The queue in the chemists seemed longer than usual, and Keith felt hot and clammy as he waited. The female assistant behind the counter, had shoulder length blond hair and immaculate make-up. Dressed in her white crisp uniform, she looked like the type that never got flustered however many people were waiting for her attention. Keith, just by looking at her, took an instant dislike. She, he thought, would be exactly the same as the other women at the school, officious and vicious. Men just wear a uniform but for women it's different, he thought to himself. Women always have to make a big thing about everything. Even that small matter of wearing a uniform has to be turned into some sort of fashion statement. A statement that they manage to both show and hide, making themselves look sweet and innocent.

When it was Keith's turn, the assistant held out her hand for the prescription, and Keith noticed the flash of her glittery nail varnish. 'Fashion,' he huffed to himself, as she told him he would have to wait up to 20 minutes for his prescription. He was desperate for fresh air, so explained that he had a bit of shopping to do and would call back later.

He made his way to the library, a rather shabby old building setback slightly from the road. In front of the building there was a bench, so he sat down. Across the road there were people coming and going from the local supermarket. His eyes were drawn to two ladies, both of whom had young children. Whilst these two ladies were standing talking to each other, their children were quickly becoming bored of standing still, and they began to run around, close to the road. The two ladies seemed to be totally oblivious to what their children were doing. Keith wondered why such women were never in trouble for neglecting their children as they gossiped. It seemed to him that life was unfair. Some people seemed doomed to be persecuted whilst others flourished.

The sun was warm and there was a welcome breeze making Keith content to sit there for some time, lost in a world of his own. He wondered how this business would end. As a young man he had worked and worked to support his family. He had worked harder than he thought he was capable, and often to the point of exhaustion. Surely he had already proven his worth, his love, his ability to care. Now, at his age, he wondered why women should choose to think that he might be an uncaring devious bastard, who wished to harm their children. Would he ever be able to forgive them or would he always have deep venomous feelings towards women. All these questions with no answers, it was driving him insane.

As he sat there, he tried desperately to reappraise his life. He had never been accused of such a serious matter before, or been in a position where he was unable to prove himself. He felt alone and frustrated, even, to a point, out of control. The world seemed a hostile place, and whenever people spoke to him, he found himself mistrusting them. The love, he and his wife once shared, was now tinged and tainted with doubt. There had always been unspoilt trust between them, now he felt that these women were taking his wife, or at least part of her away from him. He didn't know the exact details of the allegations made against him, so he wasn't able to refute them. What he did know, however, was that he had had no dealings with these girls, other than the very open dealings with them in the office. He had done nothing improper to them, but in his worst moments of despair, he anticipated that it might be their word against his, and there were two of them, backed, or even piloted by their parents.