Bella dropped her eyes. Even though she had expected this response from him, she was feeling so raw from Evan’s leaving that every objection felt like a personal attack. Sunday had been hard being alone in the house, knowing Evan wasn’t there and was never coming back, and the weekday mornings had been even harder. She still wasn’t used to sleeping alone and as workdays brought with them the regular humdrum routine, going through it had only emphasised how different everything was for her now.

Mrs White leapt to Bella’s defence. ‘I think that’s why Bella has suggested we talk to families in our own classes and not others. We get asked about food bank vouchers and spare school uniform all the time, and if there’s anyone who’s not comfortable talking to their families, I’m happy to have a quiet word. For practicality’s sake, if there are siblings in different years, the older child’s teacher can have the conversation, but I, for one, am definitely in favour of the idea. What a wonderful lesson to teach our children. Not only that it’s okay to ask for help if you need it, but also, the greatest gift we can give at Christmas is charity. Well done, Bella. It’s a big thumbs up from me. Now, the school Christmas tree comes next week so we can start getting the children to make decorations during any wet plays. I don’t know about you but that’s when Christmas really starts for me at school, and I just know it’s going to look lovely in the school hall.’

Smiling at her success, Bella stood and they all filed out of the meeting. For the first time that morning, a small piece of her heart filled with something other than sadness and she strode down the corridor humming Lady Gaga to herself, eager for the day to begin.

***

‘Miss Moore, why am I a turtle? Did they have turtles in Bethlehem? I thought Bethlehem was a hot country. Won’t the turtles die?’

‘I don’t think there are any turtles there, Hannah.’ She’d have to google it at breaktime. ‘But we’re doing something a little different this year. Mrs Brody has thought about different pantomimes and mixed them all up with the story of Jesus and Mary going off to Bethlehem. Doesn’t that sound fun?’