Jeff steals Harvey's homework.
TWENTY ONE – MISSING HOMEWORK
The neat pile, stacked in the centre of the desk, was simple enough to spot. The door was propped back by a door wedge, and standing within the doorframe, allowed a perfect view of the empty classroom. The papers were begging to be rifled through, so with one quick cursory glance to both ends of the corridor, Jeff marched straight over to the pile, licking his thumb to begin the examination sweep.
When the chosen paper was within his hands, he smirked, reading both the front and back page. The childish scribble, crossed out markings and obvious incorrect answers; a joy to observe. Jeff neatly folded the rectangular piece of paper and stuck it into his pocket, turning on his heel and walking briskly out of the classroom.
All to do now, was wait for the bell to ring.
"I've double checked the pile, Mr Hunter, and your work is clearly not here! Now, I'm going to ask you again… did you complete the homework I gave you?"
Near tears, Harvey nodded frantically. "Yes, Sir!" He whined, shoulders hunched and trembling. "I put it on your desk at the beginning of the lesson, like y-you asked! I swear!" He shuddered, wishing he had used a different expression. If Mr Brown believed him to be… "Sir, please, ask Reece! He saw me hand it in!"
Harvey didn't hold out much luck for Reece's testimony, as somehow, the truth was always skewered, and in this situation, he knew that he would still be held accountable and have the full blame thrust upon him.
'It's not fair! I definitely DID that piece of homework, even though it nearly killed me! He must have lost it, he must have!'
To ask Mr Brown to check the pile again was a death wish, for certain, so instead, Harvey resorted to giving in to his welling emotions.
"Please, Sir! I promise you I completed the homework, I-I just… don't know where it's gone!"
Mr Brown, stoic and silent, simply shook his head in disgust and pointed towards the classroom door. Hanging his head in shame, Harvey felt the tears slide off of the end of his nose, watching them splatter onto his school shoes. This was the worst possible outcome; in that, he didn't know the outcome. No reprimand, no detention, no isolation… Simply, dismissal.
Harvey glanced up briefly to check he was at the correct toilets, shuffling into the end cubicle, the lock shutting him within his well of misery.
Too overwhelmed by his emotions, Harvey was oblivious to the cruel chuckling echoing along the corridor, his 'lost' homework safe and sound in the pocket of a green blazer.