Isabella Gets Ideas

"Why is this child sitting separately from the other children?"

Isabella had yet again muscled in on his territory. He was just about to ask that! What an annoyance this woman was being….

"Oh - he's new here."

"So? What has being new got to do with segregating him like this?" Isabella's sweet tone was clearly becoming strained.

"Well - the other children - well, they don't get along with him, you see."

"So keeping him separate from the others is supposed to help?"

"Miss Newlove - please..." Oswald laughed awkwardly, protesting through clenched teeth. He turned to the teacher. "I do apologise, Miss - erm?"

"Trump."

"Um - Miss Trump. Right. I must apologise for Miss Newlove's rather outspoken ways. She is new here also." He shot a sharp glance of warning at Isabella.

Isabella forced a smile. Then she did something unthinkable. "Excuse us a moment, please," she said, "The Mayor and I need to discuss something," and then she took Oswald firmly by the arm and started to lead him away. Oswald, completely aghast but taken completely by surprise, had no choice but to stumble along after her.

She found a quiet corner, ignoring his protestations about "What the hell was she playing at for God's sake, etc, " then turned to Oswald, coming in close, and spoke to him in a low hiss that was audible to no-one but him.

"Mr Mayor - with all due respect - do you think keeping this little boy away from his classmates is the best way to deal with things? I mean - Mr Mayor - do you agree that a special child like him - who might just be being bullied by those other children for being different - should be made to feel like he has done something wrong?"

"Erm, well - when you put it like that - I suppose not, no," Oswald faltered, blinking quickly. He had to admit - begrudgingly - that she did have a point.

"I knew you would agree." She smiled triumphantly. "Just follow my lead, Oswald - trust me, this will get you lots of brownie points with your constituents!"

She turned, straightened herself up and addressed the room with a strong, clear voice of authority that left Oswald opened mouthed and wide eyed with astonishment.

"The Mayor and I have just been discussing how we can address problems of bullying in school. He has given me his very kind permission to set up a special campaign for this very purpose. He insists that we will leave no stone unturned until every child in this city who is vulnerable ijn the classroom is given the protection, help and support they deserve."

Oswald and Isabella spent the first few minutes of their journey home just sitting without speaking - Oswald, in shocked silence at what she had done, and Isabella smiling quietly over her latest coup.

Then Oswald turned to her, his hand still gripping his cane defensively, but the frown on his face relaxing - just a little.

"Isabella - understand, this changes nothing whatsoever between us - but, I have to say, that thing you did back there - well, it was rather admirable. What made you do it?" He looked askance at her curiously.

Isabella smiled at him gratefully. She took a deep breath, then addressed him with a tremor of emotion in her voice.

"Well, for one thing, Oswald - I was like that bullied child at school. I ended up a shy, timid librarian because I could only find happiness in the pages of books, it was an escape from my real life situation. But Oswald - then I saw you, and the way you held an audience in the palm of your hand - how powerful you had become, all through your own efforts - and I also saw some pain in your eyes too, I knew you had been hurt and abused yourself. You are beautiful, Oswald, I know you don't believe it but you are. Well - anyway, you inspired me to want to be more than I am. And Oswald, I have done that, you gave me the courage to speak out just then. I am going to help you make a difference in this rotten city. I did it for people like us, Oswald - the outsiders, who no-one wants to understand. That's why I fell in love with you, and knew I would stop at nothing to be with you."

Oswald was speechless for a moment. Her words had taken his breath away, try as he might to fight it. His heart was beating so fast. It couldn't be - could it? He couldn't….he shouldn't! It just wasn't possible….

"But...but what about Ed? You can't hurt Ed!" His voice came out as a weak, quiet, rasping whisper. His eyes filled up with tears. He hung his head, closed his eyes tightly and his tears fell.

"Shhhh, Oswald. Sweet Oswald. I won't. I promise, I won't. Ed will never find out…..my love…." She took his face in her hands, lifting up his head gently, and wiped his falling tears away.