Friday 10 June 2011

Rupture

"Davidson says that there's going to be a Rapture," said Miss Smith to the staff-room in general. A couple of the other teachers looked up, all from marking papers or books. Those who were doing something more interesting ignored her.
"Did he say when?" Miss Devonport sounded genuinely interested, and Miss Smith tried to remember what Miss Devonport taught. Something objectionable, she was sure... oh yes! She taught Religious Instruction.
"In about three minutes," said Miss Smith looking up at the big white clock on the staff-room wall.
"That's a bit soon! I won't have finished marking all these essays by then." Miss Devonport looked genuinely upset. "What if I go in this Rapture? What will happen to the children then?"
"They're learn to inquire into the nature of things and cultivate independent thought?" Miss Smith could never pass up an opportunity to twist the knife about Religious Instruction.
"I'd finish the marking for you," said Mr. Bellows, his smile disappearing beneath his walrus moustache, which seemed to move of it's own accord. Miss Smith thought there were things living in it.
"Oh, but I'm sure you'd be enraptured too," giggled Miss Devonport, and got an encouraging, enthusiastic smile back from Mr. Bellows.
"Just the two of us?" he said, a twinkle in his eye. "Surely there are some others who deserve heaven as well?"
"Maybe," said Miss Devonport.
"I'll be going," said Mrs. Leach, the senior gym teacher. Her arms were folded across her voluminous chest, her legs were spread far too far apart for decorum, and her tracksuit, grey and sagging, smelled faintly of garlic. "Gym teachers get a free pass into heaven on account of having to teach gym class."
"Which scripture?" said Miss Devonport, her voice suddenly prim and proper, but most of all, disbelieving.
Before she could answer though, there was a large crash from outside, and then a sudden silence. Everyone in the staff room looked at everyone else, and no-one made a move towards the door. Finally, Mr. Bellows, who was closest to the door, opened it and stood quickly aside. Only the wind came in.
"Where is building three?" said Mrs. Leach quietly.
"And the students!" said Miss Smith, a little quicker on the uptake.
"I think they've been raptured, said a woman, appearing in the doorway to the staff room. "There was a bright light, some oddly-shaped people walking about, and then the children and a large, squarish building were all taken into the light and away."
"How can Form 3B be part of a rapture?" said Miss Leach. "I'm not even sure they're all human."
"Perhaps they're rations for the long journey ahead?" said Miss Smith.
Miss Devonport worked this one through in her head twice and then shook it. "I don't understand you," she said.
"That's probably for the best, said Miss Smith quickly. "Who are you?" she said to the helpful woman at the door, but as all eyes in the room turned to look at her they found that she had gone.
"That was odd," said Mrs. Leach, still sounding thoughtful. "Less a rapture than a rupture, if you ask me."

No comments: