The School Gates Read Free

his favourite and not-so favourite mums and dads – and there might just be time for a chat at the school gates.

– Chapter One –
    Gordon, Lily and Lola were singing and gyrating along to a Top Ten girl-band track, when they pulled up at the school gates.
    Eliska Murray banged on the car window and stuck her tongue out at the twins. Lily pushed her face right up against the glass and poked hers right back.
    ‘Eliska called me “four-eyes” yesterday,’ she grumbled.
    ‘Did she indeed,’ Gordon replied. ‘Well, if she says it again, tell her you’ve only got to wear glasses till you’re ten, but sadly, she’ll always be a ginger.’
    The twins giggled, and pushed their way out of their dad’s blue and white Mini Cooper.
    It was a windy day and some of the children were already running around the playground throwing big handfuls of red and golden leaves at each other. Eliska had already charged up the drive towards school.
    ‘Morning, Inga sweetie – and how was the wicked witch this morning?’ Gordon greeted the pretty au pair.
    ‘Witchier than usual, if that’s possible. Luckily my bus didn’t come so soon, so I only was with her for five minutes. You work today?’
    ‘No. Two days off now. Bliss.’ Gordon smiled broadly, showing off his perfect set of white veneers.
    ‘Doing something nice?’
    ‘Chores, darling, chores,’ he waved his arm in the air.
    ‘Elocution lessons, then supermarket, then the gym to pump up the pecs, then back to pick up the munchkins.’
    He realised the girls were still at his legs, waiting for him to say goodbye.
    ‘Bless you, gorgeous ones. Now kisses for Daddy Gordy before you go.’ He leaned down and planted a smacker on them both.
    ‘Yuk!’ the girls said in unison, wiping their mouths with the back of their hands.
    ‘Year Two is great – so much better not having to take them right up to the door if we don’t want to. Soon I’ll be pulling up and just throwing them out of the car,’ Gordon joked, but watching that the twins reached their class safely.
    ‘You are a naughty man. But yes, we wouldn’t have to talk to anyone we liked not a lot either. Talking of which...’ Inga faked a wide smile at the approaching whirlwind.
    ‘Oh Gordon, so glad I’ve caught you,’ gushed Emily Pritchard – Head of PTA, Netball Coach and Mother of Joshua P, seven, chief swot and playground kisser. She pouted her trout, allowing Inga to notice that she’d had further Botox in her forehead. Waves of dyed blonde hair bobbed around her face.
    ‘I was helping out at netball yesterday and noticed that Lola showed great promise.’ She batted her false eyelashes and continued: ‘We need a new team for this term and I would love her to join in.’
    ‘What about Lily?’ Gordon asked.
    ‘Oh, I think she would be far more suited to something a little less active, like Reading Club maybe.’
    Inga disguised her snort of laughter as a cough.
    ‘Well, ya know, Emily, that’s just great news,’ Gordon humoured the woman. ‘I’ll see what Lola says tonight and let you know. Maybe I can get Lily to read up on it too.’
    ‘Lovely, perfect. By the way, great hair, Inga! Did you cut
    it yourself? Toodle oo!’ And with a flick of her hair and a wobble of her bosom, Emily headed off to her convertible which was parked in its usual prime position, near to the school gates.
    ‘That fuckeeng bitch,’ Inga spat, but then had to laugh as Gordon was in hysterics, saying, ‘I guess at least she makes your Alana look like an angel.’
    Gordon loved Featherstone Primary and all it stood for. Situated in a residential No Through Road on the outskirts of the town of Denbury, it retained a village ‘small school’ feel. With just the one set of school gates and a fairly long drive, he felt it was a safe haven for his precious girls.
    The building itself was nothing spectacular – brick-built, on one level only; modern and open-plan. It was home to just 150 pupils based in six