He stopped and looked up at the house, his heart beating loudly in his ears. He mustn't let his thoughts run away, he told himself. She might not be happy to see him. She might not like being disturbed on a weekend. Jamie swallowed nervously. He had come this far - he had to go on. Tucking his project firmly under his arm, he walked up to the solid wooden door. He pressed the door-bell but did not hear it ring. He stood back and waited, listening for the 'click-clack' of Miss Jackson's high heels, the sounds of her footsteps very familiar to the boy. There was no response so Jamie pressed the button again. After a minute or so, he realised the bell was probably not working so he knocked on the door, the solid timber making very little noise and hurting his knuckles. Again, there was no response. He stood there frustrated, not knowing what to do. He didn't want to give up now that he'd come so far. He went up to the door to try knocking again, but thought he heard something from inside just as he raised his fist. He pressed his ear against the door and listened carefully. There! He heard a muffled sound from inside. Maybe Miss Jackson had been hurt! Maybe her house had been broken into and she had been tied up or beaten! Jamie stood stock still holding his breath and listening intently. Yes! There it was again! It sounded like muffled crying out! He had to do something. What if the burglar (if it was one) was still be inside? He had to be careful!

Cautiously, Jamie turned the door handle, expecting the door to be locked. It wasn't. The door handle turned and Jamie slowly pushed the door open, hoping it didn't squeak. He listened as the opening widened. He could hear muffled sounds quite clearly now, as though someone was trying to get free of bindings or struggling. Jamie stepped into the hallway and carefully closed the door quietly behind him, his heart pounding noisily in his ears, his stomach churning. He began creeping furtively down the dim hallway towards where the sounds seemed to be coming from. There was an archway off the hall, near the end, light streaming through it and making a bright patch on the worn carpet of the hallway. The sounds were getting louder as he got nearer to the arch. He was certain it was Miss Jackson and she sounded scared and exhausted - he could hear her moaning and gasping for breath and she seemed to be struggling. Near the arch was an umbrella stand and Jamie carefully took down the umbrella hanging from it. It had a wooden handle he could use as a weapon if there was an intruder in with his teacher.

His real weapon, though, so he thought, was surprise. Who ever was in the room didn't know he was there. If he could surprise the intruder, maybe he would run away, thinking it was someone other than a young boy. At least...that's what Jamie hoped! He edged closer and closer to the archway, the noises now quite clear. He could hear sounds of a struggle as well as Miss Jackson's gasps. He thought he could hear a man grunting and he sounded as though he was punching Miss Jackson. Jamie heard his teacher cry out and he knew he had to act. Plucking up every ounce of courage, he burst through the archway holding his weapon up and giving the loudest kung-fu yell he could.

"YYYYAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!"

"WHAT THE FU...!!!!"

"Aaaaah!"

Jamie came to a sudden stop! He gazed in confusion at the spectacle before him, his thoughts suddenly in turmoil. He was stunned!

"JAMIE?! What the hell are you...?".....(cont)