A Lack of Breeding

© Oonah V Joslin

I usually ended up taking the blame even though I'd done nothing wrong and that was because Marta, my twin always fell into Selena Brown's traps and then burst into tears when accused. I couldn't bear to see her upset and I'm much more robust so…

Selena Brown was the type that hid behind her mother's coat-tails – shy lamb! Sly, more like! She was all bleating innocence.

“I couldn't have written that, Mr Falconer. My pen's blue…”

“I think I saw one of the twins come in at break Miss Crow… They have the same colour hair as me.”

She never directly accused us of anything but she used us as cover for every misdemeanour, knowing how it would play out. Her mother never spoke to any of the other mums. She dressed in fine wool coats while our Ma had only a tatty old fleece.

‘Come along Selena, dear,' she'd say. She might as well have added, don't step in anything!

This time Selena'd gone too far. A mouse in a desk is one thing, writing on books or 'defacing school property,' as Mr. Daw called it - but I'm no thief and I wasn't owning to it. So our parents were summoned to the school.

Mrs Brown came with a haughty air; entirely convinced her Selena could have nothing to do with the matter.

Marta was already tearful. Ma looked doubtful and gave me one of her looks that said, ‘If it was you, you're mincemeat!'

“It wasn't me, Ma, I swear.”

“Then where'd you get money for sweets from the Tuck Shop?”

“I saved my pocket money. Tell her Marta!”

Marta managed to snivel and nod.

“If either of you is lying…”

“It was Selena, Ma,” Marta suddenly blurted out. “It's always Selena. Babs takes the blame to save me. Selena's a bully!”

“Is that true, Babs? Because you know it's just as wrong to take the blame for something you didn't do as to lie about something you did!”

I hung my head.

“Silly girl!” She marched us right up to Mrs Brown.

“I know every crow thinks its own chick's the whitest, Mary Brown but I'm going to search both my girls right here and now. I wonder if you're prepared to do the same.”

I could see a crack of panic in Selena's smug expression. She hadn't had time to stash the ten quid. Quickly I emptied my pockets and tipped the contents of my satchel on the ground. Marta did the same.

“Selena?”

“I think I lost my bag, mother,” she simpered. “Or…or maybe somebody stole it!”

“Come along girls,” said Ma and the three of us walked off with heads held high.