Katies box: Chapter 4. Nobodies perfect.

Gail's hand trembled, as she tried desperately to control the small fret saw, but it was no good, the blade would not go straight and once again the edge of her piece of wood was crooked. Sighing deeply, she dropped her pen on the floor and as she bent down, she pushed the ruined piece of wood in-between two boxes next to the cupboard. Looking around warily, she was pleased to see that the teacher had not seen what she had done. He was far too busy, using his reflection in the window to straighten a blonde curl on his forehead.
Gail watched as Mr Sykes winked at himself and straightened up his blue tie.
"Right girls, now let's see how you're getting on. he said as he pulled up his sleeves of his denim shirt and walked towards the middle table.
Katie, Jane and Mary watched as he examined their efforts.
"That's excellent girls, but Katie this needs to be a lot smoother before you can fit this piece onto the end of this. he said holding up another piece of wood, which would make up her jewellery box.
Gail watched as he moved slowly around the room and sighed a great sigh of relief when Miss Craig came in and distracted him from coming over to her.
Sneaking up to the teacher's desk, Gail picked up another piece of wood and took it back to her bench.
Drawing her lines on the piece of wood, she began to saw through the first line.
With her face screwed up and concentrating hard, she didn't see Mr Sykes come over to her bench and she jumped, as he banged his hand on the work surface in front of her.
"No, no, no, don't you ever listen Gail, how many times do I have to show you, give it to me. he barked.
"No, it's alright sir I can manage. said Gail leaning over the wood to stop him from grabbing the saw.
"No, look at that edge, your useless, look I showed you last lesson, you don't hold it like that, give it to me. he said trying to snatch the tool from her hand, but in the struggle, the blade suddenly snapped.
"Now see what you've done, those blades cost three pounds each. said Mr Sykes angrily, holding the broken piece of steel in his hand.
"But you pulled it off me. protested Gail.
"I did not, said the now red-faced teacher, "you held onto it and it broke, it's your fault. Go and get another blade now, I'm fed up with trying to teach idiots like you.
"It's not my fault that you can't teach. said Gail as tears of anger welled up in her eyes.
"How dare you speak to me like that. said the teacher slamming the piece of wood down on the bench.
"Well it's true. said Gail bravely, as she sniffed back the tears.
"The only truth around here is that you're useless, you haven't made anything this year.
"Yes I have¦ I made a key ring. Gail protested.
"Ooo yes, you drilled a hole in a piece of plastic and sandpapered the edges to make it smooth, he said sarcastically, "you even broke that in half, the first time you tried. Now go and get a new blade out of the cupboard and bring it to me.
"Can't even draw a line¦ mumbled the teacher as he picked up the pencil and re- drew the line on Gail's piece of wood.
Gail searched through the cupboard trying to find the blades.
"Hurry up girl. yelled Mr Sykes from the other side of the room.
Searching through the nails, screws and other tools stacked on the shelves, she could see no blades. She looked carefully along the three shelves and then squatted down to look in the bottom of the cupboard.
In the corner, she found a large wooden box with a brass latch, in the shape of a dragon's head, but no blades. She was just about to open it up when Mr Sykes put his hand on her shoulder.
"You act so stupid, get up girl; look here they are, look here. he said banging his hand on top of the blades hidden behind a large tin box, on the second shelf. Gail reached in, picked up a blade and handed it to the angry faced teacher who was wiping his sweaty face with a large white handkerchief.
"You girl's will be the death of me. he said as he inserted the new blade, "now look, he said with a forced patience, "you push forward like this and smoothly back, any idiot could do it. Here take it and try to keep the line straight.
Gail had had enough, "I'm not an idiot, she shouted at him angrily.
"I didn't say you were, come on take it.
"No I won't!
Mr Sykes eyes narrowed and he smiled childishly, "Are you refusing to do as you are told?
Gail said nothing, but stood defiantly with her hands behind her back determined not to obey.
"GET OUT, GET OUT NOW. shouted Mr Sykes angrily, as he walked over to the door and slammed it open.
The class was quiet, as they waited to see what Gail would do.
