The Promise Read online

  ‘Children’s homes are nothing but dumps full of reject kids. This place is shit.’

  Rose knew that Georgie was angry, that she was rebelling. For now she’d give her the benefit of the doubt, and let her off for her appalling manners. However, Mrs Reed, the House Manager, had other ideas.

  ‘Er, that’s enough thank you, Georgie. We don’t use that kind of language around here,’ Mrs Reed kept her tone light but stern. She’d had children in here from all walks of life, all kinds of situations. Most of them had endured the worst abuse and neglect she’d ever come across. Even so, she always started as she meant to go on. Firm but fair; these children needed some normality restored in their lives. They needed some common ground and here was as good as any place to start. ‘I think that you’ll find the children around here are lovely; they are no different to you and your sister. They just need that extra bit of support.’

  ‘What? So I can’t say shit?’ Georgie quipped. ‘What about fuck? Is that any better?’

  Mrs Reed looked at Rose; they both knew exactly what was going on here.

  Marnie was crying, screaming, clearly distraught. Georgie was showing her distress in another way. She was lashing out at them, trying to get a reaction. Seeing how far she could push them both. It was common practice for children to act this way. Mrs Reed had seen and heard it all a thousand times before.

  Taking a deep breath before answering, her voice remained steady and calm, showing no reaction at all.

  ‘No, Georgie. We don’t use any words like that here either. Thank you.’ Tight lipped, Mrs Reed refused to rise to Georgie’s bait.

  The child’s language didn’t surprise her in the slightest. In fact, more often these days Mrs Reed almost expected it. It was how a lot of parents seemed to communicate with their children.

  Name-calling, put-downs, obscenities.

  Georgie was seeing how long it took until the woman snapped.

  Well, the child would have a long wait.

  Mrs Reed had the patience of a saint when it came to looking after the children in her care. Twenty years she’d been doing this job and she’d yet to have a child come through her door that she hadn’t been able to reach out and get through to.

  Rose had already briefed her on what Georgie and Marnie had been through in the past twenty-four hours, and Mrs Reed felt nothing but compassion for them both.

  ‘Stupid bitch,’ Georgie muttered under her breath.

  Worried that Georgie was going to continue giving Mrs Reed nothing but a mouthful of abuse, Rose shook her head in dismay.

  ‘Georgie. Please. Mrs Reed has been very kind to give you and Marnie a place to stay here.’ She shook her head at Georgie despairingly. ‘If it wasn’t for her, you and Marnie would have both had to go into separate foster homes. This was the only way that I could keep you both together. I know this is really hard for you, but all Mrs Reed and I are doing is trying to help you.’

  Rose hated to sound so stern but she’d already fought tooth and nail to get Georgie and Marnie a placement together here at Rainbow House. The children’s home was already full to capacity. Mrs Reed had thrown Rose a favour by making room for the girls and the last thing that Rose wanted was for Georgie to jeopardise their placement here the minute they’d walked in through the door.

  Sensing the tension, Mrs Reed shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. ‘It’s okay, Rose.’ She nodded. ‘Don’t you be worrying about me. It’s perfectly normal for the girls so feel anxious. They always do on the first night. I don’t take this kind of talk personally. Water off a duck’s back, my lovey!’ She smiled at Georgie too. ‘You’ll be grand after a good night’s sleep. I expect you’re both exhausted too, aren’t you?’

  Mrs Reed’s words of comfort only seemed to antagonise Marnie more.

  She began wailing louder. ‘I don’t want to sleep here. I want my mummy. I don’t want to be here. Take me home. Take me home,’ she sobbed.

  ‘It’s okay, Marnie. It won’t be for ever. Just get some sleep tonight, darling.’ Rose hugged the girl tightly to her. ‘Tomorrow we can sit down together and talk everything through. You’re not on your own.’

  ‘But I don’t want to talk to you. I want to go home. I want my mummy.’

  Marnie was kicking out. Working herself up into such a state, her whole body shook violently.

  Rose was starting to look worried. Nothing she said or did was helping. The child had been like this for well over an hour – screaming so loud that her face was a shade of purple, her eyes bulging in her head.

