When Erik Persson entered the staff room in pod six, he saw Simons was back: he seemed a little tense, and jumped up in his chair when Erik opened the door.

“How are you?” Erik asked. “Are you feeling better?”

Simons nodded half-heartedly: ”Yes, yes, just fine,” he assured.

“Have you already done the eight o’clock round?”

The boy shifted uncomfortably in his seat: ”Um... I was waiting for you. I thought maybe we could do it together, like ...