Mrs Farroukh takes over, and now we’re on more familiar ground. It’s stuff I haven’t heard in a little while, but it’s still the same.

‘Difficult time with you, Malky … disruptive influence … I had hoped for better things this term … this cannot go unpunished … appointment with Educational Counsellor … letting yourself down …’

And then she stops and both teachers sit down. Mr Springham clears his throat so that I think he’s going to take over where Mrs Farroukh left off, but instead he looks at me steadily and says, very quietly, ‘Is everything all right, Malky? I mean … at home and so on?’

This is a bit odd for me: Mr Springham being nice. I say nothing, so he continues. ‘Look, I know we haven’t always got on so well, but I’m concerned, we’re concerned …’

That’s when there’s a knock at Mrs Farroukh’s door. Impatiently, Mr Springham barks, ‘What is it?’ and Carol, the school receptionist, puts her head round the door.

‘There is someone to see you, Mrs Farroukh. She says it is very important.’

Carol steps aside and Susan Tenzin is standing there, a meek and sad look on her face.

Chapter 46

‘I am very surprised and disappointed, Susan,’ says Mrs Farroukh, about five minutes later. ‘I really thought we could expect better things than this from you. A dare, you say?’

Susan nods. ‘I … I thought it might be funny. You see, everyone thinks I am so boring. “Boring Susan” they call me. To my face.’ Her bottom lip starts to wobble a bit.

I have to say I haven’t heard anyone call her this. But she sounds very convincing. Susan’s voice cracks a little when she adds, ‘It’s … it is like I am being bullied.’

I see an exchange of glances between Mrs Farroukh and Mr Springham. A second later, I glance at Susan and, in that brief moment, she winks at me.

That’s right. Susan is lying for me. She is acting! I can’t believe it, but I have to.

She sniffs deeply, as if holding back tears. ‘I did not dare do it myself. But I dared Malcolm to do it. He … he got carried away.’

The bullying thing is clever. Everyone knows that teachers are terrified of bullying. There are posters up all over the school, and regular assemblies and so on. Still, I’m not sure Mr Springham and Mrs Farroukh have completely believed Susan yet.

‘Is this true, Malcolm? You did this as a “dare”?’

I say nothing. ‘Well, is it? Speak up!’ says Mr Springham and I nod the tiniest, most shameful nod I can.

‘Those things he said about you, Susan,’ says Mrs Farroukh. ‘How could you …’

‘It was all planned, wasn’t it, Malky? He did not mean any of it. It was just … banter.’ She says it like she’s trying out a foreign word for the first time.