Ian Chesterton yawned and stretched. He was enjoying the heat of the log fire warming the staff room. He was also enjoying the peace and quiet.
He had a free lesson period after lunch on Friday. Leaving the fireside, he started looking through the first exercise book on the pile by the armchair he flopped into. He could have marked 2B's homework in his science room, but it was warmer here and he had access to the kettle.
Ian was halfway down the stack of books when the door swung open, admitting Joe Moore, the Geography master. He shivered and headed for the fire.
"It's going to be a cold winter," he declared, rubbing his hands together.
"It's only September," Ian replied, looking up from Michael Clancy's exercise book.
Moore frowned. "Have you been outside today?"
Ian nodded. "I was out at break time this morning. I do know what you mean."
"Free period?" inquired the Geography teacher.
"Does it show?" Ian commented, stretching his legs.
Moore left the fire and dropped into the chair across from his colleague. "My room is draughty as well. I tend to spend my free time in here too."
"I have 5C for the final period of the week," Ian told him.
Moore grimaced. "5C. Susan Foreman's class."
"You make it sound like a curse."
"Have you noticed anything strange about that girl?" Moore asked earnestly.
Ian thought for a moment. "She seems a very bright pupil, but sometimes she gives me the impression she should be teaching me." He smiled at the thought.
"Do you know what she asked me last month?"
"I have no idea," Ian replied. Sometimes Joe Moore could go all round the houses to reach a destination.
"I had handed out the atlases, when she put her hand up to ask a question..."
***
Joe Moore nodded his head. "Yes, Susan, what is it?"
"Well, sir, this map is incomplete."
"Which page are you on, Susan?"
"Page 12, sir. The map of the world."
Moore found the map. It looked fine to him. "What's wrong with your copy?"
Susan frowned. "Atlantis isn't on it, sir!"
Joe Moore felt his jaw dropping open. "Atlantis?" he repeated. "Atlantis is a myth. It doesn't exist."
"It does, sir," Susan protested. Then a thought crossed her mind. "Oh, of course. It's submerged at this time," she continued, almost too softly to hear.
Moore was about to make another comment, when Susan flashed a dazzling smile.
"I'm sorry, sir. I was wrong. Please ignore what I said."
***
Back in the staff room, Moore frowned at the memory. "She was serious. She really believed that Atlantis should be on the map and that it had existed."
"Are you sure she wasn't just having a joke? Making herself look good in front of her friends?"
Moore shook his head. "She truly believed what she said. I'm sure of it."
Ian shrugged. "Has she given you any other food for thought?"
"She has. There was another incident, a couple of weeks ago."
***
"Class 5C, today we will study Russia." Moore pulled down a map of the World, gesturing to the power block that was the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
"Now, turn to page 17 of your atlas. We will also be looking at the other Warsaw Pact countries."
A hand went up in the classroom. Moore looked up and cringed slightly as he saw that it was Susan Foreman.
"Yes, Susan?" he asked cautiously.
"Sir, has the Berlin Wall come down yet?"
There was sniggering around the classroom. Susan frowned, upset by the ridicule of her peers.
"Of course it hasn't, Susan, and you should know that. Don't you watch the television news?"
She shook her head. "Grandfather says television will cause the stagnation of the human race, unless you are careful."
Moore sighed. "The Berlin Wall will not come down in our lifetimes. We will not have peace with Russia for many decades, if ever."
He wasn't sure, but as he turned away, he could have sworn that he heard Susan mutter, "You're wrong."
***
"Well, that is strange, I suppose," Ian commented. He thought for a long moment. "There was one incident in a science lesson that I found rather odd."
***
"...and that's how glass is produced. Now, does anyone have any questions?"
A number of hands went up. He nodded to one of the boys. "Yes, Charlie?"
"Do you see the glass half full, sir, or the glass half empty?"
Ian smiled as the class dissolved into sniggers. "I think that's a question for a philosophy lecturer, don't you?"
The hands went up again. He selected another. "Susan?"
"Wouldn't it be safer, easier and cheaper to use transparent aluminium?"
The class fell silent. For a moment, Ian didn't know what to say.
"Transparent aluminium doesn't exist, Susan. At least not outside science fiction comics."
Susan's head drooped and she seemed to be suddenly fascinated in the desk in front of her.
"Sorry, sir. It's a bit too early."
