‘I’m rather worried about Jim, Mr and Mrs Higgins.’ The head looked up over his glasses.

‘Oh,’ said Mr. Higgins, ‘Really? We’ve never ‘ad no …’

‘… 'E's never a problem at 'ome,’ interrupted Mrs. Higgins.

‘Tidies his room …’

‘… wivout asking …’

‘Goes to bed at the right time …

‘… no arguments.’

‘ ‘elps with the washing up, too.”

*****

Outside, below the head’s office, a playground full of pupils were playing.

Next to the bins, at the far end, a small boy stood apart, looking up towards the head teacher's window. His nostrils flared slightly, as if catching a scent. A smile slipped across his lips.

*****

“So, what’s the problem?”

“Ah. Yes. It’s just … I’ve received comments from his teachers …’

‘Comments?’

‘Well ... observations.’

******

In the playground some children were talking.

‘Teacher’s bleedin’ pet, that lad.’

‘Yea. Doesn’t say nuffink to us. Just smiles and puts up ’is ‘and.’

‘Always gives the right answer.’

“Smarmy git.”

“ ‘bout time we taught him a proper lesson.’

*****
The boy by the bins caste his gaze towards the group that was talking. His nose twitched and the same slight smile came and went.

*****

“I gather Jim’s an adopted child, Mr and Mrs Higgins.”

“Yes, headmaster. We were ..."

"... very lucky," continued Mrs Higgins.

"The adoption people was wonderful.”

“Did all the sorting out and form-filling, even gave us the money to look after him proper, like."

"Aye. Told us to make sure Jim fitted in, until he was old enough."

"Old enough to do what?" asked the headmaster.

" S'pose they just meant ..."

"... be a good citizen."

*****

The group in the playground were walking towards the small boy standing by the bins.

"Let's gerr'im!"

*****

"So what is it, Headmaster? What are these erm … observations from your teachers?"

"Well, Mr. And Mrs Higgins. In all the years I've taught, I've never known anything like it. It's just that he gets nothing wrong. In fact, his teachers feel he already knows more than they do. They came to me yesterday to ask if I would have him removed from the school.

*****

The small boy, standing by the bins, watched as the group from the other side of the playground were running towards him. He opening a bin, took something out and pointed it towards his would-be assailants.

There was a faint hiss. The charging children disappeared. A slimy black pool appeared where they had been.

*****

"Yes. They feel a little unsettled by him, undermined. Just a second. Did you hear the bell go?"

"No."

"It's still break time and I don't hear any noise from outside."

The headmaster went to the window. The playground below was empty - empty except for a large, glistening black pool and a small boy standing by the bins. “It’s Jim. And what's that in his hand?"

*****

On the other side of the playground, Jim, the extra-terrestrial, raised his weapon ...