I only had enough time to go to the toilets and wash my face, carefully keeping my head down and letting my long blonde hair hang down over my tearful face, as I cut through the playground before the bell rang to signal the end of break. Much like walking to the dining room at home to receive a smacking, my feet felt like they were reluctantly wading through treacle as I made my way back to the classroom.
The smiley Ms Campbell had returned, as she saw the other children filing back into the bright classroom, their faces flushed from playtime exertion. As she cheerfully gave another lesson, I could scarcely believe she was the same woman who mere minutes earlier had been so nasty to me.