‘All right,’ said Dr Oristo, placing her hands together with the tips of the fingers touching like a steeple. ‘I see we need to revisit some of our sessions. But first, Nelson, I’m afraid I have to return to the issue of clothes. I see you’re wearing scrubs today.’

Nelson looked down at his body as if this was news to him.

‘I am, yes,’ he said.

‘We’ve spoken about uniforms before, haven’t we?’

‘Have we?’

‘You know we have. On at least a dozen occasions. And what have we said?’

He hung his head low. ‘That I shouldn’t wear them in public,’ he replied. ‘That I need to be myself and not pretend to be something I’m not.’

‘Exactly. And you’re not a doctor or a nurse, Nelson, are you? In fact, to the best of my knowledge, you have no medical training whatsoever. What if an emergency was to take place and people mistook you for a professional? The consequences could be devastating.’

‘I just feel more confident when I wear a uniform,’ he protested. ‘People take me more seriously. And it’s not as if I’m hurting anyone, is it?’

‘I’m not sure that’s true. There’s one person you’re hurting.’

‘Let me guess. Nelson Fidel Cleverley.’

‘Exactly,’ said Dr Oristo. ‘And it’s not as if people look at you disparagingly when you’re not wearing one, is it?’

‘Martin does.’

‘Ah yes. Martin Rice,’ replied Dr Oristo. ‘And how have things been with him this week?’

‘The same as ever. He made a joke about me in assembly in front of all the boys. He called me Nelson Stupidly. I think some of the students have adopted it as a nickname for me. It’s what he used to call me years ago when we were children. You’d think he’d have outgrown it by now.’

‘It’s unfortunate that you and he ended up teaching in the same school,’ said Dr Oristo. ‘But I thought you were going to speak to the headmaster about the way he treats you? Bullying in the workplace is not as uncommon as you might think. As it happens, I’ve made my own receptionist’s life very difficult over the years.’

Nelson shook his head. ‘There’s no point,’ he said. ‘Martin and Mr Pepford go drinking together after school, they even play five-a-side football and take showers afterwards. Men who shower together after sports, well, there’s a bond there, isn’t there? It borders on the homoerotic but, of course, no one ever points that out. No, if I even tried to say something to the headmaster, he’d just laugh me out of his office. Or he’d tell Martin about it and things would get worse.’ He put the heels of his hands to the corners of his eyes and held them there for a moment before looking up at the ceiling. ‘God, what’s wrong with me?’ he asked, blinking back tears. ‘Why am I such a coward?’