‘Thank you, Mrs Anderson,’ I said, trying to smile.

That was my ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ card scuppered then.

‘Right,’ said Dolly, ‘I’m going to have to leave you to it, I’m afraid. Andrew knows you’re here and will be along in a minute. Is that all right?’

My stomach was churning as if I was a new pupil rather than a grown-up trying to do the school a favour. I couldn’t remember ever feeling like that before.

‘Yes,’ I squeaked. ‘I’ll be fine.’

The staffroom was already deserted and I could hear the photocopier in the next room churning out A4 as people called to one another along the corridor. My eyes were drawn to a huge sheet of cartridge paper which had been stuck on the whiteboard and almost completely covered one of the walls.

It announced ‘the countdown to Christmas’ and listed all the things which were going to be happening during the last few weeks of term. Dolly had been right. There were a fair few things on our Wish List which could be ticked off just by turning up on the right days. My stomach churned again as I looked at the busy calendar. What with the school schedule and Dolly’s list, there really was going to be no escaping Christmas this year.

‘Hattie,’ said Mr Matthews as he rushed in looking harassed. ‘Sorry to keep you hanging about.’

‘It’s fine,’ I told him. ‘I’ve only just arrived and I was looking through the Christmas plan.’

‘Yes,’ he said, a deeper frown forming, ‘as you can see there’s plenty to do so your timely arrival couldn’t be more appreciated. I was hoping to give you the lowdown on what we were thinking you could help with as well as a quick tour as a few of the rooms have been repurposed, but I have to see a parent.’

‘That’s all right,’ I said. ‘I can come back later if it will be more convenient. I know we have to go through safeguarding before I’m assigned a class.’

Someone began whistling ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’ in the corridor and at the sound of it, Mr Matthews’ frown was instantaneously smoothed.

‘Coming in for that later might not be a bad idea,’ he said as he rushed back to the door, ‘but don’t worry about the tour. You stay there, I know just the person who can help with that.’

I waited as instructed, straightening my lanyard and wondering if I’d packed the best outfits for dealing with the onslaught of glitter and glue which no doubt awaited me.

‘That would be such a help,’ I heard Mr Matthews say as he walked back to the staffroom, ‘it’s not even nine and I’m already swamped.’

‘You know me,’ a voice answered. ‘I’m always happy to help if I can.’