8 SEPTEMBER 2007, Page 41

Turning Up

The department wasn't where it used to be.

Break times had changed, but I got a third-former To show me where he'd be And waited at the top of a fire escape Till he came up under an umbrella, Replied to my 'hello' then looked up with 'good God!'

He swapped classes with another teacher To talk to me for half an hour.

He sat behind the desk asking What had happened to various members of my year.

He caught me up with his life: Her father had died, which had been hard.

I sat on a table swinging my legs And when the students started to arrive, He walked across and mouthed 'piss off!' On the bus down to Temple Meads I text a couple of friends to say I'm still in love with him Valerie Jack