No Rules by R. A. Spratt Page A

befriend the students and speak to themon their level, and if I didn’t do that I’d have to look for a position at a less progressive school.’
    â€˜He can’t fire you,’ said Friday. ‘You’re the only teacher in the maths department who has a grasp of fourth-dimensional geometry.’
    â€˜I did mention that I was very qualified and that I had a master’s degree in pure mathematics,’ said Miss Franelli, ‘but he just shook his head and said that it was this sort of patriarchal thinking that was holding back my career.’
    â€˜But what do they do in class if they’re refusing to study?’ asked Melanie.
    â€˜They just sit around reading romance novels,’ said Miss Franelli.
    â€˜The boys as well?’ asked Friday.
    â€˜Oh yes,’ said Miss Franelli. ‘I confronted Tristan Fanshaw about it and he told me that human relationships were the backbone of civilised society, and therefore romance novels were much more educational than anything I’ve taught him.’
    â€˜He probably just enjoys the kissing bits,’ said Melanie.
    â€˜So what exactly happened?’ asked Friday.
    â€˜Well, I had them for a double period but it wassplit by recess,’ said Miss Franelli. ‘Before recess, they all had their textbooks. After recess, the books were gone. The students won’t tell me where. I searched the classroom, the staffroom and the book closet. They weren’t there. Not in any of the nearby classrooms. Not in the grounds or the gardens, or the bushes just outside the windows. I couldn’t find them anywhere.’
    â€˜Perhaps they took them back to their rooms?’ said Melanie.
    â€˜There wasn’t time,’ said Miss Franelli. ‘Recess is only fifteen minutes. The senior dormitory is on the far side of the school. Besides, it was raining yesterday. They would’ve been soaked if they’d tried the walk. And they weren’t. They were dry when they got back to class.’
    â€˜Hmm, I think I know where the textbooks are,’ said Friday.
    â€˜You do?’ said Miss Franelli.
    â€˜But you haven’t even searched the scene of the crime,’ said Melanie. ‘You always search the scene of the crime, preferably with a magnifying glass and a pair of tweezers, examining every minute detail.’
    â€˜This time I just need to check the geography,’ said Friday. ‘Let’s go and see your classroom.’

    Friday, Miss Franelli and Melanie left the study hall and walked across to the school quadrangle.
    â€˜That’s your classroom up there, isn’t it?’ asked Friday, pointing to the second-floor classroom at the end, closest to the maths staffroom.
    â€˜Yes,’ said Miss Franelli.
    â€˜Then it all fits,’ said Friday. ‘Come on.’
    When they climbed the stairs and arrived at the classroom, Miss Franelli’s fifth form class were lounging around reading their novels.
    â€˜Class,’ said Miss Franelli, ‘Friday Barnes has come to help find your textbooks.’
    â€˜Oh good,’ said Tristan Fanshaw. ‘We were all so worried.’
    The class sniggered at his sarcasm.
    Friday scanned the room. The apathy of the senior students was palpable. They were clearly a group who spent more time styling their perfectly dishevelled hair than they did on their coursework.
    â€˜Are you going to cross-examine them?’ asked Miss Franelli.
    â€˜There’s not much point,’ said Friday. ‘They’lljust enjoy taunting me and I’d rather not give them the pleasure.’ She turned and walked back to the doorway. ‘Let’s fetch the books.’
    â€˜Good luck with that,’ called Tristan Fanshaw as Friday started walking down the corridor with Melanie and Miss Franelli.
    â€˜Where are we going?’ asked Melanie.
    â€˜You said they were all entirely dry when they returned from recess,’ said Friday.