Free Learning to Breathe by J. C. McClean

with Samuel and made my way to Tutorial Class to ask about my timetable. Mr Fennell was going through some papers when I knocked on the door. He glanced up and recognition flickered in his eyes.
    “Darcie Gilmore, right?”
    I nodded. “Yeah, I was just wondering about my timetable …”
    I trailed off at the look of recollection on his face.
    “Ah, yes, right.” He mumbled distractedly as he rifled through the various piles of sheets on his desk. A few minutes later and he still hadn’t produced a timetable. He frowned and then glanced up at me.
    “I can’t seem to find the copy – in fact, I don’t remember them giving me a copy – but you can go to the Main Office and they’ll print you out another one.”
    I nodded and set out in search of the office, slightly irritated at the fact that this wasn’t exactly the best start to my first full day at Dover High.
    Ten minutes passed and I eventually found a door marked ‘Main Office’. I knocked once and then entered the room to find a pleasant-looking lady seated behind a rather large desk. She was a small, thin woman in her early fifties with short grey hair and little round glasses. She glanced up as I approached her desk.
    “Hi, Mr Fennell sent me here. He couldn’t find a copy of my timetable but he said you’d be able to print off another one.” I explained to the woman whose name I now learned was Valerie – there was a tiny little plaque on her desk informing me of this fact.
    She shook her head. “Typical … that Fennell one is always misplacing things! Don’t you worry dear, I’ll get you another one. Now, what’s the name?” she asked, smiling kindly while she waited for me to reply.
    “Darcie Gilmore – I just enrolled this year.”
    Valerie typed something into her computer and nodded. “Ah yes, found it. I’ll just print it off and you can be on your way.”
    She got up and scooted over to the massive printer that was sitting in the far corner of the room. A few seconds later and a sheet came spitting out with a loud noise.
    She inspected the sheet of paper and nodded to herself before sitting back down behind her desk. She typed something else into the computer and then handed me the sheet.
    “Take a wee look at that dear and tell me if everything’s right.”
     
    I quickly scanned the list of subjects to check that it had all of the choices I had opted for – English Literature, Psychology, Sociology and Business Studies – yes, they were all there. It was then that my gaze flickered down the page to the last subject listed – P.E. – what ? I hadn’t signed up for that!
    I lowered the page and addressed Valerie. “Yeah, everything’s correct apart from P.E. – I didn’t sign up for that.” I explained to her, wondering if my day could get any worse – I loathed nearly all forms of exercise.
    She shook her head. “No, that’s right. P.E. is mandatory here ever since Ms Greenly caught pupils sneaking out to go up town instead of going to their study periods.”
    She allowed herself a small laugh at my bewildered expression before she continued. “Anyway, to cut a long story short, there was a debate about how to keep them in school. Eventually the Education Board decided on making it mandatory that they participated in P.E. for three hours each week. In exchange for that they were allowed to go home early one day a week but if they didn’t co-operate, they had to stay in Study or face suspension.”
    I let out a low whistle. “Ms Greenly sure doesn’t mess about.”
    Valerie chuckled. “Indeed. Now, I’ve checked what classes are left for P.E. but I’m afraid the only one with a space available is Ms Mahon’s swimming class.”
    I literally felt faint as she uttered the word ‘swimming’. I couldn’t believe how much bad luck I had endured since movi ng – I had thought that it was all behind me. I found it hard to breathe and I dimly noticed that Valerie was looking at me in concern.
    “Darcie dear, are