Holding and Folding

It is fairly standard practice for valuables to be collected before PE lessons.

Before a particular football lesson, I asked for all personal valuables to be handed in for safe keeping.

One 14-year-old boy however was extremely reluctant to hand his valuables over.

I was aware that once a month this pupil would, after school, head off to a local market.
On these occasions, unknown to me, the said boy would always be carrying a significant amount of cash.

Despite requests to keep valuables safe within the PE Office, pointing out the dangers of leaving money in the changing rooms, he steadfastly refused, saying that he had a safe place to secrete his possessions.

It was only during a game of football that the ‘secret place’ was revealed as his partially laced and bulging boot flew off and loose £10 and £20 notes fluttered all over the pitch in the gusty conditions.

Up to that point players were moving around at a normal pace but for some reason chasing and collecting fluttering bank notes saw a distinct increase in movement !