There was no time to talk during the first two classes. The English teacher read the term’s novel, Blueback – ‘another Tim Winton classic,’ she called it – for the entire session, telling them when to underline quotes and asking them to explain what passages might mean. Then they had to hurry to Technology, which happened to be at the other side of the school, sending the group into a walking half-run to get there before the start bell.

Finally, back at the lockers at the recess break, Tully stood next to Agatha while she put her books away and took out the banana sandwich Katherine had packed for recess.

‘Sounds awful,’ Agatha had said that morning in the kitchen.

‘Just give it a go. I think you’ll love it. It’s even better when it’s toasted with a bit of melted chocolate, but that’s a winter treat. One of Lawson’s favourites, especially after we’ve been out sailing,’ Katherine had replied.

‘The others are waiting at the tree,’ Tully said.’

Do they know, about your mum?’

‘I tell them everything, Agatha ... well, most things. I told them about meeting you on the train and then you disappearing. I think if you trust me, then you can trust them. I only keep friends I can trust.’

Agatha hesitated. She wanted to talk to Tully, to explain, but she didn’t want an audience.

‘Come on. It’ll be fine.’ Tully’s encouraging voice and smile reassured Agatha, but there was a small part of her that wanted to run away. A small but determined part.

They walked to where the others were waiting, already eating and talking at the same time. ‘Okay, Tully, tell us everything. Hi, Agatha,’ Cora said, as she shuffled along the bench so that Tully could sit down. Agatha stayed standing.

‘What’s in your sandwich, Agatha?’ Morgan asked, already finished her food and wiping a few remaining crumbs from her dress.

‘Don’t go near, Agatha! She eats dirt sandwiches.’

‘She lives in a dirt house, with dirt parents ... ’

‘Banana.’

‘Yum. With honey?’

‘No. Not this time.’

‘Are you going to eat it all?’

Agatha handed half of her sandwich to Morgan. ‘Thanks. You’re the best, Agatha.’

‘So? What happened?’ Cora asked again.

‘Nothing,’ said Tully. ‘Mr Brown said we could be friends at school and that was it.’

‘What about your mum?’ Morgan said, still chewing on some banana sandwich.

Agatha looked at Tully, waiting for an answer. ‘ What about your mum, Tully?’ she thought to herself.

Tully shrugged. ‘I don’t know. Right now, I just want to think about what we could be doing in Science. Our first experiment!’ She winked at Agatha.

‘I wish I was in your class,’ said Morgan. ‘We have to wait till tomorrow, don’t we, Cora?’

‘Next year, we should see if we can all be in the same class, the four of us,’ Cora said.

The friends walked towards their lockers to get their books. The news of the science experiment had spread, so even those students not doing it until tomorrow were already excited. There was a buzz in the corridor.

‘We can talk later, at lunch, maybe,’ Tully half whispered to Agatha. Agatha nodded. She didn’t want to talk to Tully at all, not about what her mum had said.

When the class arrived at the science lab, it didn’t look set up any differently. The tables were empty of equipment and the teacher, Ms Faber, was standing at the front, holding a bunch of white papers.

‘I bet this is a dumb test or something,’ said Jax. ‘What do you think Ag—ahhh—tharr?’

‘No kidding, Jax. Cut it out!’ Tully said.

‘Okay, everyone. You have your prac partners. Would one from each pair please come up and get the design brief for this experiment?’

‘I’ll go,’ said Tully. ‘You get our seat.’

Within minutes, the two were scanning the paper. The experiment was going to take place in the gym. A hush had fallen over the class as the students read what was about to happen. When Agatha looked up, she saw that Ms Faber had moved to the door of the lab. ‘Okay, when you’re ready, bring your books and your partner and come to the door.’

The hush disappeared as the excitement grew. ‘It’s a race – a competition,’ someone said.

‘We’ve got this. I know how to make ours the best.’

Agatha looked at Tully, who was still reading, and they fell in at the back of the line. ‘What do you think?’ Tully asked.

‘I’ve never done anything like this before, but I think we can do it.’

Ms Faber walked along the corridor and the class followed, leaving the building and stepping into the bright mid-morning sun. As they walked towards the imposing gym, the conversation grew louder and louder.

Once inside, the students gathered at the end of the gym. ‘As you can see, there are witches’ hats placed along the side. You and your partner will be placed at one of the hats ... ’ Ms Faber’s explanation was interrupted by the pairs of students immediately talking among themselves as to which hat they wanted. ‘Quiet, please. I will place you, so you don’t have to make that decision now.’

Ms Faber moved to the side of the group. ‘At the other end of the gym, on those tables, is everything you will need and some other items for those of you who like to think outside the square.’

‘That’s me!’ someone said.

‘No, you are a square,’ came a retort and others laughed. Agatha remained silent and still.

‘So, you need to follow the design brief, choose the equipment you will need and complete the task. We have done a lot of work on how to write up a report and set out an experiment, so that is your assignment. I suggest you take all the notes you can while you work, and you and your partner will submit a joint report to me next week. Any questions?’

‘What do we have to do?’ came a voice from the back.

‘You need to reread the design brief, talk to your partner and if you are both still unsure, then you can come and talk to me. Okay, everyone, one pair at a time and I’ll give you a position.’

The students began to move towards Ms Faber, except for Agatha. She stayed still.

‘Come on, Agatha,’ Tully said encouragingly.

‘We can’t be partners, Tully.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘This is a homework assignment. We can’t be partners because your mum doesn’t want us to be friends, remember?’

Tully looked over towards Ms Faber. They were the last pair to be placed. ‘We can’t change now. Everyone has started.’

Agatha’s hands were tightening around her books. She could feel herself beginning to panic. She could leave now, run, but then Tully would be alone. She didn’t know what to do.

‘Are you two ready?’ Ms Faber was right beside Tully.

‘Agatha?’ Tully was looking at her.

Ms Faber stepped in front of Agatha. In a hushed tone, she said, ‘Whatever it is in your mind right now, I want you to breathe in, nice and slow. In through your nose and out through your mouth. Slowly. That’s right.’

Agatha followed Ms Faber’s instructions, which were just what Katherine would say. She felt herself calming down, felt her mind calming down. Maybe it was the breathing, maybe it was the coolness of the gym or maybe it was Ms Faber’s voice. Whatever it was, Agatha felt the tightness in her chest begin to subside.

‘Good. Well done,’ Ms Faber said softly. ‘There’s a lunchtime relaxation club you should think about joining. A lot of the senior students do it, but it’s open to everyone. Even the teachers go sometimes.’

Agatha was puzzled by Ms Faber. Usually people asked her a lot of questions: ‘What’s wrong?’, ‘What’s happened?’, ‘Tell me why?’ But not Ms Faber.

‘Now, I think you two should get down to the last hat, read over the design brief and get to work. Whatever it is, Agatha, that is causing you to hesitate, we can work it out later. Okay?’

Agatha looked at Ms Faber. She knew from her face exactly who Ms Faber was. She smiled. ‘Okay, I’m ready.’

Ms Faber put her hand on Agatha’s shoulder. ‘Great! Now, here’s a tip: less is more.’

‘What does that mean?’ Tully said, as the pair headed to the final hat and placed their books down beside it. ‘Less is more?’

Agatha looked around at the others, some carrying heaps of items back to their positions. ‘I think I know, Tully. Let’s go!’ With the brief in her hand, Agatha lead Tully to the table, for once excited that she was in charge of what happened next.