The children all dissolved into fits of giggles and Bella joined in. Her class could never fail to lift her spirits and actually, the day hadn’t been anywhere near as bad as she’d expected. Whether that was because she was still on a high from Mrs White being so supportive of the giving tree, or merely from not having thought about Evan every second, she didn’t know. During English she’d forgotten him for a whole twenty minutes as she struggled to remember, and teach, what fronted adverbials were. Then the pain had come back as soon as they’d finished and her class had disappeared for morning break, but it was still a win as far as she was concerned.

Bella checked the clock on the wall and said, ‘Let’s stop there, shall we, and we can start with your line, Hannah, when we get back inside. Coats on, everyone, please. And hats, scarves and gloves if you’ve got them. It’s very cold out there today.’

The children all rushed outside, and Bella grabbed her whistle from the top drawer of her desk before donning her winter wear. Hurrying behind them, Nina and Johnny were already waiting for her in the most sheltered part of the playground.

‘How are your rehearsals going?’ asked Johnny, shoving his hands further into his pockets. ‘Mine aren’t going very well. We managed half a scene before they all started talking about how none of it makes sense. Did you see the line, “Hey, Mary, do you have your library card because I’m totally checking you out?” I mean, what the hell is that all about? Though to be fair I might steal that.’

Nina raised an eyebrow.

‘We just did the McDonald’s line,’ Bella said with a smile. ‘It’s all a bit mad, but the kids are enjoying it. I think it’s nice to do something different. And the kids are loving the modern songs.’

‘I should have known you’d find something positive,’ Johnny replied. ‘You always do.’

‘My class got through the whole of the first scene,’ said Nina, lifting her chin over the edge of her coat in pride.

‘Oooh, get you. Mrs Brody will be very pleased.’

‘I hope so. I’ve got to make up for the Harvest Assembly when we should have been singing ‘He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands’ and I stupidly taught the kids a version I learned at school and sang ‘He’s Got a Whole Twirl in His Hands’.’

‘That was quite funny,’ said Bella trying to feel the smile that came to her face.

‘Not for me it wasn’t. She gave me the evil eye for weeks afterwards.’ Nina turned to Bella, her face full of concern. ‘How are you holding up?’