The Saddler Boys Read Free Page B

laughed, flattening the material of her designer V-neck dress. It was black down the sides, with a white centre and a beautiful rose pattern overlay. ‘I have others.’
    With a smile, Kath left her to her morning routine. Nat quickly finished getting her desk organised, along with her sheets for that morning’s lessons.
    â€˜Good morning, Miss Wright,’ said a tiny voice from the doorway.
    â€˜Good morning, Lucy.’ Lucy still had her bag on her back – it was half her size and Nat was amazed that the child could carry it. She was one of the town kids who walked to school. Her green school shirt looked two sizes too big and nearly hid her black shorts. She had one pink sock and one yellow sock, and her shoelace was undone. ‘Don’t forget to do up your shoelace, Lucy,’ she prompted while the child tugged on one pigtail. Lucy shrugged and Nat went over and tied it up for her. All her kids were special. Ruby had the reddest lips and a dad who sat at the table in jocks – as she’d reported for show-and-tell on her first day. Liam had all the freckles and a pet bobtail, and Ava always had a runny nose and sniffed a lot. Jack had solid little legs like tree trunks and told her repeatedly that his dad took him shooting cans. Zara seemed to have her head in the clouds, and her uniform had been inside-out on her second day. Mallory and Seth were siblings. So were Mia and Noah. Isaac thought he was a cowboy and was constantly shooting things, and Billy was shy and wore long-sleeved shirts and pants every day despite the heat.
    Natalie stepped outside as the two buses pulled up, and watched the children big and small descend on the school. Mia tripped over and a senior boy helped her up and checked she was okay.
    â€˜How have you liked your first week?’ The principal, Ross, had appeared beside her, white shirt straining around his belly, the buttons threatening to pop.
    â€˜It’s been wonderful. I can’t get over how different it is from a city school. The size, the mixed classrooms and the way the kids all get on.’
    â€˜I know. I was a big city schoolteacher for a few years.’ His thick hair hardly moved as he shook his head. The sides were greying considerably. ‘The country kids seem more tolerant and helpful. Perhaps when you know everyone it’s harder to get away with being a troublemaker.’
    â€˜I keep waiting for the novelty of having a new teacher to wear off but they are all just so eager to please me. I’m loving it,’ she admitted.
    â€˜Good, I’m glad,’ he said, before twenty kids’ voices over­powered his.
    With their bright morning faces, they all greeted her and the principal before going back to their lively discussions.
    Natalie studied one of her eight-year-olds as he took off his schoolbag and hung up his hat with meticulous care. He was again wearing long pants and a full-length shirt. ‘Morning, Billy. Don’t you get hot in pants?’
    The boy cocked his head to the side. ‘Sometimes.’ His voice was soft, unlike most of the other boys, who practically yelled.
    After she gathered her class together, they began their morning by going through the day chart and then sharing their news. The children’s ‘news’ was sometimes the highlight of her day, and also a good way to get to know them better.
    It was Noah’s turn. ‘Last night my dad kicked our dog, Brute, because he was fighting with our other dog, Tonka, near my little sister. He yelled at them both and said swear words.’
    The class giggled and Nat realised she’d been holding her breath, hoping Noah wouldn’t say the swear words. ‘Well, that’s no good, Noah. It can be a bit dangerous around dogs when they’re angry.’ She nodded for him to sit back down and then clapped her hands together to get their attention. ‘Now, this morning you’re going to do an activity that