The last day of term

The last bell of the last lesson of the last day of term was a kind of Disney upward trill which, knowing Ciliberti, was a stab at ironic kitsch.

The idea was to get the hell out of school and onto the terrace of Atmos for a coffee cognac. But the car key situation scuppered my plans and I schlepped around until I found them where I'd left them.

That surge of pure happiness you feel when you're a kid and you cycle back down Mill Lane with the 5 quid you've just earned in you back pocket, well that was how I felt as the school gates slid open. 

Canelle joined us, then Josette who'd had a bit of luck on her flash card and paid a round.