(no subject)

Fry felt a sense of relief when he saw Max sitting at the back of the class this morning. Mrs Pink seems a little nervous, and if anything more gushing than ever. Fry is glad for once to go outside for break, knowing that Max is following him around.

"Don't look so worried." Max says, sitting opposite Mrs Pink at the teachers' desk during afternoon break. "I'm here to help, remember."

"I've failed with him and I don't know why." Mrs Pink says. "I've always tried to be so kind to him but he won't even look at me."

"I think he finds your kindness confusing." Max says gently. "Fry looks to you for direction, and if you are always nice even when he is doing things he shouldn't, he doesn't know where he stands. You must tell him when he is wrong, or he will have to unlearn a behaviour. Telling him subtle things, like 'That's quite a lot of glue' or just 'Fry, please', won't explain to him that he's doing something incorrect."

Mrs Pink nods. Max continues.

"Some of your assignments for him are much too hard. He may have a reading age of ten but emotionally he is still a very little boy. It is easy to forget he is five, because he speaks like a much older child. But he may never be able to write stories or fabricate new material. You need to greatly simplify some of his work."

"I thought it was fairly straightforward, I mean, it was just a short story using some pictures. And he can read stories..."

"Your seven-year-olds are more than likely capable. You'll need to help him, by breaking things down into steps, or have the TA sit with him, for something this hard." Max says. "And give him lots and lots of encouragement when he gets the idea."

Mrs Pink nods.

"Your other main issue at the moment is playtime." Max says. "The social gap between him and the other kids in his class is changing - the girls are getting kinder, the boys are getting more boisterous. You mentioned his behaviour in the afternoon is much better when he's had lunch break at chess club or his music lesson, so I think he'd benefit from a little more structure."

***

Having noticed that Max didn't come outside with him, Fry excuses himself for the bathroom and creeps down the end of the corridor. He knows he's not meant to be inside the school during break time, but he's a bit worried that Max will leave without coming to talk to him.

But as Max comes out, before Fry can come over, he's intercepted by Bradley, who was waiting hidden the other side of the door.

"What are YOU doing here?" Bradley demands Max. "Why can't you leave me alone?"

"I'm not here for you." Max says, patiently. "How are you settling in?"

"I'm not talking to you, get lost!" Bradley shouts.

Fry strides out from his hiding place.

"Max is my friend, don't yell at him." he says, stepping between Bradley and his psychologist.

"Oh, Fry, it's okay, I've got this." Max says.

"He's an idiot, and he's got stupid tattoos like a chav." Bradley says to Fry.

Mrs Pink comes out of the classroom and says in the firmest voice she's ever mustered.

"Bradley Stephenson, don't speak to a school visitor like that." she says. "And that word is not acceptable."

"Yeah, chav is classist." Fry says. "Max isn't a chav, he's a psychologist, and his tattoos are cool."

Bradley, who has never heard Mrs Pink tell anyone off firmly before either, sheepishly apologises to Max, and goes back outside.

"He's a snot." Fry comments.

"That's not okay either." Mrs Pink says, with her best firm face. "You must not call names, even if someone else does it first."

Fry glances at her. Her big frowny face and deep voice match being told off, and he nods.

"I am sorry."

"Good boy." Max nods, and smiles at the teacher too. "Fry, would you like to do some more activities in lunch time, rather than being in the playground so much?"

Fry looks up at him.

"When can I start?"