Blood Sisters(16)

A locket.

Still lying against warm skin.

A stranger’s voice.

Floating in and out.

A siren.

Then nothing.

‘Nothing comes of nothing.’

I learned that somewhere.

Where?

When?

Or am I just imagining all of this?





8


November 2016


Kitty


How long had she been in this room all on her own? Hard to know. They’d definitely given her more than three meals. Cereal. Cottage pie. Omelette. She could remember a lasagne, too.

The cottage pie had made a terrible mess on the floor when she’d chucked it. It had even got into the chair spokes. The lasagne had been muckier still.

‘Naughty girl,’ scolded Fussy Carer, getting down on her knees.

‘It’s your fault,’ Kitty said, thumping her good fist on the food tray. ‘I’ve told you before. Well, tried to. I went off meat after that programme about cows.’

‘No good babbling like that. You’re not the one who’s going to be late home now.’

Home. Kitty ran the word round in her head. Home was what you saw on television with people lying on sofas or having arguments like in EastEnders. But she also knew that real ‘home’ was where Friday Mum lived. At least, she thought so. She just couldn’t remember ever being there.

There wasn’t a television here in this room they’d put her in. Just four white walls and a mattress. No bed frame because she might hurt herself on it. Just like she’d hurt her head on the wheelchair.

‘That’s a right old bruise you’ve got there,’ said Fussy Carer, more gently this time. ‘Does it still hurt?’

Of course it bloody hurt. And the worst thing was that Barbara had seen her bang her head on the chair with anger. What would she think?

But as soon as she thought of Barbara, her words came back to her. ‘Boys can be friends too.’

Then she’d had to scream and lash out all over again.

Six more meals passed. That meant two days.

Someone was coming. Kitty could hear approaching footsteps in the corridor. She squeezed her good hand into a ball with fear.

‘Ah, there you are.’

Phew! It was Bossy Supervisor. Irritation followed relief. Where else was she bloody well going to be? She was the one who’d stuck her in a room away from everyone else in case she upset the other ‘residents’. It almost made them sound like they were in a hotel. If only. She’d seen hotels on telly and they looked really cool.

‘I hear you’ve been a good girl at last. No more meals on the floor. Or headbanging.’ Bossy Supervisor was addressing her as though she were a child. ‘If I let you go back to your old room, will you continue to behave?’

Kitty nodded her head. But instead it came out as a shake. Left to right. Right to left.

‘No?’ There was a frown.

Maybe if she shook her head from side to side, it would go the other way. Sometimes that worked. Up and down. Down and up. Thank goodness for that.

‘Very well.’ Bossy Supervisor didn’t look that convinced. ‘But you behave. Got it?’

Smiley Carer was waiting in her proper room. ‘We’ve had someone new join us since you’ve been away. Nice young man. I think you’ve seen him before. Johnny, he’s called. Charming everyone he is.’

‘YES, YES, YES!’

‘Excited, are you? It is nice to have a fresh face. I agree with that.’

This carer was one of the ones who pretended to know what you said. They usually got it wrong but this time she was in the right ballpark. ‘Sharing with Duncan, he is. Rather him than me, I can tell you.’

Kitty couldn’t agree more. Duncan had a habit of scratching himself raw as though he had fleas. (He didn’t.) There didn’t seem any real reason for the scratching. But when they had bound his hands, Duncan cried. So instead he wore gloves.

Smiley Carer had put her into some new clothes and was wheeling her into the day lounge. Johnny would be here! Kitty put her good hand up to the hair peeping out from under the helmet. ‘Do I look all right?’ she asked. If only she was allowed a mirror in her room! But because of her headbanging, it had been taken away. Hummmm. Hummmm.

‘I know! Pleased to be back, aren’t you? Here’s Kitty, everyone!’

This was announced as if she’d just come back from holiday like the ones on television which were dirt cheap if you booked super quick. ‘Hello!’ said Johnny.

But then his face turned scared. ‘What have they done to you?’

Kitty’s cheeks began to burn. What did he mean?

Duncan cut in. ‘You’ve got a big gap in your teeth. Ugly, ugly.’

‘That’s enough, Duncan,’ said the carer quickly. ‘We know about that. It’s where she hit her head on the chair. The dentist will sort it.’

Kitty felt a hot tear sliding down her cheek.

‘I think you look lovely,’ said Johnny. Then he walked over and put out his hand and actually held hers.

Kitty thought she was going to die of happiness.

‘I think we’d better let go of our hands, shall we? Now, is everyone ready for Barbara? She’s coming straight after lunch for some more band practice. Meanwhile, I’ve got some exciting news! There’s going to be a concert and we’re going to invite your families.’