Roll Call

Many moons ago -
A boys school in Northern England

The Morning Role Call.
Names are bellowed with a haughty distain

followed by a subdued: 'Here sir.'

"Andrews
Ashforth
Diamond (silence)
Donaldson
Bartholomew
Bloggs
Bracegirdle
Ingram
Higgins
Jones"
.......etcetera

Teacher in an exasperated tone:
"Diamond!" - more awkward silence;
some tittering from the back row.

I was not there
I had left for good earlier
but not before leaving a dead rat
on the Principles chair.

I never went back
not even to pick up and bury my pet rat.

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