Disclaimer: All recognisable characters belong to HiT Entertainment. All OCs belong to me.

Chapter 4

"How was school, boys?" mum asked when we entered the house later that afternoon.

"It was great!" Charlie replied. "I'm starting to learn physics now."

"That's good. And what about you, Sam? What did you learn?"

"Nothing," I muttered. I pushed past her, and I started to climb the stairs.

"Just a moment, Sam! What are those bruises on the back of your legs?"

I froze on the stairs. "Nothing, mum."

Mum came closer to me. "That's hardly nothing! You got caned, didn't you?"

I nodded. Mum grabbed me by my hand, and she pulled me back downstairs.

"Now, why did you get caned?"

"Because I played a few harmless practical jokes on the teacher."

Mum sighed. "Sam, I've told you not to do that!"

"I know, but school's really boring otherwise."

"That's no excuse! Now, get upstairs and do your homework. You won't get any playtime this afternoon."

Charlie and I hurried upstairs, and we went into Charlie's bedroom.

"Are you able to help me with my maths homework please, Sam?" Charlie asked. "I don't quite understand it."

I sat down on his bed with a heavy sigh. "Is it trigonometry again?"

"Yeah. Problem number eight. I can't figure out which angle I should try to solve first."

I smiled. "Let me take a look at it."

Charlie handed over his textbook. "So, when are you going to give my trousers back?"

"They're in the wash," I replied dismissively. "Hmm… I think you need to work out this angle first, before you try and do the rest."

"Okay, thanks. You'd better do your homework now, so you don't get into trouble."

Sighing, I opened up my satchel, and I took out my books.

…

"I'm done!" I announced about an hour later. "I'm going downstairs to get a drink. Would you like anything?"

"Nah, I'm good," Charlie replied dismissively, and he continued doing his homework.

I made my way downstairs. When I entered the kitchen, I found mum busily preparing our dinner.

"Can I have some fizzy drink please, mum?" I asked. "I've finished my homework."

"No, Sam. You know the rules for when you can have fizzy drink. There's some cold water in the fridge that you can have. I'll get it for you."

Mum had just handed me my drink, when dad and granddad arrived home.

"Hey, Sam!" granddad greeted me. "How was school?"

"Boring, as usual…"

Just then, the front doorbell rang. Dad went to answer it.

"Hello, Mr Jones? I'm Sam's teacher, Miss Allen."

I almost choked on my drink. Hearing me coughing and spluttering, mum gave me a gentle slap on my back.

"She's probably here to talk to us about you," she said as soon as I was breathing normally again.

"That's right," dad said as he entered the kitchen. "And she wants Sam to be present as well."

I froze, stunned. Oh, boy! I'm in for it now!

Mum gently prised the cup of water from my hands, and she set it down on the bench. Then, mum, dad, granddad and I entered the sitting room where Miss Allen was just making herself comfortable. I didn't dare look at her. Dad placed his hands firmly on my shoulders.

"Miss Allen, this is my wife, Mary," dad said by way of introduction. "And this is my father, Tomos."

"It's a pleasure to meet all of you," Miss Allen replied.

"Would you like some tea?" mum offered.

"Oh, no thank you. I won't be staying long."

We sat down. I decided to sit sideways on granddad's lap, because that's where I always felt safest. Sure enough, he placed an arm securely around my back.

Miss Allen drew in a deep breath. "Um… First of all, I hope you're not upset about me caning Sam at school today…"

Mum and dad exchanged a glance.

"Well, from what he's told me, he thoroughly deserved it," mum replied. "You're not the first teacher he's played practical jokes on, and I doubt you'll be the last."

Miss Allen nodded slowly. I could feel her eyes on me. "So I'm led to understand. I was discussing him with some of his previous teachers in the staff room at lunch time today, and strangely, we all came to the same conclusion."

"What conclusion exactly?" dad asked.

"I believe Sam should be moved up a grade as soon as possible."

Mum frowned. "Why do you say that?"

"Because he already knows more than what I can possibly hope to teach him this year. I quizzed him in several subjects today, and I must admit I was astonished. His knowledge of science is equivalent to a child in grade eight! In mathematics, he can already do long and short division, while the rest of his classmates are still struggling with their eight times table! And as far as history goes, especially Welsh history, there doesn't seem to be much he doesn't know already. I'd love to know who taught him so much at such a young age. He said he's learned it all from his brother's homework, but I'm sure there's more to it than that. Anyway, what's even more remarkable is that he actually understands everything he's learned."

