Behind The Screens Chapter 3 Landscape

Chapter 3 Behind the Screens Chapter 3 Behind the Screens
She went up to her classroom on the first floor,

enjoying the quietness of the school at this time
of day. She had always loved school – right from
when she was a child. For her, schooldays really
were the happiest days of her life. And she still
Chapter 3 loved school now.
Miss Bright – Form Tutor Of course, it was different being a teacher
rather than a student – although sometimes she
got mistaken for one. She wasn’t the tallest of
Rosie Bright hauled her rucksack from the boot of
people. In fact, many of the students towered over
her car. It weighed a ton from the workbooks that
her – especially the boys. She had a natural sort of
she’d spent three hours marking last night. So
complexion and didn’t wear much make-up, so she
much for the perception that teachers worked
looked far younger than her 26 years.
shorter days! She hitched another bag over her
She still laughed recalling her first week of
shoulder and grabbed her lunch box.
teaching here, when another teacher had told her
Crossing the school car park, she signed in at
off for running in the corridor. He’d been so
reception and headed for the staffroom. There she
embarrassed when they’d met later in the
said a cheery “good morning” and put her lunch in
staffroom and he realised she was a teacher rather
the fridge for later.
40 41
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than a student. nervously. “Could we talk to you about something?

Everyone knew her now though. This was her Alice’s mum said we shouldn’t bother you, but…
fourth year of teaching, and despite her youthful well…”
appearance, she commanded great respect from all Miss Bright put down her pen and tilted her
the students. head to one side. “Bother me as much as you like,
In her classroom, she began preparing for the girls. What’s troubling you?”
day ahead. Then the glass-panelled door opened “Mum said to just ignore it,” blurted Alice. “She
and two of her tutor group students, Alice and said it wasn’t important…”
Colette, came in. She tried not to raise her “But it is important, Miss – very important,”
eyebrows at seeing them in so early – and Colette interrupted, glancing sympathetically at
together. She was aware that some kind of her friend.
argument between them had occurred a few weeks Rosie Bright waited, curious to know what was
ago. Well, it was good to see they had made friends worrying them. Over the last four years of being a
again. form tutor, she had heard many problems from
“Good morning, girls. You’re nice and early.” her students, and she guessed this wouldn’t shock
They shuffled awkwardly, so Rosie smiled, her, whatever it was.
hoping to put them at ease. Colette seemed to be the instigator of the
“Miss,” said Colette, glancing at her friend conversation, whereas Alice seemed quite
42 43
embarrassed about it. “The thing is, Miss Bright,” of Physics, is also a key figure in our school’s anti-
said Colette, “is that we are both being bullied. I’m bullying policy. Would you like me to discuss this
getting anonymous phone calls at all hours of the with her, and see if we can come up with a plan?”
day and night. And Alice is getting cyberbullied The two girls looked at one another and visibly
through social media, messages and photos and heaved a sigh of relief. “Yes, please,” they both
even an unkind video about her.” answered at once.
“I see,” Rosie Bright nodded, already calculating “Leave it with me then, girls, and I’ll get back to
what action needed to be taken. “I am sorry for you.”
what you’re going through, both of you. You know Rosie Bright watched the two leave, pleased to
that this school has an anti-bullying policy, and see they were friends again. Despite their worries
we take all bullying very seriously.” over these bullying incidents, they seemed a little
“My mum says that cyberbullying isn’t really happier in themselves. Neither of them had
bullying,” said Alice, “and that we should just seemed particularly cheerful while they hadn’t
ignore it, or give as good as we get.” been speaking. So at least something good had
Rosie Bright gave a sympathetic smile. “I’m sure come out of this.
your mother means well, Alice, but two wrongs
***
never make a right. You’ve done the best thing
coming to talk to me. You know Mrs Parsons, Head Rosie caught up with Mrs Parsons over lunch in
44 45
the staffroom. The Head of Physics didn’t seem pushed to the back-burner, so to speak.”
surprised when she explained the cyberbullying “I see,” nodded Rosie, thinking that sometimes
situation. there were more important things than exams.
“Ah!” she murmured, munching on a sandwich. “Well, the two girls who just reported being bullied
“I was aware of some sort of social media gossip are Alice Green and Colette Lacey, and they are
