Susie Learns the Hard Way Read Online Free

certain that the other girls hadn’t been able to turn around quickly enough, and she’d been able to pull her hand free in time. As her breathing and pulse steadied, she picked up a pen and began writing furiously, racing to fill several pages with notes and hieroglyphics so it would seem she’d been paying attention all along. Finally the torment ended as the bell signalled the end of the lesson, and the school day.
    â€˜Right, that’s it, off you go,’ announced Miss Piggy. ‘Homework by Wednesday morning please, on my desk. Make sure you remember, because I won’t be coming to find you to ask for it.’
    The class packed its briefcases and rose noisily to depart.
    â€˜Behave yourselves on the way out of school, not too much noise.’
    They streamed noisily out through the door, jostling at the exit.
    â€˜I’d like to see you for a moment, Wills.
    Susie’s heart leapt out of her chest and then crashed back inside, hammering furiously.
    Miss Piggy continued stacking paper neatly into her briefcase, ignoring Susie until the room was empty.
    â€˜Shut the door, please. I think this will be better in private, don’t you?’
    She was trying to be friendly, but brusque and curt was still what she did best, and her attempts at relaxation made her seem awkward.
    â€˜Now, about this afternoon.’ She shuffled some things on her desk. ‘Young ladies all have, ahem, hormones, and that, er, can make life difficult, even surprising, for you. Them. Us.’
    She attempted a smile and must have seen from Susie’s expression that it served only to make her look grotesque instead of welcoming and confidential.
    â€˜I know it’s sometimes difficult to, um, control, and I sympathise. We all do.’
    She gave up trying to be confiding and reverted to type.
    â€˜But you can’t carry on like that all the time. It’s bad for discipline and bad for you. What do you think lessons would be like if the whole class was doing something under the desk that was far more interesting than whatever work they’d got on top of it?’
    She must have been watching for some time, Susie realised with a shock.
    â€˜The rest of the girls manage to control themselves, and they’ve got exactly the same hormones as you have.’
    Privately, Susie doubted this was true, but wisely said nothing.
    â€˜I could report you to the headmistress. In fact I probably should. That would be the proper course of action. Then she’d tell your parents, get the school doctor to see you, and perhaps arrange some counselling. That would be the normal way to handle it.’
    There was silence while Susie considered the enormity of such a course of action.
    â€˜But I don’t always believe the proper way is the right way. Too much mollycoddling these days. Too much wet-nursing and namby-pambying. What you girls need is two years’ National Service. If you lot were in the army under my command I’d soon sort you out.’ She cleared her throat before continuing.
    â€˜I’m offering you a choice. Either I shall report the disruption in my class to the headmistress in the proper fashion, or...’ the pause was a long one ‘...or you can choose to have it dealt with here and now, by me.’
    Susie realised she was on the brink of something, that Miss Piggy had led them both to a precipice, and that a fall from here would damage both of them. This was as vital and difficult a moment for Miss Piggy as it was for her, except that Susie knew she didn’t have a choice, and Miss Piggy knew it too.
    â€˜Okay,’ she whispered.
    â€˜Okay, what?’ Miss Piggy’s voice was almost as hushed and tremulous.
    â€˜I’d rather deal with it now.’
    â€˜Just the two of us?’
    Susie nodded.
    â€˜It goes no further than this room.’
    Susie nodded again.
    â€˜Wise choice. You won’t regret it. Doctors: waste of time. Counselling: