Hello? Beechgrove School? This is Mr. Holloway speaking. Brad Holloway. I'm ringing about my son Michael. He came home yesterday and said he'd been in trouble at school with his P. E. teacher, Miss Sanderson. She said he didn't have the right kit for P. E. Everyone else thought it was all highly amusing, of course, and Michael was very embarrassed about it. Perhaps I could speak to the Headmistress.
She's engaged at the moment, I'm afraid. This is her secretary.
I can hold on for a while if she's going to be free soon...
I have a feeling she's going to be busy all morning, Mr. Holloway. She's at a Governors' meeting. It could go on for a very long time...
Oh. Well, in that case, perhaps you could help me.
Of course. What form is Michael in?
He's a first year. He's in 1B. His form teacher's Mr. Hopkins.
And what kit should Michael have brought with him?
Well that's the point. In the school information booklet it says black shorts and blue singlet, with black or blue plimsolls. So that's what we bought him. We went to the sports shop the school actually recommends. You know, Atlas Sports, West Street.
I'm just looking at the information booklet, Mr. Holloway. There seems to have been some mistake.
I thought so. Maybe you could point it out to Miss Sanderson.
What Michael came to school with was the senior girls' basketball kit.
What? How on earth could that have happened? It says quite clearly in the booklet, black shorts and blue vest. I've got it in front of me.
You're looking at the top of Page 11, aren't you?
That's right.
Well, unfortunately the layout of the booklet is a bit misleading. If you look at the bottom of the previous page you'll see it says Boys' Kit in the left-hand column and Girls' Kit in the right-hand one, but when you turn over the page it's not difficult to forget which column was which because the headings aren't repeated.
So it looks as though were going to have to write another cheque...
I'm afraid so.
Oh well. Anything for a quiet life, I suppose. Perhaps yon could ask Miss Sanderson to be patient for a week or so to give us time to buy the right kit.
Of course. Goodbye Mr. Holloway.