I looked up at granddad, and he smiled at me.

"But, surely Sam would struggle being put up a grade?" mum asked with concern.

"On the contrary, I believe he's completely bored at school, because I, and his previous teachers, have been going over topics he already knows. And, that is why he enjoys playing practical jokes on us. That's his outlet for his boredom. Sam? What did your brother learn about at school today?"

"Physics," I replied without even looking at her. I fiddled with the buttons on granddad's shirt sleeve while I spoke. "Newton's laws on motion. Whenever there is an action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. So, if a bullet is being fired out of a gun, the recoil is the reaction."

Mum and dad gasped in astonishment. Even granddad looked impressed.

"I-I had no idea…" dad stammered.

"How long did it take you to learn that, Sam?" Miss Allen asked.

I shrugged. "Charlie didn't understand it, so I helped him."

Miss Allen learned forward. "Sam?"

I finally made eye contact with her.

"Would you like to move up into the fifth grade?"

I shrugged again. Granddad gave me a nudge.

"Sam, when someone asks you a question, don't shrug in reply. Give them a proper answer."

"Sorry, granddad. I don't know, miss. Will I learn new things?"

Miss Allen smiled. "Yes, I'm sure you will." She looked up at mum and dad. "I've already discussed the possibility of Sam moving up a grade with the school principal. He just needs your approval."

"If we agree, how soon will he have to change classes?" mum asked.

"I think we'll be able to get everything sorted out by next Monday," Miss Allen replied. "It'll be easier, and kinder to Sam, if we move him up as soon as possible, before he has a chance to get settled into his current class."

Dad looked at granddad. "You've been very quiet, dad. What do you think?"

"I don't see the harm in moving Sam up a grade if he's ready for it – which he obviously is. In fact, I think it would do him more harm to keep him in the fourth grade. He's at that age where we want to encourage him to learn new things, because if we don't, we'd only be responsible for hindering him."

Dad nodded thoughtfully. I bit my bottom lip. When all was said and done, this decision was up the dad. He always had the final say.

"Why don't we trial it for a term?" dad finally suggested. "If Sam's grades are not as good or better than his results from last year, we'll know he isn't ready to move up."

"I completely agree!" Miss Allen replied. "But, I can assure you, if he's a hundred percent committed to his studies, his grades won't slip. He's a very intelligent boy, Mr Jones. We just need to channel his intelligence and energy into something more useful than creating practical jokes to play on the teachers…"

I looked sheepishly down at my hands. "I'm sorry, Miss Allen…"

Seeing that I was genuinely sorry, Miss Allen came over to me, and she opened up her handbag. Then, to my utmost surprise, she gave me back my whoopee-cushion and my fake spider.

"We'll say no more about it, okay?"

I merely nodded, because I was too stunned to speak. Miss Allen prepared to leave.

"The principal, Mr Grieves, will phone you tomorrow to confirm everything with you," she said to mum and dad. "Thank you for taking the time to let me speak to you this evening. I wanted to talk to you personally, you see."

"We understand," mum replied as she showed Miss Allen to the door. "Thank you very much for coming."

"You're welcome. I know we all want what's best for Sam."

"We do indeed."

As soon as Miss Allen had gone, I collapsed against granddad's chest with a tired sigh. He started stroking my hair fondly.

"Well, that was completely unexpected!" mum exclaimed. "I had no idea Sam was that smart!"

"It seems we've all overlooked his intelligence," dad agreed. "Now, how long until dinner's ready, my dear?"

"Just give me another fifteen minutes…"

Thank you so much for your patience everyone! I've had a bit of a holiday from writing this week, because I was getting burned out. Autohumans, thank you for your good wishes. It was sad seeing so many people standing outside their flooded homes looking completely lost as to what to do next, but I have to say the emergency services were amazing. We take them so much for granted, but they will often risk their own lives just to keep us safe. I was reading a story earlier today about two firefighters who were on their way to the Beaudesert fire station to help with the flood emergency, when they came across two flooded cars. The elderly man in the first car had managed to get out safely, but the second car contained a mother who was desperately trying to get her son to hospital because he was having a severe asthma attack. The firefighters got them all safely to a nearby farm house, where they treated the boy until the paramedics were able to arrive. Sure, they were just doing their job, but they carried on despite the disaster going on around them.

Anyway, I'll update this story again as soon as I can. Please, don't pressure me for updates, because I prefer to work at my own pace. Thanks again for your reviews. I greatly appreciate them.