Warning: chick lit with a sinister undertone

Chapter 2 – Part 2

A few days later, Jenny was sitting on her bed when Eileen came in. She told her that she had a special room for really good girls and also, that she had a friend who wanted to have a “little chat” with her. Jenny wasn’t sure about it but if there any chance there might be chocolate there, and in this place there was a distinct possibility, she couldn’t refuse.

Jenny went with her down the corridor and entered a room to one side. It was a small room and not like the playroom. In fact, there were no toys in here but it was bright and there was a yellow couch at the side of the room. Eileen led her over to it and she sat down. There was a woman in the room too. Jenny felt that she was the same woman who had come to her bed the first time with the doctor. She explained that her name was Niamh Gingham and that she just wanted to talk to her. She looked friendly and sounded friendly, but Jenny didn’t know what she really wanted.

Over the next few days Jenny had a number of “chats” with Niamh. At first, she let her do all the talking but she seemed to know a lot more than most about Jenny. She asked Jenny first if she was happy. Jenny replied that she was and then she started asking her to explain what happens on a normal school day from morning right through. Jenny thought she was a bit loop the loop at first and then she kept asking her questions like this. After a while she told Jenny she could go and play again if she liked and so that’s what she did. She had explained who she was but Jenny still did know much about her…and she didn’t trust her!

Jenny spoke to Niamh several times over the following three days. She was smarter than she had first thought. When Jenny gave her the usual responses, she started asking her for more details which Jenny hadn’t been asked before and so had to think about it more before she answered. Like when she said, “I get up in the morning and have breakfast” Niamh would ask: “What would you have?” Jenny would say cornflakes and Niamh would say: “Would you get them yourself?” And Jenny would say, “no”, because she figured little girls weren’t supposed to make their own breakfast. And Niamh would say: “Who gets it for you?” and  Jenny would say: “Mammy” and she would say, “does she pour it into the bowl for you or is it on the table when you come in for your breakfast?” and Jenny would say: “It’s on the table” and she would say: “What table?” and Jenny would say the table in the living room cause there was no table in the kitchen and she would say: “Would you have hot or cold milk on your cornflakes?” and Jenny would say: “It would depend” and she would say: “On what?” and Jenny would be a little stuck so she might say “on whether it was hot or cold outside.” And Niamh would say: “and if you wanted it hot, what would happen?” and it went on like this until eventually Jenny felt so confused that she didn’t know what to say. Of course, there was no breakfast. Jenny’s real home wasn’t like the chessboard. Niamh said she had a friend whose parents didn’t treat her very well when she was little and she got a new home where she could have what every other kid had and she went to school every day and she got new shoes and clean clothes and nothing bad ever happened there. She went on like this for a while and Jenny knew what she was getting at. She had it sussed so Jenny figured the release date must be coming. Jenny hadn’t meant to tell her what was happening but with all of her 50 million questions, she seemed to tell her everything without realising it and then Jenny started to sob…a proper sob with snots and everything and she just hugged her and told her it was all going to be alright. She told Jenny that the doctors had examined her and noticed that there was a number of scars and bruises. She explained to Jenny that she wasn’t been taken care of properly and that she should be a lot bigger for her age. With this she asked Jenny if she would like a new home with people who would love her…Jenny thought she might be dreaming. She wasn’t sure really how she felt. Jenny asked if she might be put in a cellar and with that the lady’s lips curled at the corners a little and Jenny could see tears forming in her eyes. She replied: “No sweetheart, you won’t be put in a cellar.” Jenny then asked what would happen to the pair at home and she assured her not to worry about them. Jenny wondered if they would miss her…

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