Lord, weve got three of our own now!
Nancy sank heavily onto the sofa, clutching her head. Fred glared at her from the doorway, his brow furrowed.
Now what am I supposed to do? Take her to the orphanage? Tommy was practically a brother to me
Brother? When was the last time you actually saw this brother of yours? Ten years ago? He only turned up when he needed something
Nancys voice softened, and Fred let out a silent sigh. He didnt want to force anyone into a fight, especially not with Sophie, the little girl who would soon be his wifes responsibility. Nancy was a good sortloud, could shout, even scold a bit, but never out of spite. Shed never let a misfortune pass her by.
Nancy, tell mewhat was I supposed to do? Im your uncle, your close kin. And she
Fred nodded toward the tiny girl who was still standing in the doorway, as if frozen in time.
Whats she got to do with this?
Obviously the child isnt to blame when will we bury her?
Tomorrow morning. Ill go at first light.
Stop playing coy. Come over here, lets get acquainted.
The shy little girl took a tentative step, then another. Nancy couldnt bear it any longer; she sprang up, went over and knelt beside her.
Dont be a wimp, love. Let me help you with that coat.
She deftly unbuttoned the frock, stripped off the heavy jacket, andwhat the deuce?she gasped.
Good heavens what on earth is this? Just skin and bones what is that?
Nancy turned the child toward the window and froze. She stared at her husband, who merely croaked. Hed never given Tommy a proper beating as a child; perhaps Tommy would have grown into a proper man. Sophie was left in a thin dress with short sleeves, her arms riddled with bruises. Nancy tugged at the dresss collar, glanced at the back, and covered her mouth with a hand, standing there as if waiting for a miracle. Then, as if waking from a dream, she shouted:
Fred, the bathquick! Mike, get over here!
Mike burst out of the kitchen.
Whats up, Mum?
Nothing, just get on it! How many times must I tell yourun to Mrs. Whitmore. See if theres any spare clothes for a little girl maybe something old.
Got it, Mum. Heard you loud and clear.
Now that youve heard it, what else is there to do?
Mike darted for the door, jacket halfzipped. The boys were always listening, peeking, schemingnever mind that a tiny, frail girl could slip into their chaotic household. When they saw Nancy examining the bruises, they promptly decided to build a little partition in their room, reasoning that a small child would be safer that way. The lads abandoned their morning plots and got to work.
Mike returned not only with a sack of rags but also with Mrs. Whitmore herself. In fact, she hadnt been able to tear herself away and showed up on her own.
Mrs. Whitmore stared at Tommys ragged life for a long moment, then said, You shouldve had a look at her head first. You never know what bugs might crawl out later.
Sophie, meanwhile, stood in the middle of the room, silent as if none of this concerned her. Nancy lunged at the girl, pulled her hair into a part, and cursed like a country bumpkin. She lifted the crooked braid, sighed. What lovely hair such a shame.
Sophie
The girl lifted her frightened eyes.
Sophie your hair needs cutting. All the way off. Dont worry, itll grow back. Ill give you a pretty little kerchief
Tears rolled down Sophies dirty cheeks. Nancy almost wept herself while snipping the hair, then tossed the clippings into the stove. Fred wandered in, saw the scene, and merely croaked. Ah, couldve given Tommy a proper whack as a child
As soon as Nancy and Sophie disappeared into the bath, the oldest boy, Andy, peeked from the boys room. He was twelve, the de facto leader, with authority but never tyrannical.
Dad, could you help us?
Fred entered, stunned.
What are you up to in there?
We want to move a wardrobe to block off a cornerso she has a proper space. Shes a girl, and its heavy.
Fred snorted, his voice overly harsh. Your mother feeds you, feeds you, and thats it. You cant even shift a wardrobe together! Come on, get to it!
Dad, what will she sleep on?
Fred scratched his head. Looks like well have to buy something.
Dad, can I have a folding cot? You know I love sleeping on it, and we could put her on my bed? Its almost too small for me but perfect for her, shes tiny.
By the time Nancy and Sophie returned from the bath, the boys and Fred had most of the plan ready. They still needed linens and maybe a rug for aestheticsNancy would handle that.
Enjoy the steam.
Thanks. Im knackered, no strength left. Sophie hasnt seemed to see water or even wash herself. She shies away from everything Ill rest a bit, feed you all, then well figure out where Sophie will sleep.
Sophie looked healthierslender, cute in a colourful headscarf, big eyes, fluffy lashes.
Alright, Ill show you
Nancy stared at Fred in surprise, then rose. He pulled aside the curtain to the boys roomthe largest space in the house, which served as bedroom, hall, and kitchen when the three boys first moved in at age three. The parents had a tiny master bedroom, and the big room doubled as everything else.
Whats this then?
Nancy took in the rearranged furniture, fell silent, and looked at the boys.
