‘Oh, Joyce won’t let him do that. She’ll say he’s sick or something.’ There was a long pause. I was about to fill it when Krystal said, ‘Do you think you could come with me on Friday afternoon? When I collect Aaron?’

I was aghast. ‘Uh…no. Sorry.’

‘Then will you write a report for me? About all this?’ The words started gushing out of her. ‘I’m applying to the Family Court for a revised parenting order. My lawyer says I need supporting documents. He says one of them should be a teacher’s report with Aaron’s missed days and stuff. His tantrums. Can you do that?’

I thought for a moment. ‘When do you need it by?’

‘Um—next week?’

‘Okay.’ Howard didn’t want me to call the police, but a teacher’s report might be the next best thing.

‘Really?’ Krystal’s astonishment made me wonder how often she received help from anyone. ‘Are you sure? Do you want to talk to my lawyer?’

‘No. That’s fine. I know the drill.’

‘You do? Wow! Thanks!’

‘In the meantime, you should practise those exercises I gave you for Aaron. It might help him calm down.’

‘I’ll do that, I promise.’ Krystal’s voice grew wobbly. ‘It’s not his fault. He’s like this because of his dad. He’ll settle once he’s with me—I know he will.’

It was the only time I ever heard her sound exactly like her mother-in-law.

Thursday was peaceful without Aaron. Caleb seemed calmer. George was less distracted. The only parents who showed up were Beth and Dixie; Joyce didn’t even come to the canteen because she was looking after her grandson.

I don’t know why Scott couldn’t babysit. Perhaps he was busy stalking his ex or bitching about her to his mates. On Thursday afternoon I saw him outside Foodworks, ear-bashing some heavyset bloke with a beard and a ute. When Scott caught my eye, he scowled and said something to his friend, who stared at me.

I should have stared right back, but I didn’t. I finished packing my groceries into the car and drove away.

Friday wasn’t quite as peaceful, thanks to the parent helpers. Pat Haas arrived with Kate Canning, making me wonder if Pat could even drive. Then Kate asked me if it was true Joyce had been banned from the classroom.

‘Of course not,’ I said. ‘She just won’t be reading with the kids for a while.’

Kate sniffed. ‘I think that’s a mistake,’ she said, and was crisply resentful from then on. So was Pat, who stood around oozing dissatisfaction. When they finally left, I saw them in the playground talking to Joyce, who had arrived for Aaron’s appointment with the school counsellor. The three of them talked urgently for five minutes as Aaron kicked clumps of grass out of the lawn.