Village Shepherd

Trevor was in trouble again. He had never been in trouble in year six, but now he was in year seven, everything had changed.

It seemed to start with the new school. Trevor had arrived on the first day proud and smart in his new school uniform, but one of the teachers had shouted at him for having his blazer unbuttoned. Trevor had stared in amazement, his mouth open. He couldn't believe anyone could be so stupid as to care whether or not he wore his blazer undone.

"Do your blazer up boy, don't stand there looking like a half-wit," the teacher had snarled.

Stung by such unkind words, and by automatic reaction, Trevor had stuck his tongue out. The whole class had sniggered loudly, and the teacher had erupted. Trevor had been dragged off before the Head, who had told him the school wouldn't accept boys who didn't know how to behave, and that it was the first time in his (the Head's) experience that a boy had been marked down as a trouble-maker on his very first day. From now on, the whole staff would be told to watch out for Trevor Reeves.

Trevor felt angry and upset. But he felt much more angry and upset when he discovered every teacher was picking on him. Never before had he been in a situation where he was disliked and distrusted before anyone knew anything about him. Within a week, he decided he hated school and he was never going to try again.

There were compensations. He soon gained a reputation in the school for being a "hard man", and the other children looked up to him. He was never bullied, for the bullies were afraid of someone who was in trouble as often as Trevor. And many of the teachers soon ceased to care whether or not he did his homework, so he seldom bothered.

But his form teacher was quite nice. She seemed more gentle than the others. One day, after a particularly bad week, she called Trevor over. "Look, Trevor," she began. "If this goes on, the Head will write to your parents. What will they say?"

Trevor laughed, but it was an angry laugh. "They won't care! My Dad's left home anyway, and my Mum's all wrapped up in her new boyfriend. Nobody cares, and neither do I, so there!"

He expected the usual irate response, but Mrs Weldon simply paused and looked at him. Eventually she said, "When did your Dad go, Trevor?"

Trevor was taken aback by the kindness in her voice, and before he could do anything about it, tears began to pour down his face. He was glad there was no-one else to see him. Mrs Weldon did nothing. She just let him cry and cry and cry, until he felt quite drained. Then he said in a muffled voice, "He went away on holiday in the summer, and I haven't seen him since. I don't know where he is."

"Have you asked your Mum?" said Mrs Weldon.

Trevor nodded. "But she won't tell me anything. She just says she's glad he's gone and we're better off without him. Her new boyfriend's alright, but he's not my Dad."

"Trevor," said Mrs Weldon, "Did you know that when something awful happens in your life, it colours everything you think or do? Do you think your behaviour in school might have something to do with your Dad leaving?"

"Of course not," shouted Trevor. "That's the school's fault! All the teachers pick on me. It's not fair! It's nothing to do with my Dad!" But he found his tears were starting again.

Mrs Weldon arranged with Trevor that he should see the school counsellor once a week. Trevor wasn't very keen to go, but once he started he found he could tell the counsellor anything he liked. Over the weeks he poured out all his grief and anger and frustration about his parents, and he found to his surprise that the teachers gradually stopped picking on him. He began to concentrate again on his schoolwork.

At the end of the year, at Presentation Evening, Trevor was called onto the platform in front of all the parents, all his year, and all the staff. To his astonishment, the Head presented him with a silver cup. "This is my special award," said the Head. "It's given for different things each year. This year I present it to Trevor Reeves for showing great courage in personal difficulty, and for being the most improved pupil in the year."

There was enormous applause for Trevor, and he smiled at his Mum and her boyfriend, who were sitting in the front row. But he went over to Mrs Weldon. "You should have this," he said. "You were the only one who realised I was so naughty because I was so unhappy. I didn't even realise it myself. But you understood, and you cared enough to help me straighten things out. And you know what? I'm seeing my Dad next week!"

Mrs Weldon smiled. "It's no trouble, Trevor," she said. "In fact, it's been a pleasure to have you in my class. May you go on from strength to strength."

And Trevor knew he would.