Jam

Matthew Parvin

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9781786822130
• eBook ISBN: 9781786822147
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Littérature
• Subtopic: Théâtre britannique

Ten years ago, Bella Soroush's life was ruined by one of her pupils – Kane McCarthy. She has gradually rebuilt things – new school, new town, new friends – and finally feels at home in the depths of the countryside. Now Kane is back in her classroom, armed with relics of the past and claiming to want forgiveness. As the truths they've clung to begin to collapse, teacher and pupil are forced to confront their prejudices and the shared history that has bound them together.

i.

Both paused in shock.

BELLA stood rigid near her desk, barefoot, in going-out clothes, wielding a heeled shoe; KANE waiting in the doorway in a light jacket, a large rucksack on.

They are in a classroom in an upper state school on the edge of a small town. It is early evening. Summer is coming.

BELLA. I – Yes, I remember you.

Kane.

They pause.

KANE. Goin’ out?

BELLA. Sorry?

KANE. Goin’ out?

She hesitates –

In town?

’ere, or –?

Not drinkin’, surely. Drinkin’? You drink?

On Thursday pfff tha’s; I mean pfff tha’s –

Tired tomorrow, Miss.

Beat.

Like, pub or, club or –

Thursday’s Lizard, innit? If yer –

No, ’s Firestation. Firestation.

Tha’ll be fun, Miss. Tha’ll be –

There somethin’ wrong wi’ that ’eel?

Beat.

Jus’ you wanna watch, Miss. If i’s – Wi’ tha’ ’eight. I seen women go down ’ard. On the stairs like, a’ Firestation. Slippery. Totterin’, then …

BELLA. Very helpful of / you.

KANE. Bang; hah.

They pause.

BELLA. Kane it’s nice to / see you but –

KANE. New lot; old lot; mix?

BELLA. I have to be, / have to be going.

KANE. I’d bet new. New? New?

BELLA. I don’t …

KANE. Teachers. Mates. Teacher-mates. Mates who’re –

BELLA. Yes, okay, I / understand.

KANE. I bet i’s yer new lot ’cause, ’cause I doubt the old lot’d want anythin’ t’do with you, right?

This bein’ the rival.

You know that? You not know that? / ’ow’d you not –?

BELLA. I just don’t understand / what you’re saying.

KANE. I’s i’s i’s – the rival, the rival school, this one is, to our old one. The schools ’ave a rivalry; this ’n’ our old one. Rivals. They don’ like each other. They argue; ’ave tiffs. They –

BELLA. Alright, okay.

KANE. I can’ believe you don’ – ’ow’ you not know ’bout the rivalry?

They called us names. Laughed, gen’rally. Thought they was – this lot – yer lot – so much be’er –

We ’ad wars. ’uge bloody ba’les, on the fields, fer like, ’onour; surely you teachers knew a’ least tha’ …

’n’ ’ere I find you on the other side: a traitor.

Beat.

/ BELLA moves around her desk and gets her bag.

BELLA. Actually Kane I’m on my way out.

KANE. I jus’ got ’ere.

BELLA. I’m sorry, I really / have to go.

KANE. I wanna talk.

She hesitates –

BELLA. What for?

KANE. Jus’ ’cause.

BELLA. “Just ’cause”? About what?

KANE. Everythin’; us.

Beat.

He goes to perch –

BELLA. Don’t sit.

KANE. No, yeah; these tables; not much –

BELLA. The school is closed; I’m leaving.

KANE. Yeah everythin’s bloody locked out there Miss; –

BELLA. Exactly.

KANE. I ’ad to climb this ’uge gate ’n’ actu’lly think I caught my –

BELLA. Kane you can’t be here.

They pause.

KANE. / Miss …

BELLA. How did you – No, how did you know I was here?

KANE. Yers was the only light on in the –

BELLA. No – here, now.

KANE. Well yer ’ouse was all empty, so I –

BELLA. My house?

They pause.

KANE. ’member Alan? Diffey? ’e works a’ a shop few streets over. Seen you. Told me.

BELLA. Kane I’m going to leave now.

KANE. No you can’t; we –

BELLA. Am I going to have to / call the police?

KANE. Come on, Miss …

BELLA. Okay, alright, I’m calling the –

KANE. No police.

Little pause.

Why’d’you … even … say tha’. I’m jus’ … poppin’ by; I jus’ popped by / ’n’ yer –

BELLA. There are people around.

KANE. Right?

BELLA. In the houses.

KANE. Sure.

BELLA. If I scream –

KANE. Why’d you scream Miss? Christ I’m – I jus’ wanna …

He takes off his bag, slowly. She follows it with her eyes.

I jus’ wanna chance / to talk.

BELLA. Is that …

… a baseball bat?

Her eyes are on a handle poking out of the top of the bag.

KANE....

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Characters
• Chapters