going on because Scarlet from your tutor group happy for me to speak to you about it.”
reported it to me a couple of weeks ago.” Mrs Parsons put down her sandwich. “Really?
Rosie bit back a response that it would have Alice Green, you say?”
been nice if she’d been told. Instead, she calmly “Yes, and Colette Lacey.” Rosie frowned, getting
asked, “Did she offer any details – such as who was the distinct impression that Mrs Parsons was more
behind it? Or who the victim was?” curious about Alice than Colette. She had no idea
Mrs Parsons shook her head. “She didn’t know why.
who was responsible, and she said it wasn’t her Oddly, Mrs Parsons seemed to drift off into a
place to say who the victim was, not unless they world of her own for a moment. Then, with a little
reported the problem themselves. I saw that she shudder, she continued eating. In between
had a point and waited for someone to come mouthfuls, she announced her plan. “So, what
forward. When they didn’t, well, with the exam we’ll do is bring this matter up in assembly. Let’s
prep for the Year 11s, the problem sort of got see if we can’t shame the culprits into ceasing
46 47
their spiteful behaviour and put an end to this And when Friday came, to give Mrs Parsons
spate of cyberbullying. Friday morning’s assembly, credit where it was due, she did speak really well
yes?” to the whole school, mentioning no names, but
“Yes, but I don’t think it would be a good idea talking about the hurt and distress that this kind
to single anyone out as being a victim.” of anonymous bullying caused. She stressed that it
Mrs Parsons patted her arm. “I’ve been had to stop right there and then. She made it very
mediating in these kinds of problems for a long clear that if anyone was caught sharing these
time, Rosie. Don’t worry.” unkind posts, parents would be notified.
Rosie hoped it would do the trick. But on
***
Monday morning, Alice and Colette arrived in the
Rosie Bright was worried though. The last thing classroom early again. They both looked serious.
Alice and Colette needed was to have the finger Rosie thought Alice looked close to tears.
pointed at them as being the victims of bullying. “It didn’t do any good, Miss,” murmured Colette
She just hoped that Mrs Parsons would handle this sadly. “My dad kept my phone overnight to
situation sensitively. confront the caller – but it didn’t worry them. Dad
Later, she told Alice and Colette that Mrs said that the calls came in one after another. He
Parsons would be speaking on both bullying and had to turn my phone off in the end so he could
cyberbullying during Friday morning’s assembly. get some sleep.”
48 49
“Oh, no,” sighed Miss Bright. wanted to know. Her friend Pedro joined in,
“And I’m getting more nasty messages,” said wanting to know too.
Alice, her head lowered and her eyes downcast. “Not yet,” said Miss Bright. “So, if anyone has
“Do you want to see them?” any information…”
“If that’s alright with you, Alice?” “Who’s getting cyberbullied, Miss?” Liala threw
Alice showed her what she’d been putting up another question at her. A few students started
with. sniggering, as if they all knew it was Alice. The
Wordlessly, Rosie Bright scrolled through the fact that Alice buried her head in her hands didn’t
messages, horrified at how mean people could be. help.
She realised then just how lucky she’d been as a “That’s irrelevant, Liala. No one should be
child never to have personally experienced any getting bullied, and if I discover that anyone in
kind of bullying. this group is responsible, that student will be in
serious trouble.”
***
Liala shrugged. “Nothing to do with me!”
When the other members of her tutor group Miss Bright gave her a warning look as she
arrived, quite a lot of them were talking about Mrs began to call the register.
Parsons’ assembly from the Friday before.
***
“Have they caught the bully yet, Miss?” Liala
50 51
Later, as everyone filed out for first break, “maybe you could ask Mr Miles, the ICT tutor – or
Rosie Bright got the opportunity to call Scarlet even one of the cleverer ICT students, like Henry,
over to one side. if they could analyse the video and see where the
“Scarlet, I’m aware that a few weeks ago you images were sourced from – or where the
mentioned to Mrs Parsons that you knew someone messages originated?”
was being bullied. You respected that person’s “That’s a very good idea, Scarlet,” said Miss
privacy and didn’t give away any names, but how Bright. “I have no idea if that’s possible…”
did you know this was going on?” “But worth a try, Miss?” Scarlet suggested,
“Miss, we’re all in various chat groups, so that’s raising her eyebrows hopefully.
how I heard about it. A girl was being picked on, “Absolutely!”
and it seemed really cruel to me.” As Miss Bright was on duty, she caught up with
“Do you have any idea who was instigating this Henry and put the suggestion to him.
