“Ben, calm down mate.” It was Mike, “Don’t let them wind you up, and don’t let this get to you.”
“That’s easy for you to say,” Ben said, “They’re not all laughing at you.”
“I know, and I’m not saying it’s not embarrassing, but you’re letting it wind you up, and you’re making yourself look worse. Do you remember when Simon wet himself at Mark’s party last year? Oh, of course you don’t, you weren’t there, but anyway, he did. He was drunk and he passed out on the floor and wet himself, and sure, in the morning he was embarrassed, but then he just laughed it off as something that happens when you’re drunk. If you laugh with people they can’t laugh at you, if you act like you don’t care people won’t care either. If, however, you act ashamed then people will pick up on that, they’ll realise it’s a weak spot, and take advantage of that. And I know it’s harder for you to laugh this off than it would be me or someone else, because I know it’s not the first time, and I know you’ve been trying to keep it a secret for years, and so of course when people find out it’s going to be especially hard, but no-one else knows it’s happened before. No-one knows about the bedwetting. As far as everyone else on this trip is concerned you’ve had too much to drink, you’ve been stuck on a train with no toilet, and you wet yourself just now for the first time in ten years. Why would anyone else believe any different?”
“Mike, back to your seat, now.” Mike and Ben looked up to see Mrs Clarke standing above them.
“Yes miss,” Mike said, obediently going back to his seat.
Mrs Clarke sighed, “Ben, I thought we made it clear yesterday morning that if you’ve got a problem you can come and talk to us. Did you find yourself with a problem on the train today?”
Ben nodded.
“And did you come and speak to me, or another member of staff?”
Ben shook his head.