I had at least kept the promise I had made leaving the house this morning: that after weeks of hardly seeing her, I would be the one to pick her up from nursery today. The memory of her reaction – great big smile, lit-up eyes and cries of ‘Hurrah, Mama, hurrah, Mama’ as she jumped up and down – meant failing her would have undoubtedly traumatised me more than her.

Yvonne comes up behind me. ‘I told you Mummy was coming. That she hadn’t forgotten about you. She was just running a tiny bit late.’

I’m reminded that we are both in trouble.

‘Now listen, Gigi, you’ve been very naughty. You must never ever bite anyone. You know that.’ I look into her big blue eyes and silently implore her to not show me up further in front of her headteacher.

‘Gigi bite.’ She smiles up at me.

‘No, Gigi. NO bite.’ I look at Yvonne. ‘Are you sure you can’t tell me who it was? I’d like to apologise to their parents.’

She is already shaking her head. ‘Our policy is very clear. Data protection. We never inform parents of the name of the victim or the abuser.’

I laugh. ‘Abuser is a little harsh, don’t you think? I mean, she’s only two.’

Yvonne stares at me. ‘Abuse is characterised as hurt or injury by maltreatment. And believe me, this individual was maltreated by your daughter.’

Gigi giggles. ‘Bite. Aarumph.’ She gnashes her teeth together.

It’s very hard to not laugh. One look at Yvonne’s frowning face helps.

‘No, Gigi. Biting is bad. Very, very bad. And if you do it again you may not be allowed to come to this nursery. And you love it here, don’t you?’

Gigi nods. ‘Gigi like school.’ Gigi had walked through the Portakabin door for the first time just a few weeks ago at the start of the school’s autumn term. She had thankfully taken to it immediately. I was probably the only mother who had had to cart a crying toddler away from school. Looking around the rundown classroom, the grey partition walls brightened up with children’s drawings and finger paintings, it was hard to comprehend just what exactly made it so magical.

I turn to Yvonne. ‘So I’m hoping it’s not a three strikes and you’re out policy?’ I try a smile.

Yvonne’s face remains impassive. ‘This should never happen again.’

‘Of course, of course. We will make sure she understands. I really am very sorry, she’s never done this before.’

‘I should hope not.’

‘Bye bye, Eeeyvon.’ Gigi waves and grins at her. She seems immune to just how terrifying this woman is.

‘Bye bye, Gigi,’ says Yvonne. ‘Now you enjoy your special time with Mummy.’

*