Gail stood resolutely to the spot and shouted back at the teacher, "NO I WON'T AND YOU CAN'T MAKE ME, your always telling me that I can't do anything, I could if you left me alone to get on with it.
"But you can't do anything. said the teacher acidly.
"Teachers aren't supposed to say things like that. retorted Gail as tears misted up her eyes.
"But it's the truth. Now get outside. You also have a twenty minute detention tonight for your disobedience and rudeness.
Gail walked slowly to the door picking up her bag along the way.
"You can leave your bag there, your going nowhere my dear girl. I have to telephone your parents first. he said curtly, "go on put it down.
Gail threw the bag on the floor and storming out she slammed the door shut behind her.
Nobody said a word as Mr Sykes went around the rest of the class smiling and praising the rest of the girls for their efforts.
Gail stood outside with her back against the wall and kicking it with the heel of her foot. She was so angry. She hated the lessons, but most of all she hated Mr Sykes with a passion.
She could never get anything right. Nearly every lesson he would tell her that she was either, an idiot, stupid or useless. She couldn't do anything when he was watching her, because she was always worried about what he was going to say, the mere thought of his sarcastic remarks made her nervous and yet she always tried to do her best, hoping that one day she would get it right.
The bell sounded in the hall and children's voices echoed through the corridors.
Jenny stopped to speak to Gail.
"He's so unfair. she said as she put her hand on Gail's arm sympathetically, but when she saw Mr Sykes staring at her crossly from the classroom door, she put it behind her back and ran off down the corridor.
"Come in Gail. said Mr Sykes inviting her to sit on the chair in front of his desk.
Mr Sykes went on and on at Gail, telling her that he knew that she could do better and that she would not get a good job if she didn't do well in his lessons. She couldn't understand why, but nowadays all the teachers seemed to say the same thing, but she kept quiet, letting him rant on, hoping that he would blow himself out like a storm and let her go home. However, instead of saying, "off you go Gail; he walked over to the cupboard, pulled out a large piece of wood and placed it in front of her. Then going to the tool cupboard, he placed a variety of tools into a large cardboard box and placed it next to the wood. Taking out his black felt tip pen, he wrote in large, curly letters, Gail's special project.
Gail looked puzzled.
"You will complete a piece of work of your choice within six weeks and present it to your parents on Parents evening. he said as he smiled, enjoying the look of horror on Gail's face. "I will be here for an hour after school each evening and you can stay behind to complete it.
"But my mum¦
"I have already asked your mother's permission; I telephoned her while you were waiting outside. A lovely woman, she thought it was an excellent idea; she was so pleased that I had chosen you for such an important task.
"But I can't. cried Gail pitifully.
"But you told me that you could, if I left you alone, so now you have the chance. I'll not interfere, you can do it all by yourself and show us how smart your are, said Mr Sykes smugly, as he put a pair of scissors and some glue into the box, "there I think you have all you need.
Handing her three large pieces of paper, a pencil and a ruler, he added, "You will of course have to draw your plans first.
"But what do I have to do? Gail asked miserably.
"Whatever you want, you choose."he said as he walked out of the room.
What could she do, staring blankly at the empty page in front of her she tried to think, but there was nothing in her head. She looked around the classroom for inspiration, as she chewed the end of her pencil. The only thing, which she would like to build, was a pink and white carousel with beautiful miniature horses, which galloped up and down, as the carousel turned, but that was far too difficult for her.
On Mr Sykes desk was a book on toys. Picking it up she flicked through the pages, but the designs all looked so complicated. She was good at drawing her designs, but it was a different matter when it came to building them.
It was a choice between a clock in the shape of a cat, a pinball game or a dolls house.
Looking at the designs she decided that the clock's shape would be far too difficult to cut out and that the dolls house would be too big to build, plus she would have to build some furniture to go into it. So she decided to try to make the pinball game.
Pulling the paper towards her, her hand began to shake; she couldn't even draw the first line.
Throwing the pencil across the room, she picked up her bag and left to go home.

Gail stayed at home the following two days telling her mother that she had a stomach ache, but on the third day her mother ignored her excuses and made her go to school.
There was no way out she would have to go to Mr Sykes lesson.
