Rose Dixon (left) pleads with Mr. Planter not to suspend her son Dennis (right) for four days. Shots directed by Rosie Murray. Dennis and Mr. Planter's outfit courtesy of Carby's Discount Centre. Office provided by Holy Trinity High School. - Winston Sill

By Wednesday Reed, STAR Writer

EPISODE 1

Rose Dixon is a teacher, a mother and wife. In an ideal world, she would be happily married to a husband who is madly in love with her, and a son who is a model of good behaviour. But, with Rose that is not the case and her life's different. Her son frequently finds himself in trouble at school and her husband less than loving. But, it is the actions of her son that will bring her to stare death in the face and leave her to wonder if the sun also rises.

The boy ran down the street as fast as he could. He ran faster than he'd ever run in his life. He ran at the speed only those who fear for their lives can reach. He didn't look behind him. He knew they were there. Somewhere. His heart pounded in his chest so hard he felt it might explode. BOOD-OOP! BOOD-OOP! BOOD-OOP! He reached a gully and jumped into it. The shock of his legs coming into hard contact with the concrete jerked through his body and slowed him momentarily. His knees buckled but desperation was stronger than pain. Desperation allowed him to ignore the gully's filth. He could feel blood and sweat coursing down his face, streaking down his chest and soaking into his shirt which now clung to him. He continued to run. He ran until exhaustion finally felled him.

But he didn't stop moving. He crawled through the dog faeces, slime and all the other kinds of garbage most of which shouldn't be named.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Dixon but my decision cannot be reversed."

The words washed over Rose without really penetrating. She turned and looked at the walls of the principal's office. The back wall was filled with trophies that had been won by various students over the years. The golden boy in the eternal pose of a runner atop one of the larger trophies attracted her attention. Her boy could have been like that. His future had seemed so bright. He used to love running. He started running before he really learnt to walk. Now he seemed to have run away from her.

"Mrs. Dixon are you listening to me?" The voice called to Rose from far away.

"Mrs. Dixon?" the urgency tugged her back.

"Yes Mr. Planter. I understand your position." She turned and looked at the young man slouched in the chair in the corner of the room. His head was slightly bowed and it could mean that he was a little repentant or maybe it was merely indifference. Rose didn't know which it was. "My son has been suspended for four days." Taking a deep breath she clutched her handbag beneath her arm and rose.

"Mrs. Dixon, if he does not shape up, your son is headed for a world of trouble and this school will not tolerate such shenanigans. We are a school for young men not hooligans."

Rose straightened her back a little more and gave the principal a strained smile, her even white teeth making a very brief appearance. She looked at the man whose thick black moustache seemed to create a permanent frown, "I said I understand your position." She turned to the boy again. "Come," she said and wrapped her dignity so tightly around her she could barely breathe. She opened the door and swept out of the room. The silent figure followed in her wake.

Next: Rose goes home to face her well intentioned but nagging mother who blames her failure to properly discipline Dennis as the reason behind his suspension.