Mr Sternblast stood in room 12B later that morning with a folder in his hands. He was frowning – which was normal for him – though this was a frown of utter confusion.

‘Err … I’m not sure how to say this …’

The students in room 12B sat up straight in their chairs as they listened.

‘Umm …’ the principal stammered. ‘It appears as though there has been some sort of … mix-up … Yes, a mix-up.’

Miffy Armstrong, the sportiest and strongest girl in Blue Valley, adjusted her headband. She leaned forward, itching to hear the news.

Mr Sternblast opened the folder. ‘I just received a phone call from Miss Frost.’ He paused, looking around the room.

Scarlett Geeves fidgeted nervously with a pencil on her desk.

‘It seems she has got herself rather lost.’

Albert Smithers raised his hand.

‘Yes, Smithers?’

‘Where is she?’

Mr Sternblast pulled on his moustache as he thought about the answer. He blinked quickly and replied in the quietest voice the students had ever heard him use.

‘Ecuador.’

Vex Vron had to bite his lip to stop himself from laughing.

Albert raised his hand again.

‘Yes?’ said the principal.

‘How did she get to Ecuador?’

Scarlett suddenly lost control of her pencil and it clattered to the floor.

Albert’s question, meanwhile, had snapped Mr Sternblast back into principal mode. ‘That, Smithers, is a very good question. Nobody has been able to tell me anything … although I have my suspicions.’

Scarlett turned bright red and tried not to look the principal in the eye.

Mr Sternblast’s moustache wobbled crankily. ‘Make no mistake, I will do everything in my power to bring that talented teacher back to this school as quickly as possible. Discipline will be the new order.’

Miffy bravely piped up with a burning question. ‘Mr Sternblast, who is going to teach us in the meantime?’

The principal turned to another page in his folder and frowned again. Though this time it was one of frustration. ‘I have some regretful news …’

Victoria and Vex exchanged a knowing glance. Vex did a silent fist pump under his desk.

‘The school board – buffoons that they are – have seen fit to reappoint your old teacher.’

‘Miss Schlump?’ asked Miffy.

‘Of course not!’ said Mr Sternblast. ‘They’ve reappointed that bumbling Mr Bam–’

Mr Sternblast tried to finish his sentence but the students were already hooting and howling.

Carrot clapped loudly.

Sammy threw his hat in the air.

Scarlett danced on her chair.

Vex looked rather pleased with himself.

Damon longed to embrace Victoria, but she was too busy throwing her confetti-work in the air in celebration.

The euphoria in room 12B created an energy that Mr Sternblast was not used to. In his mind, things should be done quietly, and in an orderly manner. School was about regulations, not emotions. The current scene of elation was simply too much for him. He growled and stormed outside.

Just as the principal left, a unicycle wheeled itself through the door. The students hushed and held their breaths. The unicycle whizzed around Victoria’s desk and rested in the corner at the front of the room. The sound and smell of sizzling bacon wafted in from outside, along with a familiar voice. ‘It’s never too late in the morning for bacon and eggs, wouldn’t you say?’

Mr Bambuckle strode into room 12B and grinned at the students, his blue suit sparkling as brightly as ever. He was holding his frying pan, which was overflowing with breakfast.

‘You’re back!’ cried Myra.

‘We missed you!’ said Harold McHagil.

‘And I, you,’ said Mr Bambuckle, beaming at the class. He walked around the room and held out the frying pan so the students could take some food. He paused at Scarlett’s desk. ‘Dear Scarlett, how delightful it is to see you again.’

Scarlett tightened the red ribbon in her hair. ‘There was magic in my fingers.’

Mr Bambuckle winked. ‘I trust you found my note, then?’

Scarlett glanced at the door to make sure Mr Sternblast wasn’t there, before returning the wink and taking a piece of bacon.

The teacher made his way over to Vex’s desk. ‘And Vex … Vex Wilberforce Vron, your unseen sacrifice is a big part of the reason I am here today.’

Vex shot another glance at Victoria. ‘How did you know about –’

‘Remember, I know everything.’

Vex’s usually cool face produced a smile. It was a rare smile that warmed the hearts of his classmates.

‘But I didn’t do it alone,’ said Vex. ‘Victoria helped me.’

‘Can somebody tell me what’s going on?’ said Slugger Choppers. ‘Who did what?’

‘I had a chat to my dad,’ said Vex. ‘He owns three car yards.’

‘So?’ said Slugger. ‘Canteen Carol owns three rolling pins.’

Vex raised an eyebrow and continued. ‘I asked Dad to offer vehicle upgrades to members of the school board if they let Mr Bambuckle come back to teach us.’

‘Oh,’ said Slugger, shaking away thoughts of Canteen Carol threatening him with a rolling pin. ‘Why would your dad do that? He hates giving away cars.’

‘Because,’ said Vex, ‘I told him I’d start working in one of his car yards if he did. And he agreed. He said it would teach me to be like him – a tough, hardworking businessman – so I can take over the company one day. There was just one problem. Dad hasn’t got any contacts on the school board. That’s where Victoria came in. Her dad knows someone, so I asked her to pass on the car offer.’

‘I remember seeing you give Victoria a note,’ said Damon. He gazed dreamily at his crush. ‘She’s my hero.’

‘Then I suppose it came down to me,’ said Scarlett. ‘I had to figure out how to get rid of Miss Frost.’

‘And you did,’ said Mr Bambuckle. ‘In a most remarkable way.’

‘But what if Miss Frost comes back?’ said Evie Nightingale, her eyes darting around the room.

Mr Bambuckle put the empty frying pan on his desk. ‘There’s far too much work to catch up on to worry about that.’

Everyone cheered.

‘To begin with, I would like you all to draw the most amazing cake you can imagine.’

The sound of pencil cases being unzipped filled the air.

While the students talked excitedly about their favourite cakes, Mr Bambuckle walked around the room, stopping only to speak with Sammy Bamford. ‘I trust you found the government override system helpful?’

Sammy’s eyes widened. ‘You sent me those links?’

Mr Bambuckle nodded. ‘Indeed, I did.’

‘But why?’

Mr Bambuckle lowered his voice. ‘My dear Sammy, I have a feeling that certain … hacking skills will assist you in a moment of need.’

Just as Sammy opened his mouth to reply, Mr Bambuckle clapped his hands together. ‘Wonderful students, it’s time to design!’

‘I’m drawing a wedding cake,’ said Victoria. ‘I’m actually going to a wedding tomorrow.’

‘I’ll be at the same wedding!’ announced Damon.

‘Make sure you behave, Damon,’ joked Carrot.

‘I will,’ said Damon, batting his eyelashes at Victoria. ‘Trust me, I will …’