Gail showed Katie and Jenny the drawings she had completed at home and they were impressed.
"They're brilliant. said Jenny enthusiastically.
"That's the easy part; said Gail sadly, "making it is a different matter.
"You'll be alright. said Katie confidently.
"But I can't cut a straight line, let alone cut and nail all of that together. said Gail as she put the plans back into her plastic folder.
Gail showed Mr Sykes her plans, but he was not as enthusiastic as the girls and told her coldly, "I suppose you know that the Parents evening has been brought forward and you've only three weeks to complete this.
"What! gasped Gail, snatching back her drawings, "three weeks that's impossible?
"Well don't hang around then get on with it or it won't be ready will it. he said, as he turned his back on her to talk to Heather.
She'll show him, she thought as she gave him a dirty look and returned to her seat.

That evening after school, Gail began to saw the main pieces for her pinball game. She was very pleased with them, they were not perfect, but they fitted together well enough and at least she had tried her best.
The following evening Gail pulled the four pieces of cut wood out of the box and laid them on the bench. Putting them together, she was surprised to see how well they fitted. Swelling with pride and filled with her newfound confidence, she took the back panel and marked out the position of the cups, which would catch the small steel balls. Then getting a stencil she painted, in different colours, the numbers under each cup, which showed the score of each one. Getting a pot of brass nails, she tapped in the nails along the semi-circular line for each cup. Then rolling one of the steel balls along the wood, she made sure that she had not hammered the nails in too far and checked that the cups would catch them easily. After tapping a few nails in and pulling a few of them back up, she then began to glue the edges of the box together. Clamping the box in a vice, she placed her work and her tools back into the cupboard, well satisfied with her efforts.
Gail was now looking forward to finishing her special assignment.
Mr Sykes had been away for three days, but by the following Friday he was back.
That evening Gail was surprised to see him examining her board.
Ignoring him, she immediately started working on the wooden plunger, which would hit the ball up the channel and into the cups. Putting a block of wood into the vice, she began to chisel at the plunger to make the round knob at one end.
Looking at her, Mr Sykes laid the board on the bench grunted grumpily, but said nothing to Gail as he left the room.
Putting the plunger in its place Gail attached the small wire spring to it, and pulling it back, she let it go. It worked perfectly. Hitting the steel ball up the shoot, the ball landed in a cup worth twenty points. Pulling it back once again, another ball fell into the chute and letting it go the ball shot up and around the board and dropped into the one hundred point's cup.
"Yes! she shouted as she hit the air triumphantly with her fist.
Success was a wonderful feeling and all she had to do now, was to fit the clear plastic top. That would take a couple of days to cut out and smooth and then it would be finished, with a whole week to spare.

Mr Sykes watched as Gail left the school and strode back up towards his classroom. Nobody was around and picking up the small pinboard, he examined it carefully. He was annoyed, he thought it was far too good for her and with a wide grin on his face, as he held it high in the air, he dropped the board onto the floor where it broke into pieces.
"Oops now there's a nasty little accident, he said impishly, "these cleaners are so clumsy.
Then with a self-satisfied look on his face, he stepped on the board and smiled broadly, as the pieces crunched beneath his large foot.
*
On the following Monday, Gail kissed her mother goodbye and skipped out of the door.
On her way to school, she decided that she was going to show Mr Sykes the game and see what he had to say about it; surely, he would have to say something good this time.
Running past the school office, Miss Craig suddenly shouted to her from inside.
"Gail, can you go to registration, but come and see me as soon as the bell goes.
"Why Miss? asked Gail innocently.
"It's alright, don't look so worried, you're not in trouble, but I have to tell you something, go on off you go.
Gail rushed back as soon as the bell went.
"I've got some bad news for you dear, come in and sit down, said Miss Craig gravely as Gail stood in front of her desk, "Mr Sykes has informed me that your game was found broken in the technology room he thinks that the cleaner may have knocked it off the bench and threw it away.
Gail couldn't believe it, all that hard work gone, but what was more upsetting was that there would be no surprise for her mother. Feeling that her whole world had shattered she put her hands up to her face and cried bitterly.
