My Granddaughter
She was a messunkempt hair in messy plaits, a wrinkled school uniform with a crookedly sewn collar and cuffs. The girl looked neglected, her expression withdrawn.
Ruth Wilson wrinkled her nose. Why had she thought of that scruffy child? She set aside her beloved éclair. Where was George? Hed promised to come earlytoday was the anniversary of Arthurs passing.
She thought she heard a knock at the door.
“Whos there? George, is that you? Did you forget your keys?”
“Mrs. Wilson, you left your keys on the chair.”
“What? What keys?”
Ruth opened the door and saw that same girl. What on earth?
“Sedley? What keys? How did you know where I live? Were youwere you following me?”
The girl shook her head. She wore a tatty hat, a worn-out coat with a stain on the pocket, sagging stockings, and shoes nearly falling apart. Only now did Ruth notice the girls striking blue eyes, framed by thick black lashes.
She had recently started teaching English at the local school after retiring from the college. She couldnt stay idle. This girl was oddnever mixing with the others. What was her name? Alice? Yes, Alice Sedley.
“Mrs. Wilson, you left your keys on the chair. I called after you, but you didnt hear.”
“What keys? Oh, thank you goodness. I mustve forgotten to put them in my bag. Getting old, I suppose.” She tried to joke.
“Youre not old,” the girl said seriously. “You were just in a hurry.”
“Thank you Alice.”
“Youre welcome. Goodbye, Mrs. Wilson.”
“Goodbye”
Ruth closed the door thoughtfully, then hesitated. She opened it again and heard quiet footstepsAlice was slowly descending the stairs.
“Alice,” Ruth called down. The girl looked up. “How did you know where I live?”
“I live in the next building. I see you walking to work sometimes. Sometimes I walk behind youtheres that dog near the corner. If I stay close to you, he doesnt growl at me. He snarls if Im alone. I feed the strays, you see the cats in the basement. He smells them on me. I call him Rex. Hes a stray too.”
“And the address? I asked the ladies on the bench where you lived. Told them you taught at my school. We ride the same bus sometimes…”
What a strange girl, Ruth thought. Is she stalking me?
“Would you like some tea?” she asked suddenly. The girl instantly agreed. Odd and ill-manneredshe shouldve refused.
Ruth poured the tea.
“Are you hungry?”
Alice shook her head, but Ruth knew she was starving. Why am I bothering with her?
“You know what? Lets eat together. I hate eating alone, and George is late Come on.”
She bustled about, pulling food from the fridge. The girl ate neatly but hungrily.
“Thank you,” Alice said, eyeing the leftovers. “I should go. Your cooking is lovely.”
Goodnessso hungry shed even compliment my cooking.
Ruth packed up some meatballs, pasta, and sweets, handing them over.
“You dont have to thank me but she took them anyway.”
After the girl left, Ruth scolded herselfthis wasnt professional. Tomorrow, that child might hug her in front of everyone or blurt out thanks for the food.
George arrived in the morning, guilt in his eyes.
“What day was yesterday?” she demanded.
“Thursday, Mum. Todays Friday.”
“Dont be cheeky, George.”
“Oh, now its serious Mum, Im thirty.”
“It was your fathers anniversary. He didnt deserve this.”
“Mum he wouldnt care if we remembered him yesterday or today. Lets do it now. Im going back to sleep. Day off.”
“So youre tired? What were you doing all night?”
“You really want to know?”
Ruth went to work in a foul mood. She waitedwould the girl approach her? But Alice passed by with only a polite greeting. The nerve!
All day, Ruth tried to corner herwas the girl avoiding her?
She walked home slowly, hoping to see her, but no luck.
Three days later, nearing her stop, Ruth heard a scream. Alices voice.
She rushed over. A huge stray dog had clamped onto the girls sleeve, tearing at her coat.
“Get away!” Ruth shooed the dog off. “Alice, are you hurt?”
The girls frightened blue eyes made Ruths heart clench.
“Hehe tried to kill the kitten!” Alice sobbed.
“Its alright now. Youre safe. Take it home?”
“No.”
“Children your age usually”
Ruth stopped herself. This girl was different.
“I cant. They wont let me. Ill hide it under the stairs if they dont chase it out again.”
“Who?”
“Them.”
At school, Ruth asked about Alice. Most shrugged, but the elderly maths teacher, Miss Penelope, knew her.
“Troubled family. Mother and stepfather drink. Or maybe its the grandmother.”
