Free Born Evil by Kimberley Chambers Page A

Charlie’s teacher sat down next to her, a pitying expression plastered across her face. In her most patronising voice, Mrs Jones listed all the naughty things that Charlie had been caught doing that particular week. These included punching a little girl, spitting at a little boy and showing his willy to her and everybody else in his class.
    As her son sat on a nearby chair, rocking in his seat and giggling uncontrollably at the stories of his own antics, Debbie cringed with horror. This wasn’t the first time she’d had to deal with this kind of situation, but she still didn’t know what to say.
    She cleared her throat. ‘I’m so sorry, Mrs Jones. I promise I’ll have a word with Charlie’s father as soon as I get home, and I can assure you he will be punished for his bad behaviour.’
    Mrs Jones nodded her head sympathetically. In all her years of teaching children, she had never come across one as intelligent as Charlie. He was approaching genius level developmentally. Streets ahead for his age, he was three going on thirteen. But so far as his behaviour went, he was the worst child she had ever taught. He was rude, constantly swore, had an extremely violent nature and was way too sexually aware for his tender years. Mrs Jones glanced at the child, still gleefully rocking on his chair and pulling faces at her. Turning her attention back to his mother, she felt nothing but relief as she delivered her final blow.
    ‘I’m so sorry, Debbie, but I think it would be best all round if you found another nursery for Charlie to attend. We’ve been extremely patient with him and given him so many chances, but we simply haven’t the staff to deal with him here. He seems to need constant attention and we have to divide our time equally between all of the children.’
    ‘He won’t misbehave again, I promise, Mrs Jones. Please, just give him one more chance?’ Debbie pleaded.
    ‘No,’ said the teacher firmly. ‘Charlie has had too many chances as it is. Recently we’ve had far too many complaints from the other parents. I’m afraid we have no choice other than to ask you to remove him. I’m really sorry, Debbie, but we just can’t control him and also feel that he’d benefit from a change of school. As you know, his intelligence is not in question, but unfortunately he needs far more attention than we can offer him here.’
    Debbie stood up. ‘Okay, well, thank you for your time, Mrs Jones.’
    ‘Old bag, old bag, old bag,’ Charlie chanted, and started to laugh hysterically.
    Grabbing her child out of his seat, Debbie dragged him towards the door. Telling him off was useless. He’d obey Billy, but with her it went in one ear and out the other. Five minutes from home, she happened to remember that she’d forgotten to collect her Family Allowance. With Christmas on the horizon, money was much needed so she decided to take a detour towards the Post Office.
    ‘Nooooo, wanna go home!’ Charlie screamed, sitting down on the pavement and refusing to budge.
    ‘Please, Charlie, now come on, be a good boy for Mummy. If we don’t go to the Post Office, Father Christmas won’t bring you any presents next week.’
    ‘Don’t care,’ he replied, folding his arms. ‘Father Christmas not real. I want toys today.’
    Debbie wearily reverted to the only tactic she knew would work. ‘You be a good boy, Charlie. Come to the Post Office with Mummy and you can pick out any toy you want.’
    Smiling, Charlie got up from the pavement. As young as he was, he knew exactly what buttons to press with his silly mummy.
    At the Post Office, Debbie was greeted by the sight of a long queue and her heart sank. Charlie and queues didn’t really go together. Holding his hand and forcing him to stand next to her, she prayed for him to behave and not make a show of her. Her prayers must have fallen on deaf ears. Five minutes later, he pointed at the woman in the sari standing in front of them and screamed, ‘Look, Mum – Paki, Paki,