Miss Craig handed her a tissue and rubbed her back in an effort to comfort her, but Gail was inconsolable.
Miss Craig let her stay with her for the first lesson and sent her off for her second lesson red eyed, but at least she had now stopped crying.

In the Gym changing room, Katie and Jenny sat down next to her on the bench.
"It's horrible, all that effort gone to waste. said Katie when Gail told them the whole story.
"Who did it? Do you think it was Sykes? asked Jenny suspiciously.
"No! said Gail startled by the question, "why do you say that?
"I just thought, he's always saying that you're useless and your pinball game was going to prove him wrong, wasn't it?
"No, it was an accident the cleaner knocked it off the bench and threw it away. said Gail solemnly.
"But the cleaner for that floor hasn't been in for two days. I heard Mr Banchard complaining about it as his bins hasn't been emptied and he's on the same floor as Sykes, isn't he? asked Jenny.
Gail looked at Katie, "What, do you think Sykes did it? she said unbelievingly, "Surely he couldn't be that cruel, could he?
Katie and Jenny gave Gail a knowing look.
"I'm not going to let him beat me, I'll build it again, you watch, I'll show him. she said resolutely.
"We'll help you if you want. said Jenny as Katie nodded in agreement.
"No thanks, said Gail determinedly, "I'll do it on my own, I'll show him.
Gail worked hard every evening on the new game. The caretaker had to ask her to leave when she was still in the classroom at nine o'clock on Tuesday.
It was not going well.
On Wednesday evening she sat with the pieces in front of her, it was all a mess.
She had rushed everything, the edges were ragged, the nails were out of line and when she picked up the backboard, two of the nails kept falling out of place.

A noise of something moving in the bottom of the tool cupboard, behind her, made her jump and slipping off her chair, she went over to it.
A small scraping noise was coming from the bottom shelf.
Kneeling down in front of it, she watched as a tiny latch, in the shape of a dragon's head, dropped down on an ornate box sitting in the corner
The lid of the box slowly opened and a shaft of smoky blue and white light lit up the bottom of the cupboard.
Two very large hands, followed by a small head covered in long blonde hair and a beautiful face grinned back at Gail.
Swinging its bony, bare legs over the edge of the box, one at a time, it jumped down onto the shelf in front of Gail and pulled down its red gossamer tunic, which covered its whole body from its neck and right down to its ankles.
Holding its outsized hands in front of it awkwardly, it trotted towards Gail and blinking its deep blue eyes, it said, in a syrupy voice, "Hello Gail.
Wide-eyed and with her mouth open in astonishment Gail could say nothing, as she gaped at the creature.
"I said hello. said the small being testily, as it looked around the room.
"Hello¦ stuttered Gail, "who are you?
"My Name is Jip-so-po-lac-u-spara-cactus, but you can call me Jippy and your Gail, I've been watching you.
"You have, why? said Gail bewildered.
"I've come to help you. said Jippy, as she stepped out of the cupboard and sprang up onto the wooden workbench, with her long tresses following her like a river of gold.
"Now let's see what I can do, she said as she sat in front of Gail's pinball game. Screwing up her nose, she raised a long bony finger and began to write something in the air.
Suddenly pieces of wood flew into the air, nails lined up behind the wood as Jippy continued waving her hand, then she clapped her outsized hands and the sandpaper began to work on the edges of the wood. Clicking her fingers, the nails suddenly shot into the board to form the cups. The five pieces of board spun around and joined in mid air to make the box. The plunger with the spring and the wooden panel to make the shoot; slipped into their place and the balls rattled down the board and into their position. Finally, the plastic rectangular top flew up from the table and the screws turned in their holes attaching it to the top of the box.
Pulling Gail's hand towards the plunger Jippy invited her to pull. Gail pulled, the ball raced around and around and rattled into the cup worth a hundred marks. However, Gail did not smile; in fact, she didn't look very happy at all.
"Are you not pleased? inquired Jippy.
"It's very nice of you to do this for me, but it's not mine any more, you made it.
"No I didn't take a look.