  ‘Do you know how much longer he’s going to be?’ Rose asked, hating seeing the poor child so distressed, so relentless. She’d hoped that she would have burned herself out in the car journey here, and slept, so that they didn’t need to get the doctor in, but that clearly wasn’t going to be the case.

  Marnie hadn’t let up. If anything, she was working herself up into more and more of a state.

  ‘He’s on his way. I’d say another five minutes or so.’

  Eyeing the women dubiously, Georgie bristled. ‘Who’s on their way?’

  The women were being guarded about something. Something about her and her sister.

  Mrs Reed, seeing the angry look on Georgie’s face, decided that it was only fair she was honest with the older child.

  ‘It’s nothing to worry about, Georgie. We’ve just asked the doctor to call in so that he can make sure you’re both okay.’ Mrs Reed tried to assure the girl.

  ‘Why do we need to see a doctor? We’re not sick?’ Confused, Georgie shook her head.

  Rose interrupted: ‘He’s just going to give Marnie some medicine to help her to sleep. She’s had a nasty shock. You both have. The doctor just wants to check you’re both okay.’

  ‘But I don’t want to see a doctor. I don’t want to go sleep. Tell them, Georgie. They can’t make me go to sleep. He’ll get me.’ Wailing loudly, she started thrashing about wildly in Rose’s arms, trying to escape from her clutches. Rose was holding her tightly.

  ‘Who’ll get you? The doctor?’ Rose looked at Georgie, confused. ‘The doctor isn’t going to hurt either of you. He wants to help too.’

  ‘I can’t go to sleep. That’s when he’ll come. The Bogeyman.’

  Marnie was acting deranged. Flinging herself around in a wild rage, trying to break free from Rose’s firm hold. Rose felt helpless. Seeing the child so frantic, she didn’t know what else to do. She was worried that Marnie would fall onto the floor and hit her head. That she’d really hurt herself. She had no choice but to try and restrain her: pin her arms down to her sides to stop her from doing any serious damage to herself. Her actions made Georgie see red.

  ‘Get your hands off of her, you bitch!’

  She launched herself at the social worker. Her mother had been right all along. These people didn’t want to help. They wanted to shut her and Marnie up. They wanted to lock them away. Just like her mother had said they would.

  ‘Get your hands off my sister. You’re hurting her.’

  Georgie was grabbing at Rose. Hitting her with her fists; shouting at the top of her voice.

  ‘Georgie, please, I’m trying to help you.’ Trying her hardest to shield herself from Georgie’s blows, Rose twisted her body away from her.

  ‘Get off my sister.’ Georgie didn’t believe her. Raging, desperate to protect her sister, Georgie was out of control.

  Mrs Reed had no choice but to step in too. Grabbing Georgie she pulled the girl backwards, locking her tightly in her arms.

  Georgie was crying now. Tears of frustration running down her cheeks.

  ‘Why can’t you just leave us both alone. Let go of my sister.’

  Mrs Reed held Georgie tightly, repeating firmly over and over in the child’s ear: ‘It’s okay Georgie. We are not going to hurt you or your sister. We are here to help you. We just want to help you.’

  It worked. Rose watched as, gradually – somehow, Mrs Reed’s words of assurance sunk in. Georgie relaxed; the fight in
side her diminishing.

  Rose spoke softly, truthfully. Praying that she could get through to her.

  ‘Georgie, we are on your side. I wish you would believe me. I’m going to do everything in my power to help you and Marnie. I just wish that you could trust me.’

  ‘My sister doesn’t need a doctor. She only needs me,’ Georgie said. Her eyes flickering as she spoke.

  ‘Okay.’ Rose nodded. Wanting to show that she was listening. ‘Do you think maybe you could calm her down? If you can, I’ll tell the doctor that he isn’t needed.’

  Georgie nodded.

  Mrs Reed let go and Georgie ran to her sister.

  Wrapping her arms around her, she pulled Marnie in close.

  ‘If you stop crying, Marnie, they won’t make the doctor give you the medicine. I promise,’ Georgie said, speaking through her sister’s wretched sobs. ‘Come on, lie down with me, yeah. We can sleep in the bed together.’

  Georgie looked at Mrs Reed for reassurance, and Mrs Reed nodded.

  ‘I’m here, Marnie. I won’t leave you.’

