THE SENTINEL
AWAY WITH WORDS 

By Tessa Harvey

    Esmay was working late in her office which was a storey higher than the rest of the school.\
    Once, her window open, she had heard one the students mumble, "Miss T is up in her control tower."
    It had been a very good joke to share with the boarding school staff. The youngest had her room opposite her office as the boarding building was two-storey for the older students and across some walkways, trees and lawn, was the single storey building for the "wee ones" as Mrs. Reardon, a former matron liked to call them. They were aged 11 or 12 or 13.
    One child, Tanya was basically ignored by her family. One of the matrons had to go with her to choose shoes, which she did with compassion for the youngster, but with silent fury towards uncaring parents.
    But mostly the students were a cheery bunch. After being asked how she was after the holidays, 14 year old Lyndal cheerfully answered, "Box of fluffy ducks!"


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