Gail picked up the box and turned it over examining it carefully. She couldn't believe what she was seeing; it looked just like her original game. There was the unmistakable notch in the wood on the backboard, the extra hole she had drilled and the screw with the ragged edge, which she made when the screwdriver had slipped.
It was definitely hers and looking quizzically at Jippy she inquired, "But how? as she continued to examine the piece.
"I copied yours, squealed Jippy jumping up and down and clapping her hands excitedly, "so it is yours.
"Thank you, but how, why? said Gail as she held the box to her chest.
But Jippy had already jumped off the bench and was now running back to the box on the bottom shelf of the cupboard. Gail didn't have time to say anything, because as she bent down to thank her all she saw was the dragon's head latch on the box snapping shut.
Pulling the box towards her, Gail unclipped the latch. Opening the lid slowly she looked inside, but it was empty. Tipping it upside-down, she shook it, but nothing dropped out. Putting it back in its corner on the shelf she whispered, "Thank you Jippy, I am grateful really. and she could have sworn that she heard a tiny squeaky voice reply, "It's a pleasure. coming from inside the wooden box.
After clearing up the bench, Gail put her game into a cardboard box, after wrapping it carefully in lots of newspaper. Then sticking the lid down with sticky tape, she put the box behind some other large boxes next to the window and making sure that it was well hidden, she looked back at it contentedly and went home.

Mr Sykes arrived at the school at six o'clock on Thursday morning. Slipping upstairs unnoticed he had to hide behind a locker as the elderly cleaner, dragging a black plastic bag full of rubbish, shuffled along the corridor towards the stairs at the other end.
Opening his classroom very quietly and shutting the door behind him, he put the key back into the lock and locked himself in.
Looking around the room, he began his search. Opening up the cupboards and moving the toolboxes aside, his anger began to rise in his chest, as he could not see Gail's box anywhere. He knew it had to be somewhere in the room.
The cheek of the girl, he thought, of all the audacity, how dare she hide it from him.
Underneath the bench and along the window, were boxes of all shapes and sizes. Pulling them out and putting them back one by one, he finally spotted Gail's box.
Ripping the sticky tape off the lid, he began to throw the newspapers out onto the floor.
The cupboard door behind him opened slowly and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, as he heard a small voice ask menacingly.
"And what do you think you're doing?
Mr Sykes pushed the newspapers in his hand back inside the box quickly and slammed the lid shut. Turning to see who had come in he was surprised to see his key dangling in the lock and the door still shut.
"I asked you a question. said a small squeaky voice from behind him. Twirling around he was astounded to see, the blonde haired Jippy standing on top of Gail's box, staring at him angrily, with both her large hands on her tiny hips.
Mr Sykes rubbed his eyes, but when he finished she was still there and tapping her foot impatiently.
"You were trying to break Gail's game again, weren't you?
"What are you talking about, of course I wasn't. I was only looking at it. Mr Sykes blurted out nervously.
"You broke her other one, didn't you. I saw you.
"No I didn't. he said as he headed towards the door.
However, Jippy was too fast for him. Jumping off the box and with two bounces, one on the bench and one on his head, she landed in front of him.
"Get out of it. he shouted angrily, as he tried to swot her with the back of his hand.
Jippy held onto the hand and pointed her finger at it.
A cold icy feeling filled his arm and hand and suddenly his thumb went limp.
"What have you done to me. he said holding his thumb, which was now throbbing with pain.
A broad grin spread across her small face, as Mr Sykes fumbled with the key in the door with his left hand as he held his other injured hand to his chest.
Jippy cackled like an old witch, as she pointed her finger at his other hand, which was now trying to turn the key in the door.
Screaming "NOOOOO¦ the lock suddenly clicked and he tried to open the door, but Jippy had her foot in front of the door and it wouldn't move. Smiling up at him, she pushed her long hair behind her ear and waited. Staring at her wide eyed he tried to open the door again, but she slammed it shut and tickled his leg. Jumping in the air with fright, he ran to the other side of the room and stood behind a bench, shaking uncontrollably. Jippy jumped up onto the bench in front of her and leapt lightly from bench to bench until she had landed on the one in front of him,
"Boo! she squealed to the trembling lump of flesh in front of her.
