Waves break on the shore drawing long veils of foam. He’s making good time. The sand is firm. He can feel his heart working through the exercise. His mind is somewhere else, but he’s still taking in the scene. Then his big toe nicks something in the sand.

Miss Baker had a nervous condition. No one really understood what that meant but the children knew to look for her orange Volkswagen. If it was parked in the staff car park, it would be a normal day. If it wasn’t there, Mr. Field would be filling in.