‘What do you reckon this is all about?’ Biff asked Joe. They were walking from the car to the main office of the school. Biff had received a phone call on his mobile from Deputy Principal Darcy who said he was required to come in with Joe the next day to meet with their social worker. Not really knowing what to say, Biff had agreed.

‘I didn’t even know we had a social worker, big brother,’ said Joe.

‘Maybe the authorities thought I needed some advice about how to deal with such a pain-in-the-neck brother as you,’ suggested Biff with a smile on his face.

‘Maybe they’re checking up on whether you’re fulfilling your brotherly responsibilities!’ quipped Joe.

‘Well, Frank suggested we just play dumb,’ Biff reminded him.

‘Easier for you than me,’ grinned Joe, narrowly missing out on a clip across the back of his head.

Once in the building they were shown into the conference room. When the office assistant showed the ‘social worker’ into the room, Joe couldn’t help showing his surprise.

‘Hello boys,’ said Laura Hardy. ‘How have you been?’

She sat down officiously in the chair opposite Joe until the assistant had left and closed the door behind her.

‘Mum!’ whispered Joe excitedly as she gave him a warm hug. ‘What are you doing here?’

Laura kissed her son and gave Biff a peck on the cheek before sitting down again.

‘Your father and Chief Black thought that sending a social worker was appropriate given your supposed circumstances. There are a couple of things I have to give you personally, and I really wanted to see you with my own eyes! Is everything okay?’

‘We’re cool,’ Joe reassured her, squeezing his mother’s hand.

‘I hope Joe’s behaving himself,’ Laura said to Biff with a twinkle in her eye. ‘I know that Frank has found him to be quite a handful over the years. You have to be firm with him.’

‘Alright, alright, quit the comedy!’ complained Joe. ‘It’s bad enough having Frank as my teacher in a couple of classes, without you giving his friend permission to give me a hard time as well!’

Laura smiled and took a couple of envelopes from her bag.

‘This one,’ she explained, placing a brown envelope in front of them, ‘is some notes from your father. He says he’s done some checking on the so-called trouble-makers in your class. The details are in there.’

Just then there was a knock at the door and the Deputy Principal Darcy walked into the room.

‘Deputy Principal Phil Darcy’ he said, extending his hand. ‘Principal Walsh is having a few days leave.’

‘Laura Sullivan,’ said Laura smoothly, shaking his hand.

The DP sat down and regarded Joe with a critical eye.

‘Joe’s not had the smoothest start to school here, Ms. Sullivan, but I’m sure we can straighten him out.’ Laura wasn’t sure she liked the man’s tone, but reminded herself she was there in the guise of a social worker, not a parent.

‘Biff and Joe have had a difficult time over the last couple of years,’ she explained. ‘Joe might get into trouble from time to time, but with the stable environment Biff is providing, he’ll settle down enough to do well in his studies.’

‘How do you think you’re doing so far?’ Biff asked Joe.

‘Okay,’ mumbled Joe, avoiding looking at Darcy.

‘Well we want more than ‘okay’ young man,’ stated Darcy.

Laura looked at her watch and stood up. ‘Goodness me, it’s time I was going,’ she said. ‘I have another appointment at 10.’

She shook Darcy’s hand again and smiled at the boys.

‘Remember to call me if you need anything, either of you,’ she told them. Oh, I nearly forgot. I have a letter for you Joe. From your dear old Aunty Vanessa. She didn’t have your new address so I said I’d pass it on.’

‘Thanks, uh.. Laura,’ said Joe, barely containing his mirth at the idea of Vanessa being his ‘old aunt’!

***

At morning break, Frank found himself gathered with the rest of the staff in the social staff room. All teachers had been summoned there just prior to the bell. Solemnly, Deputy Principal Darcy broke the news that five digital cameras had been stolen from the school library overnight. The librarian had discovered the theft that morning. There were murmurs of disgust and dismay through the room. Frank expertly scanned the room to note the reactions of as many staff members as he could, but all seemed equally appalled by the revelation. Teachers were asked to report any student gossip regarding the stolen cameras to Darcy, but to not announce the news of the theft to the students. Even though the theft of the cameras was an awful thing to happen, Frank was inwardly pleased that the presence of he and his brother had not disrupted the criminal behaviour they had been sent there to investigate.