Miss Agnes Adderstone

Miss Adderstone’s eyes glinted spitefully as she took a tape measure from her pocket. She pulled the metal strip out and made excited slurping noises as she sucked on her loose false teeth.

Molly braced herself to face the wiry spinster, who, with her short grey hair and her hairy face, looked more like a Mr than a Miss.

Miss Adderstone picked up Molly’s toothbrush. Molly’s heart sank. She knew what was coming next: Miss Adderstone’s favourite punishment.

Miss Adderstone glared at Molly with her dull, black eyes. Her face heaved in a monstrous way as her tongue dislodged her teeth and moved them around in her mouth before settling them back down on her gums. She thrust the toothbrush at Molly.

‘This week you will be toilet monitor. I want the toilets spotless, Molly, and this is the brush you’ll be using. And don’t think you can get away with using the toilet brush, because I’ll be watching you.’