The School Gates Read Online Free PDF

much so that I don’t think I need to be so organised as to write a separate letter to the girls. However, if you are, then please just tell them just how much I/we both loved them. Show them photos. Talk about the past. I want them to be saturated with memories of their mummy and daddy!
    I’m making myself cry now. How mad am I? But you know me – Be Prepared as we were taught in Girl Guides..
    Missing you already, brother dear!
    All my love Jessica Rabbit!
    Xxxxxxxxx
    Mo puffed and panted as she reached the door of Rosie’s classroom with minutes to spare. Joan greeted her with a smile, Cissy sound asleep in her cat basket.
    ‘Good day?’ Joan asked kindly.
    ‘Actually, not bad at all. Surgery was busy but my supervisor was out all morning so Ffion and I had a good old catch-up.’
    The classroom door opened just then, and the chattering of six year olds broke the peace of the afternoon. Mr Chambers did his usual scan of mothers present and mouthed, ‘Can I have a word?’ to Inga who was bringing up the rear after taking a good ten minutes to park against the kerb.
    Joan loved Mr Chambers’ eccentricity. His enthusiasm for learning and life was infectious to the children and she adored the fact that he wore a different brightly coloured tie every day. Today it was green with yellow spots. His matching yellow – framed square glasses were at a jaunty angle and his mousy hair was gelled up like a hedgehog’s spikes.
    ‘Hello darling,’ Mo greeted Rosie. ‘Have you got your lunchbox?’
    The Brown clan found Joan, all three of them dragging their coats behind them on the floor.
    ‘Skye, Clark, Kent – how many times do I need to tell you?’ They all raised their eyebrows and coats at the same time.
    Gordon held both arms out as Lily and Lola appeared hand-in-hand.
    ‘Dad!’ they both said in unison. ‘Will you perleeese stop being so embarrassing,’ Lily added.
    ‘I don’t know what on earth you mean,’ he said in a perfect English accent.
    ‘And why are you talking funny?’ Lola added.
    Dana jogged up in her tracksuit and gave Tommy a beaming smile.
    ‘Did you run here, Mum?’
    ‘Yes, darleen. I thought it would do us good to get some fresh air and walk back through the park.’
    ‘What – ALL the way back up the big hill?’ Tommy said, handing over his school bag as Dana nodded. ‘Carry this then.’
    Emily Pritchard – Head of PTA, Netball Coach and Mother of Joshua P, seven, chief swot and playground kisser – overheard Dana.
    ‘Good to hear you are thinking green,’ she smarmed.
    Gordon looked at Dana and whispered, ‘Not even extreme Global Warming would thaw that uptight old cow.’
    Dana laughed and with a newfound confidence, she looked meaningfully at Preachy Knickers’ breast implants and just said, ‘Naturally, Emily.’
    Inga, wearing huge dark sunglasses and a minuscule skirt, held Eliska’s hand and waited behind to talk to Mr Chambers as requested. It annoyed her that she had to take the rap on behalf of Alana. She assumed it was because of her charge’s earlier bolt down the drive.
    ‘Alana working today, is she?’ Mr Chambers asked, knowing the answer full well. As free-spirited as he was, he sometimes found it hard to accept the excuse of the over-worked mother, when it was so obviously affecting the child.
    Inga nodded while Eliska fidgeted.
    ‘Young Eliska here appears to have been caught kissing Joshua full on the lips at lunchtime.’
    ‘Oh dear,’ Inga said, trying to look concerned.
    Mr Chambers went on, ‘It was made worse as Joshua tells me that she charged a pound for the pleasure.’
    Eliska stamped her foot. ‘He is a nasty liar!’ she snapped. ‘He made me give HIM a pound.’
    ‘Oh dear,’ Inga repeated. ‘But I do have to say the reason she ran down the drive this morning was to collect a pound from me.’
    ‘See? I told you.’ Eliska sulked.
    ‘Well, Eliska,’ Mr Chambers said pleasantly, ‘kissing is not for schooltime.’
    ‘It