"Aye ye gotta keep a firm hand on 'em," Ben reflected. "There's plenty there that haven't been raised right. You gotta draw clear lines, or they'll think they can do whatever they like." He stared out over the water. He had always been suspicious of teachers after the trouble they had had with some in the past. But Mr. Meijer seemed genuinely interested in the children's wellbeing. He turned back to the teacher. "And if it's ever our Bram that's misbehavin', ye tell me. I know 'e can be a handful, but he knows I don't accept 'im doin' wrong."