I barely took in a word of what she said, subconsciously wriggling in my chair in anticipation of the sore bum I was bound to receive at home. “If you don’t stop fidgeting, then you will be getting another punishment exercise, Laura Smith,” Ms Campbell suddenly barked.

Every one of my classmates whipped their heads around to look at me. My face burned with embarrassment and I heard their collective intake of breath; shock and curiosity as to the nature of my initial misdeed clearly intriguing them all. “Sorry, Ms Campbell,” I said self-consciously, my voice barely more than a whisper.

Naturally, at lunchtime my friends demanded to know what was going on but I didn’t know what to tell them. I didn’t even know what I had done wrong myself. “She says I was insolent,” was all I managed to say, as my friends implored me to share more details.