Did you do this yourself, or did Mother help?
Fred smiled. Our good lads, Nancy.
Sophie wasnt just eating; she devoured food as if she hadnt been fed for ages.
Sophie thats enough. Youll feel terrible if you overdo it. Rest now, dont worry, we have plenty to eat. All is well
Sophie sighed, stared at her plate, and seemed to deflate, as if exhausted in an instant.
Come, Ill show you your bed.
The girl barely managed to lie down before she fell asleep.
Nancy returned to the table.
Fred, fetch the brandy.
Fred looked at his wife, surprisedshe never drank, except perhaps a sip on special occasions. He silently fetched a glass, poured for both of them. Nancy downed it in one gulp. Fred raised his glass, and Nancy turned to him, saying:
If your Tommy were still alive, Id strangle him myself with these very hands
Fred lowered his head. Hed have strangled him too.
Tommy was born when Fred was already fourteen, and nobody was expecting another child. The old woman who delivered him stared at the newborn, spat, and muttered, What a waste.
Fred remembered his mother shouting at him, kicking him out. She didnt care. She roamed the house muttering nonsense. Even as an adult, Fred feared the old woman like the plague. Everyone in the village whispered that she was a witch. Fred, of course, knew witches werent real, but still
His mother grew tired of shouting at the crone. Suddenly the crone halted and said, Ill die tomorrow. Take this baby to the funeral.
She pointed at the infant.
The mother retorted, What more could I need!
The crone calmly replied, Ill curse you. From the beyond Ill curse you if you dont take him
The next day she truly passed. Fred thought hed go mad with fear standing by the coffin. The mother didnt disobey; she brought Tommy along, screaming all the way to the cemetery. Eventually she calmed down.
From an early age Tommy was like a ratstealing, blaming others, first getting it from his father, then from Fred. Life taught him nothing. He joined the army, came back with a wife, they had a child, and their parental duties ended. Days turned into endless drinking sessions. Fred kept begging his parents to move in with him, but they insisted Tommy and Sophie would go to ruin without them and indeed they did. One by one the parents vanished. Years passed, and Tommy never contributed a penny to the funeral.
Four years later the parish council chairman called Fred:
Fred your brother and his wife froze out on the way home. Their little girl survived. If you dont take her, shell end up in an orphanage. Dont worry about the funeral; well help. You and Nancy are worth your weight in gold to us.
Fred never understood why Nancy hadnt told him everything straight awayperhaps he feared shed ban the child outright in a fit of passion.
A week later Sophie stopped gulping food. She learned to use a fork and spoon. Her skin turned a healthy colour, no longer translucent. Yet she acted like a wild wolf pupif any of the boys asked her something, shed hide under the blankets and stay silent.
They gave her books and toys, but she remained as quiet as a barn owl, only flashing her eyes. Nancy tried to talk, but only yes or no ever came back.
Finally, Nancy could take it no more. She stood before Sophie:
What makes you stare at us like a wolf? Did we do something wrong? Why wont you talk or smile? Dont you like it here? Were not keeping anyone against their will!
Sophie stared with huge eyes, never blinking, and two tiny tears slipped down her cheeks.
Nancy choked, almost sobbing, and fled the house, trying not to be seen crying. She swore shed never raise her voice at the girl again.
That evening, Mrs. Whitmore dropped by.
Nancy, youre not yourself today.
Nancy waved a hand.
I cant its all too much. Shes a nightmare
Will be, if you keep treating her like a nightmare.
Why?
Because shes a child, and children sense when they arent loved. Shes basically stuck in an orphanage, only better conditions.
Do as you will, Whitmore How can you love a stranger? Im not hurting her. I try
Can you love a kitten?
Of course
Thats the point. Weve changed. Not like before, when everyone loved each other.
Spring arrived in a flash. Nancy tried not to nag Sophie anymore. She ate, wore shoes, read books, even some of the boys rubbish. Occasionally Sophie chatted with the ladsnot much, just a yes or nobut the boys soon gave up. They begged Fred to help with a surprise for Sophie.
Her birthday was a month away, so the boys locked themselves in the shed and crafted a vanity table with a mirrorjust like grownup fashionistas. At first Nancy tried to shoo them away, wondering what on earth they were up to, but then she thought, Let them be.
Sophie didnt understand the fuss. Nancy handed her a new, lacetrimmed handkerchief and helped knot it neatly on the girls head. Sophie twirled before the mirror, eyes wide. Fred then presented a new dress; Sophies mouth fell openshed never seen anything so pretty.
When the boys finally lugged the table in, Sophie ran her hands over it, and Nancy swore she saw a smile flicker. She then hugged each of the brothers in turn.
From that day the boys and Sophie became genuine friends. They spent hours chatting and laughing in their room. As soon as Nancy appeared, Sophie would retreat to a corner, sit silently. It drove Nancy mad. Whats wrong with her? Shes fed, clothed, has bookswhy the cold shoulder?
