Miss Smith’S Mystery

By Chris Sams

When Miss Smith fails to return to her classroom after lunch, Toby is surprised but not as surprised as he is a little later when he sees his recently made model labelled in a competition as belonging to a rival school. Then there are the mysterious pieces of paper found under a hedge, with strange words written on them. Why will nobody tell him where Miss Smith is? With the cooperation of his parents and the friendship of one of the teachers, Toby eventually finds out what is afoot. But how is the culprit to be brought to book? And will she get her comeuppance?

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Mar 3, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491896518

Chris Sams

Having worked as a teaching/learning-support assistant for twenty-five years, I have a good working knowledge of life in school. In my position, I have been able to form good relationships with children as well as members of the teaching staff, and this has given me the inspiration to write an entirely fictional story based on some of the character traits of different people I have known. My husband and I have two daughters and two grandchildren. Since my husband’s stroke in 1997, I have devoted my time to caring for him.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Monday morning again! The children hung up their coats, chatting as they went towards the classroom. Do much at the weekend? Michael asked.

Oh no, said Toby. Just this and that.

Sit down quietly, please, children, Miss Smith called. I’m going to take the register.

Everybody quietened down for five seconds, and then Toby whispered to Michael, Here we go again!

The pupils answered their names on the register and were just

beginning to talk to each other once more when the door opened. In walked Miss Germ with her escort, Miss Beale. Speaking quietly to the class teacher, Miss Germ moved to the front of the class. Eyes on me, children, she said, silkily.

Most of the class obeyed immediately, but Toby, sitting at the back, managed to be behind CJ where he was out of the Germ’s vision. He could hear her quiet voice saying, Now then, I have something important to say to you all.

From his useful vantage point, it dawned on Toby that, as she spoke, she swayed slightly from side to side, but not only she—so did the children! He watched, fascinated, as everybody swayed left and right, following Miss Germ’s movements. It occurred to him that they had all obediently focused their eyes on her, and he thought, "I must not look at the head."

My darlings, Year Six is a very important year for you all, and we want you to do well in your SATs tests, purred Miss Germ. So we will help you with them, but you must not tell anyone.

She suddenly stopped swaying and clapped her hands.

The children became still for a split second. Then they began to chat to each other as if nothing had happened since the registration had finished, totally ignoring the three adults in the room.

Miss Germ and Miss Beale slithered out of the room without another word to the children.

That went well, Miss Beale observed. They don’t remember your words.

Thank goodness! snapped Miss Germ, But it will be in their heads that they can achieve good results.

Toby had watched the pair disappear through the door before he asked Michael, Did you hear what she said?

What who said? Michael enquired.

Miss Germ, of course, answered Toby. Before she spoke to us, she was talking to Miss Smith. I didn’t hear that. Then she said ‘Eyes on me,’ followed by ‘Now then… . ,’ and I didn’t hear more than those two words, Michael said.

Toby stared at him. Are you serious? Did you not hear when she talked about SATs?

I can’t remember anything about that. What did she say?

I’ll tell you later in the playground, Toby said quietly.

At this point Miss Smith called for the class to stop talking and listen to her whilst she explained the day’s timetable. We shall be practising for SATs, she told them. Can you move the tables to test positions, please?

Pandemonium broke out as they tried to move all the tables at the same time.

Stop! shouted Miss Smith. Be sensible. You can’t all move at once. Now, Jessica and Finn, move your table round first. The rest of you, see how they do it, and then each pair waits for their turn.

Toby and Michael, being at the back, had to wait until last to turn their table round, but, eventually all was complete.

As it was a mock test, the class had to work in silence. The two boys had no opportunity to say anything to each other until break time. That wasn’t too bad, Toby commented as he and Michael picked up their snacks from the box.

It went too quickly for me, Michael said. I needed more time really.

Out in the playground, they ate their snacks and wandered away from the other children to talk.

"So what were you saying about the Germ and SATs? asked Michael.

She said something about us doing well and them helping us, and we mustn’t tell anyone, Toby whispered.

I didn’t get any of that. Are you sure you heard right?

Yes, and you were all swaying from side to side with her, Toby said.

Michael looked at him. You must have been dreaming! he laughed.

