Report Just In...

Schoolboy, Tom has been up before his mother all week, checking if the postman has delivered his school report. He’d already told his mother, Dawn, that due to a teacher’s strike, there’d be no report this term. It is the last day of term, and Tom is confident that his plan is working. However, as Dawn prepares his breakfast of boiled eggs, she reveals that a letter was delivered and missed by her devious son. As Dawn surmises what horrors may lie inside the envelope, Tom comes clean and explains that he has not performed well this term. Dawn opens the envelope and begins to read the contents. To her and her son’s surprise, the report is glowing. All the subjects Tom admitted to failing in featured glowing comments. Dawn reveals her pride in Tom, and Tom happily laps up the praise. Tom finishes his breakfast and fetches his coat. While he does, Dawn notices the form tutor’s comment. The ever-present smile plastered across her face since she opened the envelope disappears. The report is another Tom’s report – a studious and dedicated Tom. Not her son. It was clearly sent in error. She angrily tells her crestfallen son to take it back to school and swap it for the one that the other ‘Tom’ would have received. She turns her back to write a note explaining that on the envelope, but when she turns back, the kitchen door is open and no son can be seen.