Punished for Bad School Report18

Leaving class one day, I absent-mindedly put a padlock belonging to one of the class cupboards in my blazer pocket. I found it later in the dormitory and put it down amongst my belongings. Next day I forgot to pick it up again. When the teacher found the lock missing and asked where it was, I owned up immediately and told her exactly what I’d done. I told her it was still in my dormitory. She looked a bit uncertain. At that point another boy (who I’d still like to punch in the face) jumped up and said “Boys caught stealing are always sent to the Headmaster”. That seemed to decide it. “Go down to the Headmaster” she said. So I did, but instinct told me not to hurry. I loitered, walking past his office once or twice as if I was going somewhere else, then turning round and coming back again. About five minutes later a boy came hurrying down the stairs, and said, “Mrs Grant says you have to come back.” I went back, she told me to go and get the padlock, which I did, and then nothing more was said.