"You ok, Kate?" Mrs Arnott asked a couple of weeks later. She had just caught Kate sitting at the breakfast table, holding her lower stomach as if in pain. She wasn't her usual chatty self either whilst they waited for Steve to put an appearance in.

"I think I'm getting my period," Kate admitted shyly. She'd woken up with a stomach ache and found some blood staining her pyjamas when she had gone to the bathroom. Her mum was already at work and so Kate had looked after herself, but the pain was getting worse. She felt comfortable enough with Mrs Arnott to discuss this latest event.

"Oh dear," Mrs Arnott, consoled. "Is it your first?" she asked concerned.

Kate nodded. "It's horrible. I don't like it," she replied.

"Have you got everything you need?" Mrs Arnott checked with her substitute daughter. She had grown to like the girl very much and was aware her own mother wasn't around much.

"I've put some pads in my bag," Kate admitted.

"Have you had any pain killers?" Mrs Arnott asked. Kate shook her head.

"It wasn't hurting so bad earlier,".

"Let me find you some," Mrs Arnott said as she went off in search of some analgesia. She reappeared with a full box as well as her water bottle and filled it with recently boiled water from the kettle. "I find a water bottle very helpful," Mrs Arnott confessed as she gave Kate the furry object and helped her place it against her tummy. "Not too hot?" She checked. Kate shook her head.

"Thank you Mrs Arnott," Kate said as she felt the warm water start to help.

"You're welcome Kate," Mrs Arnott replied as she went about finishing off Steve's lunch box and putting it in his school bag.

"Is it like this every time?" Kate asked worriedly. She wasn't looking forward to getting her period again.

"It's not the most fun time of the month," Mrs Arnott replied, "but you get used to it," she admitted truthfully. She looked at her watch. "I'll go and tell Steve to get a move on," she said before leaving Kate alone. The truth was her son was no later than usual but she wanted a private word with him. "Steve?" she called out as she made her way upstairs.

"I'm nearly ready," Steve replied as he walked out of his bedroom.

"That's good," Mrs Arnott said. "I need you to do me a favour,".

"What is it?" Steve asked suspiciously.

"I need you to keep an eye out for Kate. She's not feeling very well today,".

"Ok," replied Steve. That was something he could do.


Double maths was the worst lesson of the week for both Steve and Kate. It was made worse by Mr Osbourne, the very formidable maths teacher who was very strict and loathed by most pupils. Unfortunately, Kate started to feel unwell again during his lesson.

"Are you ok, Kate," Steve whispered to his friend when he noticed she didn't look all that good.

Kate shook her head. "I think I need to go to the nurse," she whispered back.

"OK," Steve said before bravely raising his arm.

"Mr Arnott," bellowed Mr Osbourne in a Welsh accent, "what can I help you with?".

"It's Kate, Sir," he replied. "She's not feeling very well,".

Mr Osbourne noticed that indeed Kate didn't look her usual self and came over to talk to her. "Would you like to go to the nurse?" He asked.

"Yes please, Sir," Kate answered.

"I can take her," Steve offered quickly, remembering the promise he'd made his mother that morning.

"I'm sure Miss Fleming can make her own way without your assistance, Mr Arnott," Mr Osbourne instructed.

Steve looked hopelessly on as Kate gathered her belongings and made her way out of the classroom. He saw her appear outside and have to take a seat for a little while as she clutched her abdomen.

Deciding that his friend needed him, Steve checked that Mr Osbourne wasn't looking before sneaking out of the classroom and heading to where Kate was sat. "Are you ok?" He asked.

"What are you doing here?" Kate asked. "Mr Osbourne will go mental,".

Steve shrugged his shoulders, not caring about his stupid maths teacher. "I think you need help getting to the nurse,". Carefully he placed one of Kate's arms around his shoulders and helped her to the nurse's office.

Once he was sure she was ok he prepared to leave his friend and return to his class. Only he was beaten to it by the appearance of Mr Osbourne in the nurse's office.

"There you are, Mr Arnott," Mr Osbourne said chillingly. "I could have sworn I told you to stay in your seat yet here you are out of it,".

"Kate needed help," Steve retorted.

"Go to Mr Hastings office!" Mr Osbourne instructed him, annoyed at the child's cheekiness. "And you can do detention with me on Friday afternoon,".

"But Sir-" Steve began.

"Go!" Mr Osbourne repeated, pointing out of the room.

Steve looked at Kate and headed off.

"I asked Steve to take me," Kate lied, trying to protect her friend. "I should get in trouble too,".

"Nice try, Miss Fleming," Mr Osbourne said, before leaving the ill child alone with the nurse. He didn't believe her.

Steve sat in the plastic chair outside the Headmaster's office waiting to be called in. Stupid Mr Osbourne was in there now no doubt telling him his version of events. He didn't have to wait much longer before the door opened and Mr Osbourne left leaving just Mr Hastings. "Come in Steven," Mr Hastings instructed. Steve did as told and stood before the headmasters desk. This was one person he wasn't going to correct about his name. "So you disobeyed Mr Osbourne earlier?".

"Yes, Sir," replied Steve. "Kate wasn't feeling well and needed help going to the nurse. I was going to go straight back to class," he defended himself.

"That was a very nice thing you did for your friend but you still ignored what Mr Osbourne told you," Mr Hastings said.

"She's my best friend," Steve argued. "Mum told me to look after her. I was just doing that,".

Ted paused, struck by the camaraderie between Steve and Kate. "Sounds like my mum," he said with a smile, "but we can't have pupils running all over school during lesson time,".

"Sorry Mr Hastings," Steve said as she looked down.

"Mr Osbourne said he's given you a detention,".

"Yes sir," said Steve. "I think I'd be in even more trouble if I hadn't done as mum had asked though," he confided and Mr Hastings smiled at the smart boy in front of him.

"Always best to do as your mum says," he admitted. The boy in front of him wasn't the trouble maker that his staff member had suggested.


That Friday afternoon just as Steve was beginning his detention with Mr Osbourne, a knock sounded at the classroom door. Mr Osbourne got up and found himself looking at Kate. "Mr Osbourne I got Steve in to trouble so I'd like to do his detention with him please," she requested.

"The more the merrier," Mr Osbourne said as he stepped back and allowed Kate to enter.

Steve smiled at his friend as she took her seat next to him before they worked in silence for an hour.

Ted Hastings was on his way to his car when he found himself behind Steve and Kate as they made their way home after completing their detention. "Coming to mine?" Ted heard Steve ask his friend.

"Maybe,".

"Mum's made me chocolate cake as a reward for doing that stupid detention,". Mrs Arnott had been proud of her son for sticking up for his friend and thought the detention a little unjust. "Her chocolate cake is the best," Steve promised.

"Alright," agreed Kate as Ted watched them walk off together, reminded of the chocolate cake his mother had made him in his younger days.