Jean Howard was not amused. The ongoing fights between rival gangs at Franklin Comprehensive School had reached an unacceptable level – and something had to be done about it. Her inner anxiety was compounded by her personal frustrations with the management of the school – currently ranked one hundred and seventy-five in a league table of nearly two hundred schools in the county. Why didn’t other people care about the situation as much as she cared? Why were so many satisfied with mediocrity? She hoped the recently elected Conservative government, under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher (the first woman to be elected Prime Minister in the UK), would make a difference to Education; but she wasn’t going to hold her breath. She gazed out of the second-floor staff-room window in a bit of a day-dream, not really focussing on the group of young students gathered in the school yard below.

Andrew Brevitt, thirteen years old and far more mature-looking than his male peers, disdainfully pushed a smaller boy away as the youth tried to muscle up to him.

“Get lost Simon”, Andrew said.
“You’re a loser Andy,” Simon retorted. “No-one’s going to join your gang when they hear what Paul Jarvis has been up to.”

Paul Jarvis was Andy’s right-hand man – highly respected by the members of Andy’s gang, but not everyone else. Simon had heard a story about Paul pushing drugs at the school – a story he didn’t really believe, but which could help to divide Andrew’s group.

“Oh really? Well, why don’t you tell that to the thirty-five kids who are already in my gang. They know Paul much better than you’ll ever do”

“Maybe I will”, retorted Simon.

“Anyways,” continued Andrew, “you’re only telling porky-pies because your lot has nuffing to offer. Did you hear me? NUFFING, fuck all. You’re just a little creep with shit ideas, and no-one really cares what you fink about anyfing. Except Melissa of course.”

A group of boys standing to the side, but slightly behind Andrew, sniggered. Melissa Mason was always at Simon’s side – always staring wondrously into his eyes, telling him how marvellous his ideas were. But everyone saw how shallow she was – everyone except Simon. In contrast, her friend – Mandy Cartwright – was the bossiest girl in the school. She was always trying to enforce her politically correct mindset on all and sundry – which made Mandy a real pain. Simon recruited Mandy to his gang because she was outspoken, and he needed someone strong to stand up to the likes of Andy.

Jean continued to drown in her school management problems, oblivious to the growing antagonism of the young students in the playground below, and to the comings and goings of her colleagues in the staff room. “Cup of coffee, Jean?” a teacher asked. But she didn’t really hear the voice – just a whisper in the maelstrom of her other thoughts. Why was everything so crap with her life? Why didn’t anyone else see things the way she did? She’d tried talking about it – to other staff, to her husband, and to the few friends she had outside school – but in the end gave up. No-one really wanted to know.

By now, a large circle of youths had gathered around Andrew and Simon. Those on Andrew’s side – the majority – began taunting the leader of the rival gang.

“Hey Simon – where’s Mandy today – having a personality transplant?”

“Nah” said another “she’s helping Melissa buy new rose-coloured spectacles. ‘Oh Simon, you’re so wonderful – we must get married””.

The taunts were enough to spark a physical response from Simon’s gang. A large youth named Ron pushed through the kids who were goading his leader.

“You cheeky sods….”

A punch to the face instantly drew blood from the smaller boy, who held his nose in pain. This caused an immediate reaction from members of Andrew’s gang, who charged towards Ron with venom. Soon a fight was in full force – mostly the boys, but some of the girls joined in too.

The commotion jolted Jean out of her day-dream. Her eyes focused on the fracas below.  

“Oh no – not again!”

She rushed out of the staff room, shouting to two male teachers who had been quietly reading their newspapers.

“Jim, Bob – the little buggers are at it again – call Clive for me!”
Jean was at the fight scene in seconds. “Break it up, break it up NOW!”. 

All her inner frustrations came out at once, as she lashed out first at Andrew, then Simon – hitting them both. Simon fell sideways, holding a hand to his ear. Andrew’s face burned with the slap across his cheek – his pride hurt more than anything else. The emotional power of Jean’s intervention stopped the melee as quickly as it had started. Everyone was quiet.

“I am fed up with this fighting – this gang-warfare. It has to stop – do you hear me?” She glared at both Simon and Andrew. “Now go on – out of my sight. Mr Meredith is going to hear about this.”

The head of the school was just on his way out to the playground, having been given the heads-up by Jim and Bob, when Jean appeared outside his office.  

“It’s sorted… for now,” she sighed.

He beckoned her inside his office, and she sat down on a chair, mentally exhausted… but still angry.

“Look Clive, I don’t think I can stand this anymore. It’s not right what’s happening here. All this fighting, the bullying… we’ve got to stop it. The parents aren’t taking any notice, and the local authority is tied up in politics. I’ve just hit two kids this morning, and the parents are bound to find out – then they’ll be all hell to play. You know the LEA never back us in these situations – they’re afraid of the consequences. I’ll probably be reprimanded – or even suspended; and god knows what will happen then. What are we going to do Clive?”

“What’s wrong, Jean?”

“What’s wrong? What do you mean what’s wrong! Haven’t you been listening?”

“I mean – what’s wrong with you? I know what’s wrong with the kids – and with the school. We can deal with that later. But what do you need to change?”

The idea that she had to change was incomprehensible.

“I don’t think you understand what I’ve been saying, Clive. It’s the politics of the school that needs to change; it’s the LEA that has to change; and it’s the parents that must change. Then and only then do we have any sort of chance of making an impression on the kids. Quite frankly, Clive, I am bloody tired of the constant apathy at this school. Nobody gives a shit anymore – nobody cares. I had such high ideals when I came here – now it’s all gone, evaporated into thin air. I’ve had enough, Clive, I want out.”

*

Lyra’s mind went blank as her consciousness was withdrawn back to her own body. Agatha, gave her a few seconds, then sat next to her.

“How do you feel?” she asked.

Lyra blinked, collecting her thoughts together, reassimilating herself to her surroundings. “It’s very real, isn’t it? I totally thought I was there, on Earth!”

“It has to seem real… otherwise, you’d only see it as a simulation and not take it seriously.”

“I failed again, didn’t I?”

“Well, let’s just say you could have done better. That’s what this is all about – doing better each time, isn’t it? It’s not a case of failing… it’s a matter of improvement. Now, do you want to stick with the school scenario, or try something different next session?”

“Oh, I quite like the school setting. But perhaps I could approach it from the kids perspective next time?”

“Good idea! Why don’t you be Mandy – Melissa’s politically-correct friend.”
“Yes – I’d like that. She’s a real bitch though!”
“Well, plenty to deal with then! Same time tomorrow?”
“Okay – I’ll see you then. And thanks for setting this up for me”. 
“It’s my pleasure… we all need to do this before E-day, of course. It’s a great learning curve for me too!”

*
Lyra left the Moon-based training centre, thoughtful and reflective. She wanted so much to be part of this mission to help the humans on planet Earth. Without doubt, they were a very primitive species and really did need pointing in a new direction. But first, like all the other aliens in the team, she had to learn to understand every human emotion – and the best way to do this was by experiencing their mindsets first-hand. She tilted her head upwards and stared at the beautiful blue and white planet high above in the black, moon sky. “Can’t wait to get there,” she whispered.

END.