THE CLIFF OF HOPE 

By Tessa Harvey

    The teacher turned to leave. "I must go," she laughed, "or yesterday will be standing on my heels!"
    Izak remembered the time on the cliff. His brother had talked then, in desperation. He had said "Help, Zak!" not as a toddler would, using some incorrect words, but as an admonishment to his brother to help himself.
    Izak decided to go with the younger students to visit the school farm, but also it would be a reprieve from the boys who had threatened to hurt Chris if he did not climb the cliff as a dare.
    A young male teacher walked with him. "You know Izak, I think you are being bullied." He held up a hand in a placatory gesture. No, don't go." The friendly looking teacher continued. "Several staff members have seen actual bullying and are taking this to the principal."
    Izak blurted "But i am not a snitch!" The adult smiled. "No names mentioned."
    After school, Izak jogged along to the infants' area. A child was being looked after by the school nurse. There was a cut on the small girl's leg. The teacher was talking to a tearful parent.
    There was no sign of Chris. The teacher's assistant came over, looking puzzled. "I thought he was playing on the play equipment. He was here only a few minutes ago."
    Chris had never gone early before and Izak hurried home, annoyed and a little puzzled. As he got to the door, his mother dragged him inside. "Why are you late and where is your brother? I want to go out."
    She shook him hard. Izak had noticed a man waiting in a rather impressive looking vehicle not far away. He wondered if his mum was seeing someone else.
    She saw his face and muttered "change out of your uniform and go and find him. I have to go." Her face was flushed with anger and perhaps apprehension.
    Izak could smell a lovely perfume as she left. He ran upstairs, looking around. His new torch was missing.

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