Yeah, I’m gonna back date this because I am a completionist. The power (including the internet) went out yesterday right when I was settling in to my alone time for the evening and then it became a To Do for complex reasons and I didn’t get this done. So here’s number 8…

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Uniforms itch. And they’re tight. And annoying. And stupid.

At least that’s what Agatha was thinking as she stood outside the headmistresses office with her demerit slip. She still thought all those things but she was feeling far less confident about it now.

The door opened wide and Miss Ravenson motioned her inside and indicated the space in front of her desk. A younger girl slipped past them, rearranging her blazer and tie as she went and yet another girl was standing in the corner, quietly sniffling.

This was the routine. The embarrassment was the point.

“How many uniform demerits this week, young lady?”

It’s possible Agatha had been seen by the head every Friday morning for several weeks. She fidgeted, uncomfortable, because today her uniform was immaculate and her tie felt too tight and her knickers were pinching her thighs and her stiff school shoes were just stiff school shoes.

This was the most uniform demerits she’d ever gotten and she was fairly sure her form tutor handed them out more gleefully this week.

“Twelve, Miss.”

“Agatha! Twelve is atrocious. I think you need a more severe lesson. Today you’ll take six over your knickers and six on your hands.”

Agatha’s stomach dropped. She’d never gotten the belt on her hands before.

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“Tomorrow” will be Part 2