Now Ian was intrigued. "What do you mean by that Susan?"
She looked up now and he saw uncertainty cloud her eyes. "I, er, meant that it might be a reality, in about sixty years time."
***
"But it was like she knew it would happen," Ian told Moore.
The other teacher shook his head. "She's certainly a strange girl. One of the oddest pupils I've ever taught."
The two men sat in reflective silence for a few minutes, until the sound of a bell broke their reverie.
Both glanced at the clock on the wall. "I didn't realise it was break time," Ian commented. "I should get these books marked and back for my next lesson."
"Time I wasn't here either," said Joe Moore. "Thanks for listening."
Ian nodded. "It's been an interesting insight." As he gathered up the books he had been marking, Ian wondered if there would be any unexplained incidents with Susan Foreman before the day was complete.
***
The Doctor prowled the corridors of the TARDIS. The background hum of the Ship was comforting around him, giving him a sense of calm. He enjoyed sometimes just walking through the little used areas of the Ship, seeing what new things were waiting to be discovered.
He had been travelling with Susan for some time now, but there were still many parts of the TARDIS he had never visited. The craft was so vast it was difficult to keep track of it all sometimes. Maybe he should invest in a bicycle, while he was on Earth. It would make travelling the corridors easier on his feet.
The Doctor was about to push open a new door when he heard Susan calling. Good, she was home from her school. She could assist him in recalibrating the lateral balance cones.
Turning away from the door, he headed back the way he had come. The mystery behind the door would have to wait for another day.
***
Barbara pushed open her front door after an exhausting day. She dropped her keys onto the hall table and picked up the mail from her doormat.
The first was her electric bill. That could be paid on Saturday. The second was a postcard from her friend Jill, who was visiting Paris with a group of friends. She had invited Barbara, but it was during term time and she didn't think the school would be happy with her taking holiday time during her first term. Maybe next year.
The third was a letter. She recognised the handwriting instantly. Smiling, she left the other two pieces of mail beside her keys and carried the letter through to the kitchen.
She put the kettle on and when it boiled, made herself a strong cup of coffee. Taking the cup and saucer, along with the still unopened letter, she walked through to the living room and settled herself into her favourite armchair.
The letter was from Cousin Linda. She was fine, as were Martin, Jessica and Brian. They had been to Twycross Zoo a couple of weekends ago and the twins had really enjoyed themselves. They had only ever seen Elephants and Giraffes on the television and seeing them in the flesh really made their day.
Linda was planning another trip to London and wanted the two of them to meet up. She suggested some time in October and asked that Barbara write back and confirm.
She ended the letter by saying that her Mum, Barbara's Aunt Kath, was going into hospital in a few weeks to have an in-growing toenail removed.
Barbara smiled as she folded the letter back into its envelope. She enjoyed getting letters from Linda almost as much as she enjoyed visits from her Cousin. Being an only child, she was closer to Linda then most of her other relatives.
Getting up from the armchair, she settled herself into the desk chair in front of her bureau. Pulling down the flap, she found a clean sheet of paper and started composing her letter to Linda.
***
Susan stood in a corner of the playground, watching the young children of Earth, playing and fighting, shouting and running. She found their behaviour fascinating. The young people of her world were much more refined, dignified and boring. The kids here were so refreshing, so liberated. She found herself smiling.
"Little brats!" said a voice beside her. Susan turned to see Karen and Mary, looking over the same scene as she was.
"I hate kids," Mary said, deferring to Karen as usual. "I'm never going to have kids when I leave school."
Karen nodded. "Me neither. All they do is scream and eat. No way am I going to have any."
"But what about when you were their age?" Susan said reasonably. "Didn't you act just like that?"
Both girls looked at her as if she had grown an extra head. Karen turned on her heel and headed back for the school building, Mary following a pace behind.
Susan shook her head. She still didn't understand the human mind. It would take a lot of further study.
***
The Doctor replaced the roundel and dusted his hands on his waistcoat. That was the video circuits of the main scanner back online. He smiled. Repairs were going well. Everything should be working by Christmas, Earth time.
He retrieved his jacket from the back of the chair where he had placed it. Then he remembered something he had thought of the other day. A bicycle. What an excellent idea!
Whistling a merry tune, he headed off for the console room. From there, he would make his way to the nearest bicycle shop and purchase a means of navigating the TARDIS corridors much quicker.
