BEHINDTHEGYMITwasadullautumndayandJillPolewasgbehindthegym.

    Shewasgbecausetheyhadbeenbullyihisisnotgoingtobeaschoolstory,soIshallsayaslittleaspossibleaboutJillsschool,whiotapleasantsubject.Itwas"Co-educational,"aschoolforbothboysandgirls,whatusedtobecalleda"mixed”

    school;somesaiditwasnotnearlysomixedasthemindsofthepeoplewhoranit.Thesepeoplehadtheideathatboysandgirlsshouldbeallowedtodowhattheyliked.Andunfortunatelywhattenorfifteenofthebiggestboysandgirlslikedbestwasbullyihers.Allsortsofthings,horridthings,wentonwhichatanordinaryschoolwouldhavebeenfoundoutandstoppedinhalfaterm;butatthisschooltheywerent.Oreveniftheywere,thepeoplewhodidthemwerenotexpelledorpuheHeadsaidtheywereiingpsychologicalcasesaforthemandtalkedtothemforhours.AndifyoukherightsortofthingstosaytotheHead,themaiwasthatyoubecameratherafavouritethanotherwise.

    ThatwaswhyJillPolewasgonthatdullautumndayonthedamplittlepathwhisbetweenthebackofthegymandtheshrubbery.Andshehadntnearlyfinishedhercrywhenaboycameroundtheerofthegymwhistling,withhishandsinhispockets.Henearlyranintoher.

    "tyoulookwhereyoing?"saidJillPole.

    "Allright,"saidtheboy,"youstart-"andtheicedherface."Isay,Pole,”

    hesaid,"?”

    Jillonlymadefaces;thesortyoumakewhenyouretryingtosaysomethingbutfindthatifyouspeakyoullstartgagain.

    "ItsThem,Isuppose-asusual,"saidtheboygrimly,digginghishandsfartherintohispockets.

    Jillherewasnoneedforhertosa