I have a draft page in the way on my iPad screen

You have encountered the iPadOS “Shelf” - this being a feature of the revised iPadOS multitasking environment. 

Each App - such as Mail, Safari, Notes, Calendar, etc. - has its own corresponding shelf.

Individual App windows can be closed directly from the Shelf; just swipe the unwanted thumbnail off the top of the screen. Note however, that Multitasking and associated Shelf functions cannot be disabled.

This article from Appleinsider has a useful explanation of this feature along with many of the updates to multitasking:

https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/08/12/how-to-master-multitasking-on-ipad-and-ipad-pro-in-ipados-15

The iPad User Guide is also a rich source of frequently overlooked information. The Guide is available both online using a web browser (such as Safari), or as an Apple Books download:

iPad User Guide - Apple Support

https://books.apple.com/book/id1567104892

Hooterridge,

You might try double clicking your home button to show your open windows (the App Switcher)

Or you can get to the App Switcher by swiping up from the bottom edge and pausing in the center of the screen

Switch between apps on iPad - Apple Support

Then you can swipe some windows closed

That might solve your problem

The latest Apple Books version of the iPad User Guide is available at:

https://books.apple.com/us/book/ipad-user-guide/id6443147167