The next problem was one Shan was asked to help with.

Megan was getting seriously overweight. Her doctor had told her that all the indicators were she was putting too much strain on her heart, so she had to start dieting, right now!

Trouble was, Megan was addicted to sweet things. Heavily so. So much so, that when her parents took her debit cards away, forbade her from carrying cash and started paying the college directly for everything, she just started shoplifting instead and, unfortunately, she was very good at it, as she’d never been caught.

Her mother only found out when she found wrappers in Megan’s pockets when she was hanging up her blazer (Moral No.1: tidy up your own stuff…!).

Furious, she confronted Megan. Megan just burst out crying, saying that she’d tried everything…

At her wits end, Megan’s mother, Sandy, phoned Shan. She had known Shan for years, and was ‘aware’ of the other things she could do, having worked as a Maid in the past for a family that Shan had ‘helped’…

Shan, still in her helping mood at the moment, said she would see what she could do, but both the College and Sandy would have to trust her implicitly. Sandy, not knowing what else to do, agreed.

Sandy only found out that plans were in place when an envelope was delivered to her from Samoto. The envelope contained keys, as well as instructions for dressing Megan in a rather special cape and uniform which she would wear all the time she was out. Sandy and the College were both fully aware that it was becoming a ‘life or death’ situation for Megan, and both understood the consequences. They both, therefore, agreed and promised to police the ‘wearing’ of her new cape and uniform.

Simply put, the cape was rubber, thick, like a ladies raincape. It was in the College colours, with their logo on the front. From the outside it looked perfectly ordinary, apart from being a little old-fashioned.

A strap between her legs stopped Megan from pulling it off. Under the cape, her arms were pinned behind her by an armbinder. Megan would be completely unable to do anything for herself once leaving home or school until she got to her destination. The pass on a long lanyard round her neck enabled her to still use the bus, but only bus routes between college and home.

That morning, the new uniform also arrived by express courier.

Sandy, having read the instructions, called Megan in and, before she could say anything, dressed her in it and looped the lanyard with the bus pass over her neck.

“What the hell, mum!”, Megan yelled. “I can’t use my arms!”

“That’s the idea, kid”, said Sandy. “No more food shops for you.”

Sandy then explained to the aghast Megan that her tutor, Ms Phillips, had been told about her health problems and was quite happy to help. She had the set of keys to undo the uniform when Megan was on the school grounds and would lock her back in it when she left.

“Any activities outside school are OFF until your weight is down to a sensible level”, said Sandy. “Also, if you even attempt to leave the school without wearing your new uniform, you will be arrested and charged with truancy, as well as being reported for all the shoplifting that you have done. I’m sure Mrs Murphy in the Stores would be very interested to find out what’s been happening with her stock…!”

“Ms Phillips will expect you 15 minutes before college starts to undress you, and 15 minutes after college ends to dress you. Don’t you dare be late or try and get out of it.”

Sandy then just opened the front door, pushed Megan out, and shut it behind her. A tear fell down her cheek, but she knew they were doing the right thing. Megan couldn’t have lasted much longer the way she was…!