Mrs Sorensen said

Ruby’s not here today

and asked if we’d seen her

since yesterday home time

or knew where she’d gone.

We talked about how

it is very important

to tell a teacher

if something is wrong.

We talked about how

keeping a secret

is sometimes the wrong thing to do.

 

Mrs Sorensen said

Ruby’s not coming back

because she has died

and if we are sad

it is OK to cry.

We talked about why

we don’t talk to strangers

or go anywhere

without telling our mum.

We talked about how

keeping a secret

is sometimes the wrong thing to do.

 

Mrs Sorensen said

a man was arrested

and if he did do it

he will be locked up

for a very long time.

We talked about how

people help the police

if they see something happen

and they are called witnesses.

We talked about how

keeping a secret

is sometimes the wrong thing to do.

 

So I put my hand up.

 

Mrs Sorensen said

I was very brave.

 

(Originally published in 'More Exhibitionism', Stairwell Books 2016)