nastiness?” “I’ll try, Miss,” he agreed. “No idea how to do it,
“No, not really, Miss. It’s not a good idea to but…” He shrugged. “I’ll give it my best shot.”
speculate and put the blame on someone without “Thank you, Henry.”
proof.” A few minutes later, she saw Henry chatting to
“No, indeed,” agreed Miss Bright. Liala. Curious to know what they were so deep in
“I was thinking though,” continued Scarlet, conversation about, she headed casually towards
52 53
them. But then she spotted Alice and Colette angrily. “Alice is one of the victims…”
walking with their arms linked and their heads “Oh, I’m an idiot – sorry!” he groaned, slapping
together. She was so glad they’d made friends. his forehead with his hand.
To her surprise, Jamie West seemed to leap out “And I’m another of them,” added Colette.
at them, a friendly hand on each girl’s shoulder. “I had no idea, I promise!” Jamie spluttered. “I
Miss Bright could just about hear what he was really am sorry.”
saying. “Girls, are you alright?” Miss Bright asked.
“Hello, what are you two plotting? Don’t tell me Alice dabbed her eyes and blew her nose. “I’m
the pair of you are involved in this mysterious fine, just a bit touchy. It’s okay, Jamie, I know you
cyberbullying thing that Mrs Parsons was on didn’t mean any harm…”
about. You look like trouble, up to no good…” “Course not, I never meant to upset you, Alice
It seemed quite clear to Rosie Bright that Jamie – I wouldn’t… or you, Colette.”
was teasing the girls in a good-natured way, but to Rosie Bright recognised the fact that she wasn’t
her surprise and Jamie’s horror, judging by the needed there, and handing Alice a spare tissue, she
look on his face, Alice burst into tears. left them talking and made her way to where
“Hey! I’m sorry, I was just joking.” Jamie looked Henry was still deep in conversation with Liala.
mortified. “Alice, I’m really sorry…” They separated before she reached them.
“That’s so insensitive, Jamie,” Colette hissed
***
54 55
Later that week, Miss Bright set up a meeting can do. Someone must know something.”
with Alice, Colette, herself and Mrs Parsons, in the “No, we may never know who’s behind it,” said
hope they could formulate a plan of action. Mrs Parsons. “I honestly think they will get tired
“So, have we got any further in trying to work of this nonsense and stop. It will probably stop
out who the culprit is?” asked Mrs Parsons. “I overnight – you mark my words.”
understand the bullying is continuing.” Rosie Bright stared at the woman in charge of
“It just gets worse and worse,” said Colette. the anti-bullying policy and blinked in
“It feels like they are getting angrier and angrier astonishment. “We can’t just rely on hoping it will
with Colette and me,” said Alice. “But I don’t know all stop! We have to fathom out who is behind
why. We’ve thought about it, but we don’t think this. To be honest, I’m starting to lean towards a
we’ve done anything to hurt or offend anyone. It couple of people…”
all started after parents’ evening, but we didn’t “Who, Miss?” Colette asked eagerly.
upset anyone there.” “You have some sort of evidence, Miss Bright?”
Mrs Parsons sighed and shook her head. “Well, I Mrs Parsons demanded, an accusing tone in her
suppose we’ll just have to see if it fizzles out,” she voice.
said after a long pause. “Not yet, but I am making enquiries into the
Rosie frowned at her. She wasn’t offering any technical side of things.” She glanced at the girls.
useful advice at all. “There has to be something we “I’ve spoken to Mr Miles, our ICT tutor, as well…”
56 57
“I’m sure we don’t need to drag half of the And now you decide...
school into this,” Mrs Parsons exclaimed, a half
What should Miss Bright
laugh to her voice, as if the idea was ridiculous.
“Just one digital expert, Mrs Parsons. And girls,
do?
get your parents on board and see what they can
come up with. Alice, talk to your mother again A) Arrange a meeting with Alice’s mum to
about bullying – make her listen to you and take try and find ways of supporting Alice
this seriously.”
“I’m positive that it will simply stop overnight,” B) Arrange a meeting with Henry and Mr
Miles to see if they have found out any
repeated Mrs Parsons, glancing at her watch. “I’m
more information
sorry, I have another meeting to attend. Now,
don’t fret, anyone. This will all soon be sorted out,
C) Confront Liala and the other students
I’m positive of it.”
when she next catches them laughing
Rosie Bright, Alice and Colette watched their behind Alice’s back
anti-bullying expert dash out of the room, leaving
them all slightly confused. Go to en.fictionexpress.com and vote
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Chapter 3 Behind the Screens Chapter 3 Behind the Screens

She went up to her classroom on the ﬁrst ﬂoor,

than a student. nervously. “Could we talk to you about something?

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