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stutter, Timmy Gossett, who is the thickest of the Bottom Table thickos, and Vanda Pritchard, who wears glasses. You are all called girls, even Vanda who really is a girl. You say you think Shane and his gang are stupid, though Shane and Mary, who sit on the Top Table with you, are actually almost as clever as you and Michael.
    Mary has rages in which she attacks other children, but may well be the cleverest in your class. She is the only person ever to hurt you so much that you are afraid to explode. In Class Two, she comes up and reaches between your legs, squeezing the sac you have only recently learned to call your balls, inflicting unprecedented pain that leaves you in silent agony.
    In Class Three, Shane makes up a game called ‘Mental Fits’. He taps you on the head at break-time and falls down screaming, imitating the way you used to be, usually laughing too much to do a good job of it. Shane’s gang all make a habit of doing this, even Mary. You are almost flattered, though you realise they do it to mock you.
    * * *
    You’re in Class Four when it happens. Your ordeal by custard was a long time ago, though Shane and Mary still throw ‘Mental Fits’ to make fun of you. It’s break-time: you’ve exchanged your
Hornet
comic for the
Fantastic
Barry Mitcham’s newsagent dad gets him, Shane and Mary writhe ignored on the grass, Gene Pitney’s ‘The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance’ plays tinnily on a transistor radio. You are called away by someone standing in the copse of trees that is the farthest end of the playground.
    ‘You,’ the boy shouts. ‘The one they call Mental.’
    It’s an older boy, in the uniform and blood-red cap of Dr Marling’s, the Boys’ Grammar. Shane and Mary leave off their ‘Mental Fits’ and pay attention. Barry runs away, towards the toilets. You all recognise Robert Hackwill, who left Ash Grove last year. He used to be official School Bully.
    ‘Mental,’ Robert shouts. ‘Come here.’
    He
must
think you’re mental if he expects you to go.
    ‘Come on. I’ve got someone you know here.’
    Robert is with his only friend, Reg Jessup, who always stands around snickering when Robert hurts another child. You’re certainly not going into the copse with Robert and Reg. Even Mary shakes her head at the idea.
    ‘Keith,’ squeaks a small voice, ‘I’m weeing myself. They won’t let me go to the lavvy.’
    It is James, your little brother, new to Class One.
    ‘Your brother’s a shit. He’s no good at all.’
    Robert has said one of the Forbidden Words.
    ‘Come and see your brother,’ Reg says.
    You see Robert and Reg, holding James by his shoulders. James’s shorts are dark at the crotch. Wee trickles down his legs. He starts sniffling.
    ‘Everyone heard two shots ring out,’ Gene Pitney sings, ‘one shot made Liberty fall…’
    The bell goes for the end of break. Shane, Mary – even Scary Mary! – and the rest run off, back to the classroom. You don’t move.
    ‘C’mon, Mental,’ Robert says. ‘We’re not going to hurt you.’
    ‘Much,’ adds Reg, laughing.
    If you go to the classroom and get on with your sums, go to 6. If you go to a teacher and tell what’s happening, go to 10. If you go into the copse to help James, go to 14.

5
    D r Cross?’
    ‘That’s right. You’ll be Susan.’
    ‘Her I’ll be.’
    ‘Welcome to our, uh, happy home.’
    ‘It’s an honour to be here.’
    ‘Some of our residents don’t think that.’
    ‘Of course.’
    ‘This is Marion, by the way.’
    ‘Can he hear us?’
    ‘No reason why not. He’s not in a coma.’
    ‘He’s asleep?’
    ‘Not quite. Daydreaming, perhaps.’
    ‘I can see the appeal.’
    ‘Me too.’
    ‘Wait a minute. Marion?
The
Marion? Of Marion syndrome?’
    ‘I see you’ve read up on us. Yes, this is that Marion. Our most, um, notable resident. Excluding staff, of course. Quite a puzzler, our friend. Aren’t you?’
    ‘He looks so… well, so…’
    ‘Yes?’
    ‘Ordinary.’
    ‘Quite right.