On a school trip, Harvey gets lost, all thanks to Jeff's false directions.


TWELVE – SCHOOL TRIP

London was a big place, and for a seven year old, on their own, was petrifying.

He wished that he could go back in time, by a few hours, so that he was not alone. Wandering the streets of London, schoolbag hugged to his chest, Harvey whimpered, manic thoughts tumbling in his mind.

'Mummy is going to be so angry at me. She'll spank me and say that I should have stayed with the group… I don't know HOW I got lost. I followed Jeff's instructions… Oh, I want to go home!'

He shuffled along, head down low and tears sliding down his face.


That morning, all members of his school had been on the coach, preparing for a trip to landmarks in London. The Headmaster had divided all of the pupils up into fifteen groups, with a designated leader of either a Prefect or a teacher for each group. In Harvey's group, the leader had been Jeff.

No matter how much Jeff had bullied and tormented him, Harvey was still naïve enough to believe that Jeff didn't mean it and that when he was a bit older, Jeff would stop picking on him and they would become civil towards each other.

So Harvey didn't think to move away when Jeff sidled over to him as soon as everyone had climbed off of the coach, only a flinch displaying how scared he was of the Deputy Head Prefect.

Jeff smiled warmly. "Hey, Harvey, I was going to suggest that you stick close to me when we're walking round. London is an easy enough place to get lost in, and we wouldn't want that to happen, would we?"

Harvey shook his head. "N-No. I'll s-stay by your s-side."

"Good."

Both boys turned to listen to what the Headmaster had to say, before heading off in their group, Jeff leading the way.

For two hours, they visited several landmarks, before meeting up with everyone else to grab a bite to eat. Harvey sat with his friends and ate his burger and chips happily, unaware that a short distance away, two people were watching his every move.

Jeff and Peter sneered in disgust as a dollop of tomato ketchup splattered onto Harvey's chest, snickering as the boy tried desperately to mop it up. They burst into full-out laughter when Lloyd leaned across and attempted to scrub the stain out. They received dirty glares from Ingrid and Lloyd, which they returned with pleasure.

Once everyone had set off again, Jeff decided to play a game with Harvey. He took him aside and said: "I have to go and talk to the Headmaster. How about you go to the next location?"

"M-Me lead the r-rest of the g-group?"

"Oh, no. They're coming with me. I'm going to ask the Headmaster if he can take them. I think they're ruining the trip for us. Being so noisy and all."

The fact that the rest of the group had been dead silent all day long didn't occur to Harvey, and he slowly nodded.

"O-Okay… But, surely… Shouldn't I wait for you to come back, then w-we go onto the next location?"

"It's not that far, Harvey! Just a few streets away! Once you get there, go inside and I'll be with you very soon. Alright?"

Reluctantly, Harvey nodded again and listened carefully as Jeff explained the directions to him.

"So walk straight up this road and turn left. Keep walking along and you'll get to a main road. Cross it and go through the market, then you're there. Got that?"

"Y-Yeah."

Jeff grinned, slapped him on the shoulder, and then strode off, the others following him, leaving Harvey all alone.

That had been an hour and a half ago, and Harvey was sobbing his heart out. He had followed Jeff's directions perfectly, but he was nowhere near the Art Gallery. Instead, he was down a dingy little backstreet that seemed to attract various unsavoury characters.

It was certainly no place for a seven year old.

Harvey slumped down on a doorstep and curled up, crying helplessly. If only he was old enough to have a phone, or had been with his big brother.

'Or not been stupid and gone the wrong way! Oh, I want my Mummy!'


Jeff smirked as they arrived back at St Champions. The trip had been cut short, due to Harvey Hunter having gone walkabout. His talk to the Headmaster had not been about what he had told Harvey, but how Harvey himself had gone missing from the group, 'having wandered away when everyone's backs were turned.' After being commended by the Headmaster for telling him straight away, Jeff had stood back and watched as the Headmaster gathered up all of the teachers and sent them off to find Harvey, ordering the pupils and Prefects to head back to the coach.

They had found Harvey Hunter sitting down a dark alley, crying as if he was never going to be found. Jeff had been forced to muffle his laughter when Harvey got onto the coach, his tear stained face was too priceless.

The Headmaster had erupted at Harvey over ruining the day, and Jeff enjoyed seeing Harvey Hunter torn down in front of him.

Now, they were all clambering off of the coach, and Mrs Hunter was running forward, embracing her youngest son into her arms. Jeff rolled his eyes as he heard her gush;

"Oh, sweetheart, I'm so glad you're safe!"

Yet, it was sweeter when she suddenly pulled away and reprimanded him.

"You ever wander off like that again, and I'll make your bottom so sore you won't be able to sit down for a week!"