Kitty Neale - Forgotten Child

‘With so many large houses in this area needing domestic staff, I’m thinking of setting up an agency to provide them, along with catering services. However, I’m not going to do anything until you leave for university, and so for now I’d rather you didn’t mention my ideas to your father.’

‘Why? Do you think he’ll be against it?’

‘Yes, I do. You see your father wasn’t well off when we married and I had to use my inheritance to buy our first house.’

‘I didn’t know that. I knew he’d lost his parents during the war and was brought up by his aunt, but I still don’t see why he’d be against you starting up a business.’

‘Your father is old-fashioned and I think it wounded his pride when I paid for our first home. So much so that from then on he insisted on being the provider while I stayed at home.’

‘I see, but that was a long time ago and surely he’d feel differently now?’

‘I hope so, because I’d love to be a successful businesswoman like Marcia.’

‘And I’m sure you will.’

‘I doubt your father thinks I’m capable of anything other than being a housewife, and oh, Robin, what if I fail?’ Delia cried, pulling out her handkerchief and pretending to dab tears from her eyes. ‘What if I prove him right?’

‘Please, Mummy, don’t get upset. I’m sure you’ll be fine, but if you want to chew your idea over with me, perhaps go over the setting-up costs and things like that, I’d be happy to help. I’ve no experience in such things, but as I’m going to study economics at university at least I’m good with figures. I should be able to work out the initial costs and even some profit projections.’

‘Robin, that would be wonderful…but I don’t want to take you away from your studies.’

‘I’ve caught up now. Actually, it would make a marvellous project and something I’d look forward to getting my teeth into. How about we make a start this coming weekend?’

‘Yes, I’d like that, but for now I’d better leave you to get ready for college,’ Delia said, smiling as she left her son’s room. Robin had been sympathetic, had offered to help, and that was a start.

Jenny had been sitting alone, still upset at her father’s departure. Even though he’d promised to come home for her birthday, she guessed that it would only be for a weekend again. His job involved a lot of travelling, but now Jenny wondered if he preferred to be away – if he avoided coming home. Though she didn’t like the thought, deep down Jenny couldn’t blame him: this was an unhappy house, unwelcoming, full of tension, and laughter was a rare thing.

She heard her mother’s footsteps on the stairs and tensed. What sort of mood was she going to be in? Jenny didn’t know if she could bear it if it was a bad one. She felt a longing to escape this house, to run from all the unhappiness contained within these walls and to never come back.

‘Jennifer, I do not appreciate being woken at the crack of dawn.’

‘I…I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you.’

‘Don’t just sit there, make a fresh pot of tea.’

Jenny did her bidding, relieved when Robin appeared, smiling at her as he said, ‘Morning, Jen.’

‘What would you like for breakfast, darling?’ Delia asked him.

‘How about scrambled eggs on toast?’

‘Would you like the same, Jennifer?’

‘Yes…yes please. Do you want me to make the toast?’

‘Yes, and thank you, dear,’ she said, smiling warmly. ‘I know you’re upset that your father has gone, but I’m sure he’ll keep his promise and be home for your birthday.’

Jenny wasn’t fooled. She knew that this sudden kind manner was all for Robin’s benefit and it seemed to be working as Robin now grinned at his mother and said, ‘When he rings, you’ll just have to nag him, Mother.’

‘Yes, and you can be sure I will.’

Jenny just wanted to get breakfast over with, to go to school and get out of her mother’s way. Twenty minutes later, she picked up her empty plate to take it to the sink.

‘I…I’m off now, but I’ll be a little late home as I have to see the careers adviser after school.’

‘Oh goodness, Jennifer,’ said Delia. ‘I’m so sorry, I’d forgotten. Still, don’t worry, I’ll be there.’

Jenny’s eyes widened with surprise. ‘You’re coming?’

‘Of course I am. This is an important time for you and I want to make sure you’re given the best opportunities for when you leave school.’

‘But…but when I gave you the letter you said that…’

‘I said I would be there,’ Delia interrupted firmly.

Jenny saw the warning look and knew better than to argue, yet she remembered well that when she’d been given the letter, her mother had carelessly thrown it to one side, saying that seeing a careers adviser was a waste of time for someone fit only for menial employment. Now it seemed she had changed her mind…but why? Was it another show put on for Robin’s benefit?

‘Off you go now, or you’ll be late for school,’ her mother now said, and though her voice sounded soft, there was hardness in her eyes.

‘Yes, all right. Bye,’ Jenny croaked.

‘See you later, Jen,’ Robin called, clearly oblivious to the undertones.

Jenny hurried out, just wanting to be away from the house, her mother, and wishing she never had to come back.

When Jenny left, Robin lingered at the table, his eyes on his mother. He could understand why she wanted to start up a business, to achieve something in her own right, but there was something in her explanation of not wanting to neglect Jenny that hadn’t rung true.

As a small child he’d taken his mother’s love and affection for granted, had hardly questioned why Jenny had been left out in the cold. His mother favoured him, while his father favoured Jenny, and he’d assumed it was the same in all households. Of course it wasn’t, and he had eventually learned that, but at least now he knew why. Jenny was adopted, and because of her resentment his mother had been unable to love her. Robin felt he could understand that, and at least his mother had said she was fond of Jenny, though she hardly showed it.

‘Robin, if you don’t get a move on you’ll be late too.’

‘I’ll be off in a minute,’ he said. ‘I’ll be interested to hear how Jenny got on with the careers adviser when I come home.’

‘I intend to see that she’s given the best advice but, let’s face it, Jennifer has never been as bright as you. Nonetheless, I’d like to see her with some sort of career, and I’ll make sure she isn’t fobbed off with some sort of dead-end job.’

‘Jobs that offer a career usually start out with low pay.’

‘If she’s given the opportunity for advancement, the opening salary is irrelevant. After all, living at home, Jennifer won’t have to worry about her earnings.’

‘Right, I’d best be off,’ Robin said, relieved that it was likely that Jenny wouldn’t be earning enough to leave home for some time yet.

‘Bye, darling,’ Delia called.

Robin happily went off to college, content in the knowledge that Jenny would still be there, at least until he hopefully left for university next year. A year, Robin thought. He’d leave it for a year, but then he’d make his move.

Jenny had left Castle Close, hoping to meet up with Tina Hammond on the way to school. She knew her mother disapproved of their friendship, and she wasn’t allowed to invite Tina to the house, but nevertheless they remained constant friends, albeit behind Delia’s back. Jenny preferred to have one special friend, a best friend rather than a group, and Tina partly fulfilled something she felt missing in her life – a sort of kinship. Though they occasionally chatted to other girls, for the most part the two of them were inseparable. Physically, they were very different, Jenny blonde and pale, Tina dark, her eyes brown and her skin olive toned. They both wanted to swap their colouring for each other’s, and had laughed when they had first found this out.