Mr Sykes screeched, "Get away from me¦ go away¦ leave me alone. as he tried to dodge the finger, which was slowly following him around the room. Running towards the door, he heard a crunch and a fizz, as Jippy missed the mark and hit a wooden box full of nails, which crashed noisily to the floor. With his hair stuck to his head with sweat, Mr Sykes tried again to open the door, but his hand was too sweaty. Looking anxiously as Jippy floated towards him he quickly wiped his hand on the leg of his trousers and successfully opened the door, but as he ran out of the door Jippy jumped over his head and landed with a thud in front of him.
Careering down the corridor, away from the creature, with sweat pouring down his face and neck, he felt the familiar icy feeling in his other arm. Tearing down the stairs Mr Sykes felt the pain seer up his arm as his other thumb went dead.
*
Miss Craig was the only teacher in the staff room when Mr Sykes knocked on the door frantically with the palms of his hands. She was astonished to see the deshriveled Mr Sykes standing outside holding his hands up in the air and garbling something about a monster in his room.
Taking him into the staff room, she sat him down on a chair and examined the hands. The thumbs on his hands were hanging down towards the floor in a most peculiar fashion.
Holding his left hand in both her hands, she asked him to move the thumb. Concentrating hard, as beads of sweat ran freely down his face, he tried with all his might to move the thumb and said in a panic, "I can't, it won't move, help me Jane, I can't move it.
Looking at his left thumb, as if he knew something was about to happen, suddenly it dropped off, fell to the floor and rolled along in front of them. Blood spurted out of the wound, as the open blood vessels pumped the blood out, in time with his heartbeat. Mr Sykes stared at the open wound and as the blood drained from his face, his whole body went limp; suddenly he fell to his knees and dropped to the floor hitting his head on the leg of the table. Miss Craig ran to get a yellow towel and the small blue and white tea towel hanging next to the sink and as she ran back to the body, she watched in horror as the thumb on his other hand dropped off onto the floor and rolled under his seat. Wrapping the bleeding hands in the yellow towel, Miss Craig reluctantly picked up the two thumbs with the blue and white tea towel and holding them at arms length, she threw both of them and the tea towel into the freezer compartment of the fridge.
Then picking up the telephone, she dialled nine, nine, nine and waited.
Looking anxiously at Mr Sykes pale face, as he began to groan, she gave the male operator on the other end of the telephone, the address of the school and told him that Mr Sykes the technology teacher had cut his thumbs off and that she had put them in the freezer.
*
Gail smiled at Katie as she showed Mr Cliff, her new technology teacher, her pinball game.
"Look girls. he said enthusiastically, as he held the game up into the air, "this is what can be done when you put in the effort. What a wonderful piece of work, well done Gail. I think ten merits are in order. It really is perfect; it must have taken you a lot of time to complete it.
"No sir, and it's not perfect, but then nothing's perfect in this world is it sir. said Gail shyly.
"I suppose you're right Gail, but it is beautifully made. he said placing it in the front of the display cabinet, "looks good in there doesn't it. he added as he grinned at Gail.
Katie nodded in agreement, as she closed the cabinet door, locked it with the small, silver key and handed it back to the teacher.
During the lesson, Gail sneaked over to the cupboard and kneeling down low she whispered, "Are you there Jippy?
However, there was no reply.
"Talking to the pixies are you Gail? said Jenny who was standing behind her.
"Maybe, said Gail cheekily, "you never know.
"That's right, said Katie, as she beamed at Gail and winked, "you never know, there just could be such things, couldn't there Gail.
Jenny gave them both a funny look and carried on sawing her piece of wood as Katie and Gail giggled in unison.
*
Katie smiled broadly at the chauffeur as he opened the car door.
"I can see you had a good day Katie. said the count, "and the box?
"It's safe. I've put it back in my locker.
"Just make sure that the imp stays in there, if you let her escape again you'll fail and¦
"And my time here would have been wasted, I know, it won't happen again, honest it won't. Anyway it all turned out fine didn't it? Katie said confidently.
"Mmm, I suppose it did, this time, he said with his usual flash of red, but I'll say it again, you must be careful.

J.A.Evans.