Page 19 of Lipstick Kiss

And so it carried on while they ironed they took turns to recite the American states. Then it was South American countries. Finally, they moved on to European capital cities. By the time their memories had run dry, the shirts were done. They weren’t perfect, but a good effort was made. Freya went around the room to inspect their efforts and openly laughed at Luke’s effort.

“You’d wear a jacket, right, if that was something you’d wear?” Freya said.

“No, I’d get Maggie to do it,” Luke replied like she’d asked an absurd question.

“When you get yourself a wife, she will not iron your shirts and won’t allow Maggie to do it. So I’d suggest you have another go.”

“How certain are that my wife won’t iron my shirts,” Luke asked, head tilted, eyes sparkly with a mischievous grin.

Freya was silenced. She didn’t know where her certainty came from and had no answer. That was another lie. She’d answered like she would be his wife, and she had no plans to do his ironing.

Ignoring his question, she continued her instructions.

“Okay, let’s get these irons unplugged and put to the side. Fold the boards and rest them against the wall at the front. Then get the tables and chairs back to their proper places.”

Luke cackled from the back while he reached over to the plug socket. She gave him a glare, but he didn’t see her. But the other kids did and laughed behind their hands.

“I think I’m enjoying detention,” one of the gang said.

Luke’s head turned when he straightened and looked at the kid who spoke.

“This is detention?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.

“Yeah, Miss makes us learn life stuff while we have detention. The other teachers make us do our homework.”

“How many other teachers are there who cover detention?” Luke asked.

Freya wanted to blurt out it was a trick question but kept her mouth shut.

“Seven. They’re on rotation,” the delinquent kid volunteered.

“And you’ve been in them all?”

“Yeah,” he mumbled.

“Don’t you ever learn to stay out of trouble?”

“I think the island’s definition of trouble is not the same as the rest of the world.”

“What did you do this time?”

The kid didn’t answer and shifted his gaze to Kenny. Luke followed the trajectory, his eyes narrowing, his face turning annoyed.

“Again?” he said, raising his voice. “After we last spoke?”

“He started it,” the kid protested.

“I bet there was a reason why,” Luke clipped out. “Do we need to have another chat?”

“No, Mr Turner,” the kid replied.

“You sure about that?”

“Certain.”

Luke kept his gaze on the kid and then swept through the last of them and finally to Kenny.

“Did you really start it this time?”

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