  Marnie’s tears stopped almost instantly. ‘Promise?’ she asked Georgie.

  Rose looked over to Mrs Reed and gave her a small smile, relieved as, finally, the two girls lay down in the bed together, settled and quiet, before the two women left the room.

  Exhausted from crying, Marnie looked up at her sister, her voice almost a whisper. She asked again: ‘Promise me, Georgie?’

  Georgie nodded.

  The fact that her mother was in prison, that she wouldn’t be coming out any time soon was finally starting to hit her. She was all Marnie had in the world now, and Georgie had made a promise to her mother that she would protect her little sister. No matter what.

  ‘Cross my heart. I promise.’

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Staring down at her bowl of cereal, Georgie swished the spoon about in the milk as she chased the cornflakes around the bowl; anything, so that she didn’t have to make eye contact with the group of children sitting directly across from her at the breakfast table.

  This place reminded her of school. The kids were already in their own little clique; she and Marnie were the newcomers and they were treating them both as such.

  Taking a mouthful of food as the other kids all stared back, watching her and Marnie like hawks, Georgie self-consciously chewed her food. Ravenous, she ate slowly, refraining from taking the big hungry mouthfuls that she so wanted to. She hadn’t eaten properly for days at home. Deep pangs of hunger made her hollow stomach growl loudly. Still, she wasn’t going to give these kids the satisfaction of seeing that she was starving. She wasn’t going to give them anything. Her time. Her conversation.

  ‘Eat up, Marnie,’ Georgie said to Marnie who sat silently beside her. A single piece of toast smothered in her favourite chocolate spread remained on the plate, untouched.

  Marnie didn’t answer; instead, she slipped her hand underneath the table, and grasped Georgie’s hand tightly. Twisting her fingers around her sister’s. Anxious and scared.

  ‘Move around, Shaun James is here.’

  There was a flurry of movement as the children all shuffled around the table, moving down a seat to make room for the large chunky boy that had just entered the room.

  Georgie didn’t move.

  She stayed exactly where she was. Still holding her sister’s hand, glad that the attention was finally off of her and Marnie and that the children were now focusing on the boy that approached the table. She wondered why there seemed to be such a sense of panic and urgency suddenly, as if this boy was someone of importance. Raising her eyes out of curiosity, Georgie didn’t think that he looked very important at all.

  A couple of years older than her, maybe fifteen? She wasn’t sure. He was huge though. His stomach protruding over the top of his jeans; even his chunky arms had rolls of fat hanging off them.

  ‘Move it you bender.’ Glaring at one of the kids that hadn’t moved fast enough, Shaun James watched as the kid got up without arguing and scarpered, leaving him to take the seat at the head of the table.

  He grinned, a cocksure smile on his face, then he sat back in the chair and sneered at everyone around him, pleased that his presence in the room was having the desired effect.

  They all knew the score.

  ‘Is that the last chocolate croissant?’ Shaun directed his attention towards Annie.

  Georgie watched as Annie, after spending the morning gossiping about her and Marnie and shooting them dirty looks, suddenly looked meek and pathetic.

  Nodding her head; her cheeks reddening; she looked intimidated by the older boy.

  ‘Give it here then, you greedy bitch.’ Holding out his big chunky hand Shaun snatched the food from Annie’s grasp before turning to the boy sitting the other side of him.

  ‘I thought I told you to get my breakfast ready for me? Go on then, Corey, pour me out a drink.’

  Corey did as he was told. Jumping up out of his seat without a second’s hesitation, he poured Shaun a large glass of orange juice, and handed it to the expectant boy.

  Shaun didn’t bother saying thank you. He just drank the drink down in one, before stuffing his face with the croissant. Chomping the food loudly with his mouth wide open, he stared over at Georgie and Marnie.

  ‘Are you the two fucking brats that woke everyone up last night?’ He glared at them, his squinty, piggy eyes scrutinised the two girls.

  Georgie didn’t answer. She kept her head down; her gaze low, focusing on the food that adorned the huge table: a huge decorative glass bowl filled with a colourful selection of just about every fruit imaginable in the centre; next to it, a row of carefully aligned cereal packets; a huge plate of toast, pots of jams and spreads; the jug full of orange juice – anything but Shaun James. The boy was a nasty bully, and Georgie had taken an instant dislike to him.

