Chris Hanley

I was only two bites into a corned beef and pickle sandwich and surrounded by unmarked exam papers when one of my students, Nod Clay, walked up and asked me to write him a reference.

‘You got a job interview Nod?’

‘No it’s for court, for assault.’

‘What sort of assault?’

‘With a brick.’

‘Jesus Nod…’

I pushed my chair away from the desk and folded my arms.