“But how was she enrolled?”
“Who knows?”
Ruth followed Alice home. The girl hesitated near the stray dogs spot, then sat on a bench outside her building pulling out a textbook. Studying outside?
Ruth returned home, arguing with George again. Hed divorced his wife two years priorno children. Natasha had been lovely, but George claimed she was “boring.” Now hed found someone more “exciting.”
Needing air, Ruth stepped outside.
“Alice! Wheres that wretched girl?” A slurred voice echoed.
A dishevelled middle-aged woman stood by the building. Her eyesjust like Alices.
“Excuse me,” Ruth said.
“What?”
“Are you Alice Sedleys mother?”
“Whats it to you? Move along.”
“Im her teacher. Where is she?”
“Asleep inside.” The woman turned away.
“Alice its me. Come out.”
The girl emerged from the shadows.
“Come home with me.”
“Shell punish me later.”
“She wont dare.”
“Theyll take me to foster care if she loses custody.”
“Who is she?”
“My gran.”
“Wheres your mother?”
“Gone.”
“Gone where?”
“Four years now She was ill. We had a good life, just us two. Then they took me inGran and her husband. They get money for me.”
“Right. Youre coming with me. Well sort this.”
George was home, packing for a trip. He stared at Alice.
“Whos this?”
“Alice.”
The girl studied him intently.
“Staying the night?”
“Dunno”
Ruth let her sleep in, fed her breakfast.
“Lets go.”
“Where? To foster care?”
“To the shops.”
George emerged, watching Alice curiously.
“Whered you find her?”
“My student.”
“Ah.”
Ruth bought her new clothes. The girl glowedlike a doll.
“What a beautiful granddaughter!” the shopkeeper remarked. “She looks just like you.”
Ruth smiled, her heart strangely light.
“Well toss these old things.”
“No!” Alice clutched her ragged coat. “Theyll sell the new ones for drink and beat me.”
“What do we do?”
“Dunno.”
“Lets go for cake?”
“With you?”
“If youd like.”
“Can you bake?”
“Me? Well, I”
“Mum and I used to bake. Before she got ill.”
“Lets try. Need ingredients?”
Ruth hadnt felt this happy in years. They baked, laughed, drank teauntil George returned.
Blast. Shed never admit it, but she resented him for ruining their evening.
“I should go,” Alice whispered.
“Ill walk you.”
“Whats your name?” George asked.
“Alice. I told you, George,” Ruth snapped.
“Did she send you?”
He stared hard. Alice shook her head.
“George? Whats going on? Alice, wait.”
The girl froze.
“Explain this. Do you know each other?”
An age-old story unfolded.
“Mum this is Diana Sedleys daughter. Remember her?”
“No.”
“Dianatwo years younger. Lived nearby. Her mum was always drunk. We were involved. I loved her, in a childish way.”
“And Alice?”
“She never told me. I was with Natasha by thenyou approved of her. Same social circle.”
“When did you find out?”
“When I saw Alice she looks just like you.”
“I didnt believe Diana when she told me. Sent her away. Then she died, Mum. Id have taken the child if Id known.”
“You did abandon her.”
“I didnt believe her! Three years had passed. Alice do you know me?”
“Yes. I saw your photo when I brought the keys. I recognised you.”
“I wont let her go back there. Shes my granddaughter.”
Tests confirmed the relation. Georges girlfriend, Elaine, supported him in court. Ruth held Alices hand, terrified shed be taken.
***
“Dad can I live with Gran?”
“What if she says no?”
“She wont she gets lonely.”
“And me? I dont get lonely?”
“Youve got Elaine.”
Ruth walked hand-in-hand with her granddaughter, uncaring of gossip. Shed found her happinessher flesh and blood.
George grew close to Alice. He and Elaine eventually parted.
“Dad was it because of me?”
“Of course not. Id never trade you. Wish Grandpa couldve met you.”
At a parent-teacher meeting, George met Alices form tutor. Now Alice goes to school with both her grandmother and stepmother.
“Must be hard, having family as teachers,” friends tease.
“Nah, its cool,” Alice laughs.
“How did I live without her?” George wonders. “Diana forgive me. Ill never abandon our girl.”
Sometimes Alice visits her other grandmothercleans, cooks, scolds her to stop drinking.
The old woman weeps, kissing her hands.
“My granddaughter, my blood,” she cries, swearing to quit.