Toby knew he had not been dreaming, and the class had definitely been in a trance. He decided to let the matter drop. Michael said no more about it, and they went off to join in a game of football at the other end of the playground.

The rest of the day followed a fairly normal pattern with Numeracy after break, and then lunch. Toby kept quiet about the head’s words, and Michael did not bring up the subject either. After lunch, it was Games in the playground before a singing session in the hall and then home time.

Toby’s mum, Caroline was waiting for him as he came out of the door.

How was your day? she asked, as they walked away from the school.

A bit odd. We had a practice paper for SATs. After that it was normal Maths. This afternoon, we had Games and Singing.

What’s odd about that? asked his mum.

Well, nothing really, but Miss Germ came in before we started and said something weird.

Toby skipped off along the pavement, leaving his Mum behind, and so she did not find out anything more until after tea.

Mum, Toby suddenly began, when you were at school, did the teachers help you with SATs?

When I was at school, we didn’t have SATs, his mum replied, but we had tests which the teachers marked. They didn’t help in the tests; of course not. Why did you ask that?

Well, Toby drawled, the Germ came into our class this morning and told us they would help us with SATs but that we mustn’t tell anybody.

You must have misheard her, his mum put in.

Even more strange, though, the rest of the class were swaying from side to side while she talked, and Michael couldn’t remember what she’d said.

Toby’s mum observed that Michael often couldn’t remember what he had heard in school! She did not pick up on the swaying until later when Toby was going to bed.

How did you notice the others’ ‘swaying’ as you told me? Weren’t you swaying, too? After all, children rarely stand completely still.

But it was peculiar. Miss Germ started by telling us, ‘Eyes on me,’ and the other children were all looking at her when she began swaying, and then they were doing it, too!

What about you, then?

I was at the back where she couldn’t see me, and I didn’t look directly at her face.

Toby’s mum decided not to pursue the topic any further that night, as it was likely to keep Toby awake. She wished him a good night and went to wash up the dishes. Meanwhile, Toby found a book he wanted to read before he settled down to sleep, and he forgot about the happening at school.

However, Toby’s mum, Caroline, was turning over in her mind what Toby had said, trying to convince herself whether or not he was confused about what he had seen and heard.

She thought it was unlikely that he would be so serious about something if he was just making it up, and it was such an odd thing to think up! Sitting down with John, her husband, Caroline related the tale to him. John felt it was just a child’s imagination working overtime, and they left the subject to talk about other interests.

Chapter 2

Tuesday was Toby’s favourite day of the week. When he woke up, he jumped out of bed full of enthusiasm because he would be playing his viola and having a Design and Technology lesson, where he could use his imagination and skills to create something.

He dashed downstairs for breakfast and gave his mum a hug. That was nice, she said. You must be full of the joys of spring!

Tuesday is a good day, Mum. I always look forward to it.

I’m surprised you actually know what day it is! laughed his mum.

Breakfast over, Toby organised himself and his viola ready for school. Then he sat in front of the television for a few minutes until it was time to go out. On the screen was a face he was familiar with—Miss Germ.

Mum, come quick, he called.

His mum dashed in, expecting something dreadful had happened. What’s wrong? she asked.

Look at the TV. It’s the Germ! he said, sounding surprised.

Mum watched and listened as Miss Germ informed everyone how amazing she was and how all her former pupils managed to achieve brilliant grades in tests. The interviewer asked what she did to ensure the high marks from children.

My team and I give them enormous support and encouragement before the tests, Miss Germ replied, and they all respond very well.

Most teachers give support and encouragement, observed the interviewer. Why does your system work better than theirs?

Possibly we inspire them more, Miss Germ gushed. She stared towards the camera and grinned in a most unpleasant manner. You will see what I mean when the results are published.

The interview ended, and Toby looked puzzled. She seems very sure of her methods, doesn’t she, Mum?

Yes—too sure! Mum answered. Come on, then. Let’s go.

Toby picked up his viola and his school bag and hurried through the door.

In the playground, one or two mothers were standing close to the gate when Toby and his mum walked in. They were obviously discussing the television interview, as Caroline heard them saying, She sounded totally convinced that they will all get top marks, didn’t she?

Caroline thought of what Toby