Ged was one of the first students to be picked up by the school minibus. He slumped in his seat, his earphones and his scowl a warning to anyone who might think of trying to make conversation. He never talked about the kind of music he listened to either. UB40 was his dad’s favourite band and he listened to the same tracks day in, day out to keep the memories of his father alive. He wanted to remember – even if his mother didn’t. Kevin was his dad and that wasn’t going to change, not ever. His mum was always slagging him off, never had a good word to say about him. She’d have everyone believe he was a no-good bastard, that he’d never change his ways, but Ged just wished he was still around. Maybe that’s why he was always getting grief about his behaviour. If his dad was there, he would have understood, shown him a bit of support when he needed it. And there was only so much a lad could talk to his mother about, wasn’t there? It wasn’t just sex, girls, lad’s stuff. She didn’t even know the basics about playing FIFA, football, any of that – they had nothing in common. And anyway, she was always knackered or talking about work. Ged pulled his hood down over his face. Today more than ever he wanted to be invisible, to be left alone, and the hood helped. He was already in a foul mood and if any of the idiots wound him up today, he was going to lose it. It didn’t take much, he was pretty much always on a short fuse.

The driver ignored all the signs, shouted behind him as he headed towards the next stop. ‘Morning Ged, ready for a good day of learning?’

Ged eyeballed him from under the hood via the rearview mirror and didn’t reply. Since when had he ever had a good day of learning? Was he having a laugh or what? He stayed slumped in his seat and ignored the kids who got on at the next couple of pick-ups.