After what happened in P.E
I didn't want to go back
I knew it wasn't gonna be good
But it turned out so much worse
Than I would ever have thought it could -
Blanked by my best mates
Taxed at the school gates
Punched in the face on the bus...
For a while it got a little too much

Laughter resounding along the corridor
Me in a puddle on the floor
Anthony Pape leans over and spits -
I don't want to remember any more

So Anthony was expelled for something else entirеly -
And term rumbled quietly on
I just triеd to keep my head down
But ended up messing up my GCSEs
Much to Dad's disappointment
Though mainly thanks to the encouragement of Mrs. Kovacic
I managed an A and a B in English

I'm in the library every lunchtime
Far away from the noise outside
Putting the finishing touches on my entry
For this short story competition
I got a phone call at work today
From Joshua's school
Asking me to come right away
I was in the middle of a Zoom
With one of our most important clients -
Majestic Wine
He's been scrapping again
Broke a lad's jaw
And now he's suspended
Pending further investigation
What am I gonna do with this kid?

Shaking the hand of the dour Assistant Head
I ask "Does Mrs. Kovacic still teach here?"
"She's taking some well deserved leave" -
The old brick buildings
Have been replaced with glass and steel

At Blue Flames to watch the Under-21s
After a week of hardly talking at all
During a lull in play I finally say:
"I know you've got a good heart"