  ‘Oi, I’m talking to you!’ Slamming his glass down on the table, Shaun slumped back in his chair as if was a king on his throne. He scowled as he watched her intently. Her head down; her hand clasped tightly around her spoon as she sat there perfectly still. Like a rabbit caught in the headlights.

  She was scared of him. Just like everyone else sitting around the table. His reputation had clearly preceded him once again.

  Shaun James grinned.

  Annie spoke up, trying to redeem herself after Shaun had made her look like a prize prat in front of everyone.

  ‘Yeah, they are. I heard Mrs Reed talking about them this morning.’ Annie shot Georgie a smug grin, glad that the focus was off her for now. ‘The youngest one’s called Marnie; she pissed the bed in the middle of the night. I heard Mrs Reed on the phone telling her social worker that she had to strip her bed down at four o’clock this morning.’ Annie screwed her face to show her disgust.

  ‘What about her?’ Shaun said, looking Georgie up and down with interest. The stuck-up little cow wouldn’t return his eye contact.

  ‘Her name’s Georgie. Proper thinks she’s something special,’ Annie said spitefully, annoyed at the stir the girl had already created amongst the boys of the house. Annie had seen them all looking at this Georgie with sudden interest and it riled her that even dressed in crap clothes and her hair pulled back in a messy bun, Georgie Parker was way prettier than Annie would ever be.

  Annie took a dislike to the girl on first sight.

  ‘She’s well fit,’ Corey said right on cue, confirming what Annie had been secretly thinking. ‘She ain’t got no tits yet though.’ He laughed.

  Annie laughed at that too. That was something she supposed. At fourteen, Annie was lucky; her own boobs were more than ample. In fact, they were her best asset. Georgie Parker couldn’t compete with that.

  ‘Her chest looks like two paracetamols on a draining board.’ Annie laughed too. ‘Though looking at the state of her, they could actually be flea bites. They both look infested! Feral!’

  All the children laughed, while Georgie shifted uncomfortably in her chair. Her eyes s
till focused on the table as the other children taunted her and her sister. Her cheeks burning violent red as they all laughed at their expense.

  Pushing her breakfast bowl away from her, Georgie had lost her appetite.

  ‘We should give them both nicknames,’ Shaun piped in now, thoroughly in his element that the other kids had taken his lead, as always, and were putting the new girls in their place. ‘The older one, I reckon she should be called Jugs.’

  A cackle of laughter filled the air.

  This was the power that Shaun held around here. He could make any of these little fuckers do anything that he liked, and no one would say shit to him, because they were all too scared.

  Well, Georgie and Marnie Parker needed to fall in line too.

  ‘Jugs really suits you!’ he sneered.

  Georgie held her temper. Aware that it wouldn’t bode well for either her or her sister if she fought back, she decided to keep quiet for now. If Georgie didn’t rise to the crap that this boy was spouting, he’d soon get bored.

  Ignoring him, she focused on her sister instead.

  The toast in front of her still untouched.

  ‘Do you want some cereal, Marnie? There’s some Weetabix? Or there’s some fruit? You can have a banana?’ Georgie whispered, worried about her sister. Marnie hadn’t eaten a thing.

  ‘Tell me what you want and I’ll get it for you. ‘

  Shaking her head, Marnie squeezed Georgie’s hand tighter, not wanting her sister to let her go.

  The big boy, Shaun, was still glaring at them. The other children were still watching them, too, all whispering and laughing at them. Marnie didn’t want breakfast, and she didn’t want to be here.

  ‘I just want Mummy.’ Her bottom lip trembled. Unable to stop herself, the tears came.

  Locking her arms around her, Georgie hugged Marnie to her tightly. Not caring that everyone was looking at her. Not caring what any of them thought. All she cared about was her sister.

  ‘It’s okay, Marnie.’

  ‘Oh, here we go. I want my mummy. Boo-hoo-hoo!’ Putting on a high-pitched voice, Shaun was mocking them both. ‘Well, I’m going to guess by the fact that you’re here in this shitty children’s home that your mummy doesn’t want you – does she?’ Smirking now, as his words had the desired effect.