I will never forget the feeling of shock and fear, as the blood drained from my face upon seeing this. In my six years of school, I had never received a punishment exercise. Charlotte had brought home two or three, and they always earned her a long and painful meeting with mum’s hairbrush, before an additional 10 or 15 hard swats with the dreaded bath brush. Tears welled up in my eyes at the very thought of my own bum getting this treatment.
Mum was strict at the best of times, but the idea of me bringing home a punishment exercise on the very first day of term would make her absolutely apoplectic – I had to do something. “Please, Ms Campbell,” I pathetically squeaked, my voice betraying my tears, which had hitherto remained in my eyes.