Star Blaze Read Free Page A

it.
    Next to Mrs. Devonshire, for some inexplicable reason, sat Mr. Wilkins, the Halader House cook. His huge frame was taking up a large amount of the table. The cook’s matted hair and bushy beard reminded Johnny of the fur of a Pilosan, a race of large aliens with powerful mind-control techniques whose planet he’d only just escaped from a couple of months earlier. Johnny shuddered as he recalled the way the creatures grew bigger and bigger as they gorged on the unhappiness of others. For reasons best known to himself, Mr. Wilkins acted as though Johnny was the vilest, most despicable person he had ever had the misfortune to meet and said as much to anyone who was prepared to listen. His tiny beetle-like eyes scowled full of loathing as Johnny sat down.
    Mrs. Irvine closed the door and took the remaining chair, calling the meeting to order. Mrs. Devonshire leaned forward and interrupted. “As I’m sure we are all aware,” said the Headmistress, smiling again, “under the 2003 Education Act a school has the authority to require the re-housing of a young person in local authority care, should their place of residence be unable to enforce regular school attendance.” Johnny’s heart sank. He’d suspected this, but he hadn’t known for sure.
    Miss Harutunian was first to reply. “I understood Johnny’sgrades were just fine. In fact, almost all your teachers tell me he is a moderately gifted pupil.” Johnny felt his face turning red. He tried to avoid drawing attention to himself during class where there was always a temptation to answer too many questions. Miss Harutunian had come to his last two parents’ evenings. Like everyone else, the social worker thought that Johnny’s mum was being treated in St. Catharine’s Hospital for the Criminally Insane while his father was in a high-security prison, both incarcerated for the murder of Johnny’s elder brother, Nicky. Only Johnny and Clara knew the true story and no one would have believed them if they’d told it.
    For a start, no one else was even aware that Clara existed, apart from the mysterious Dr. Carrington who’d been treating Johnny’s mum at St. Catharine’s, which turned out not to be a hospital at all but a secret base belonging to the Krun. Sitting in the meeting, Johnny couldn’t help thinking it was really unfair that Clara was able to do whatever she wanted and live on the
Spirit of London
, while he still attended school.
    â€œJohnny’s ability is not what we’re discussing,” replied Mrs. Devonshire, “though I have no doubt his marks would be better were his attendance to become more satisfactory. It is his education that’s at stake.”
    Johnny thought all his real education took place well away from Castle Dudbury Comprehensive. He only went to the school at all to see his mates, play football (he was in the school team) and ensure he didn’t get into trouble with the authorities. Clearly he’d not been going enough, but it was hard to combine studying for GCSEs with jetting around the galaxy.
    Mrs. Irvine spoke next. “Here at Ben Halader House,” she said (the Manager was the only person who ever bothered to use the children’s home’s full title), “we believe the all-round development and well-being of our charges is far more important than marks in a school test.”
    â€œBut the boy’s hardly here, either,” cut in Mr. Wilkins, before a firm stare from Mrs. Irvine silenced him.
    The Manager continued, “Exactly how much time has Jonathan missed?”
    â€œTo be right up to date, I printed it out just before I left,” replied Mrs. Devonshire, reaching into a large beige shoulder bag on the floor and picking out the papers that Johnny was sure would spell his doom. All the pupils at Castle Dudbury Comprehensive were issued with a smartcard to register their attendance as they went in and out of