions.

‘Harry?’ he murmured.

‘Yes sir, ’Arry.’

‘Oh dear, what happened to Harry?’

‘M’dad ’it ’im wi’ a spade.’

‘A spade?’ mumbled Joseph. This conversation was getting out of hand.

‘Yes, sir, an’ ’Arry were t’best ’amster ah ever ’ad.’

‘And your father hit him with a spade?’ asked an incredulous Joseph.

‘Yes, sir, ’cause ’e thought ’e were a rat.’

‘Oh dear.’

‘But m’dad said ’e were sorry afterwards so everybody were ’appy … ’xcept ’Arry, ah s’ppose.’

In John Pruett’s class Joseph’s Bible story lesson went better than usual. The children were attentive and, with John sitting at the back of the classroom, discipline was total.

‘So in conclusion, boys and girls, the children of Israel built a temple and they crossed the Red Sea,’ announced Joseph in triumph. It had been a good story, one of his best.

Eddie Brown raised his hand. ‘Can ah ask a question, please, Mr Evans?’

‘Of course you can, Edward,’ said Joseph with a beaming smile.

‘Well, y’said children o’ Israel, didn’t you?’

‘Yes, Edward, I did.’

‘An’ they built them temples an’ suchlike.’

‘Magnificent temples,’ purred Joseph.

‘An’ then these children o’ Israel crossed that sea wi’ a funny colour.’

‘Yes, the Red Sea.’

‘Well, ah were jus’ wond’ring …’

‘Yes?’

‘What were all t’grown-ups doin’?’

Joseph looked at the clock on the classroom wall. Lunchtime beckoned and he breathed a sigh of relief.