Every desk in the classroom had a microphone that relayed sound to the teacher’s hearing aid. But the hearing aid was unreliable. Its sensitivity fluctuated. Her students knew this. On days she turned her head to hear them they knew it was weak. She was weak. They would start mouthing words to each other like extras in a film. She’d raise the volume on the aid. They’d continue mouthing and she’d raise it again. Then they’d explode, smashing their fists on desks and screaming a demented cacophony of obscenities. Mrs Potter suffered a nervous breakdown. She lost her hearing too.