Then the garden burst into life, and there was no time for melodrama. That year they decided to raise a piglet to sell later. Four mouths meant more clothes to buy. The pension theyd arranged for Sophie, Nancy ordered them not to touch.
Dont spend it now. Let it grow, maybe even buy a wedding dress one day.
Fred nodded in agreementhe always nodded when Nancy gave orders, which was almost always. The only thing he couldnt grasp was why Sophie and Nancy never clicked, despite years together. With the boys she got along fine, with Fred she was tolerable, but with Nancy she turned to stone.
One afternoon, while Nancy was planting flowers in the front garden, a local lad raced up to her:
Aunt Nancy! Someones fighting us!
Nancy straightened.
Whos fighting us?
Everyone!
The lad bolted off. Nancy, pulling up her skirts, sprinted to the river where the children had been playing half an hour earlier. From a distance she saw a brawl: the boys versus a whole mob of village lads, backs turned to each other, with Sophie in the middle. Older men from the village were thundering in with belts swinging the sight was pure chaos.
Nancys heart pounded.
Mikes eyebrow was split. Andy sported a massive bruise under his eye, and Sams shoulder was a mess. Sophie began to sob.
What happened?
Mike sniffed: We came to bathe Sophie took off her kerchief, and they all started teasing her
And you decided to jump in?
Sam looked at his mother seriously: Did we have to go swimming?
Andy shouted: Shes our sister. Who would dare hurt her?
Nancy rose from her knees.
Off you go home.
She walked out after them. Why does this mess fall on our family? She might be a decent girl, but shed be better off elsewhere
Mrs. Whitmore waiting at the doorway:
Nancy, whats the gossip in the village? They say your boys were almost killed over a trinket?
Nancy halted, a storm brewing inside.
Because of what?
Mrs. Whitmores eyes widened:
Because of a trinket you called it that yourself.
And you think you can spread this around Ill call it what I want!
Nancy pointed a finger at the old womans nose so forcefully that the lady stumbled back, almost toppling over.
Dont you dare! Not you! No one! You know me!
Nancy slammed the gate shut, and Mrs. Whitmore muttered something about the trinket will drive everyone mad! while glancing at the old crone whod vanished long ago.
Nancy closed the gate and broke down in tears. Why me? Why? she sobbed, though she tried not to let anyone see.
Darling, why are you crying?
The boys and Sophie hadnt left the house yet. Nancy rarely wept, but when she did, she made sure no one saw.
Its the onions wont grow! The flowers refuse to sprout! And everything!
The children scrambled back inside.
Later that night, Nancy and Fred talked for ages.
Fred, what are we to do? Theyll keep fighting, the boys will keep brawling.
Fred shook his head stubbornly:
Let them fight! Theyre defending their sister, so theyre right.
And if someone gets hurt?
Fred scratched his scalp. Well have to buy something, then
Dad, can I have a folding cot? You know I love sleeping on it. We could put her on my bedit’s almost too small for me but perfect for her.
By the time Sophie and Nancy returned from the bath, the boys and Fred had almost everything readyjust needed some linens and maybe a rug, which Nancy would sort herself.
Enjoy the steam.
Thanks. Im exhausted, no strength left. Sophie seems to think water is a myth, even washing shes terrified of everything. Ill rest a bit, feed you all, then well decide where Sophie sleeps.
Sophie looked healthierslim, cute in a bright headscarf, big eyes, fluttery lashes.
Alright, Ill show you
Nancy stared at Fred, then got up. He drew back the curtain to the boys roomstill the biggest room, serving as bedroom, hall, and kitchen.
Whats this?
Nancy took in the new layout, fell silent, and looked at the boys.
Did you do it yourself, or did Mother help?
Fred smiled. Our good lads, Nancy.
Sophie wasnt just eating; she devoured food as if she hadnt been fed in ages.
Sophie thats enough. Youll feel terrible if you overdo it. Rest now, dont worry, we have plenty to eat. All is well
Sophie sighed, stared at her plate, and seemed to deflate, as if exhausted in an instant.
Come, Ill show you your bed.
The girl barely managed to lie down before she fell asleep.
Nancy returned to the table.
Fred, fetch the brandy.
Fred looked at his wife, surprisedshe never drank, except perhaps a sip on special occasions. He silently fetched a glass, poured for both of them. Nancy downed it in one gulp. Fred raised his glass, and Nancy turned to him, saying:
If your Tommy were still alive, Id strangle him myself with these very hands
Fred lowered his headAnd so, amid the clatter of pots, the smell of fresh blossoms, and the lingering echo of old grudges, the makeshift family finally realized that loveno matter how battered, bruised, or oddly attached to a trinketwas the only thing that could truly keep them all together.
