Kitty Neale - Forgotten Child

Delia picked up her leather handbag, knowing that within Robin’s hearing she would have to continue to be nice to Jennifer. She would have to wait, keep up the act, but when the time was right she’d strike. Of course it would have to appear that she’d played no part in it, that Jennifer left of her own accord; but this time, no matter what, she wouldn’t be thwarted.

It was a lovely day and rather than get her car out of the garage Delia decided to walk. As she left the drive a vehicle pulled up and she saw a fellow member of the WI behind the wheel.

‘Mrs Lavender, Delia, I can see you’re on your way out, but I’m glad I caught you,’ Penelope Grainger said as she wound down her window. ‘As you know we’re having a fundraiser next week, but Mrs Brunswick has had to bow out. Could I put you down to take her place on the cake stall?’

‘Yes, of course,’ nodded Delia.

‘Will you still be contributing some of your lovely walnut cakes? They always go down so well.’

‘Yes, I’m making a half a dozen.’

‘Wonderful, but I must go. You know how it is, things to do and all that.’

‘Yes, I know what you mean. I’m just on my way to my daughter’s school.’

‘Oh dear, is there a problem?’

‘No, it’s an appointment with a careers adviser.’

‘My daughter, Fiona, was determined to follow her father into medicine, and though it’s jolly hard work, she loves it. Does your daughter have a career in mind?’

Delia swallowed, once again cursing the fact that she had no idea what Jennifer was capable of. Penelope Grainger’s husband was a consultant, and her daughter had attended a private school. In fact, other than seeing the woman at WI meetings, they didn’t mix socially. Of course in this instance that could work in her favour – hopefully the woman unaware that Jennifer attended a state secondary school. Delia would have given anything to join Penelope’s social circle, but her aspirations had come to nothing as yet.

‘I think she’s interested in law,’ Delia lied, ‘but if you’ll excuse me I really must go now.’

‘Righto, I’ll see you next week,’ Penelope said, giving a small wave before driving off.

Delia glanced at her watch. Only a few minutes had passed and she still had plenty of time, but nevertheless her pace was brisk as she continued her journey. Law! It had been the only thing that had popped into her head, and now sounded idiotic, especially as she doubted if Jennifer was capable of anything other than cleaning the chambers.

Jenny and Tina were waiting to see the careers adviser when Tina hissed, ‘Jenny, I know you said my parents can’t stop me, but when we leave I’m still gonna do a runner.’

‘All right, but we’ll need to find a bedsit. Have you got an area in mind?’

‘Not really, but somewhere that’s got a bit of life. How about Chelsea?’

‘It isn’t a huge distance away, but if you want to move there it’s fine with me.’

There was silence for a moment, then Tina said sadly, ‘It’ll be ages before we can save enough to leave. Any landlord will want about a month’s rent in advance, but my mum will want me to stump up at least half of what I earn.’

‘Tina, we’ll look for somewhere to live as soon as term’s over – we’ve got to get you away from your father as soon as possible. Thanks to my dad I’ve got some savings, enough to pay the rent for at least a month, maybe more. Mind you, if you still want to do a runner, you’ll have to pretend that nothing has changed until we leave. If the careers adviser arranges a job interview then go, otherwise your parents will guess that something’s up.’

‘Yeah, good thinking,’ Tina agreed. ‘As for the rent, I’ll pay you back as soon as I can, honest I will.’

‘Don’t worry about it. You’re my best friend, and that’s what matters, not money.’

‘You’re more than a friend to me, Jenny. You’re more like a sister, and a better one than Mandy.’

Jenny felt a surge of pleasure. It was nice to think that Tina saw them as sisters.

‘Jennifer, there you are,’ her mother said as she walked up to them, looking immaculate but slightly harassed. ‘I was held up twice but thankfully it seems I’ve arrived in time.’

‘I haven’t been in yet, but I’m next.’

‘Please have the courtesy to move along so I can sit down,’ her mother then said, looking haughtily at Tina.

As the door opened beside her and a girl came out, Jenny reared to her feet and said sharply, ‘There’s no need to sit down, Mother. It’s my turn now.’

‘Very well, come on then, let’s get this over with.’

‘Good luck, Jenny.’

‘Thanks, Tina,’ Jenny said, ignoring her mother’s disapproving look as they walked in to see the careers adviser.

Delia looked disdainfully at the weedy little man behind his desk. When invited to sit down, she inspected the chair before flicking it fastidiously with her handkerchief.

The man didn’t seem intimidated by her actions. With a pair of round glasses perched on the end of his nose, he perused a folder in front of him until they were both seated. When he did finally look up, his eyes went to Jennifer, his smile warm.

‘I see from this report that your work has been exceptional, with standards that your teachers feel would have been good enough for grammar school.’

‘As she failed her eleven plus, I don’t see how,’ Delia said huffily.

‘There are many intelligent children who fail the examination for one reason or another, and from this report it seems your daughter may well have been one of them.’

‘Well, yes, I always knew she was bright,’ Delia blustered now, blushing at the lie.

The man ignored her reply, instead pulling a card from an index file and focusing on Jennifer again. ‘With your knowledge and interest in literature, I think I have a position that may appeal to you.’

Delia was startled. This was news to her, but then again she had barely looked at Jennifer’s school reports.

‘What sort of position?’ she asked abruptly.

‘It’s in local government, as a local junior librarian.’

‘Surely she needs qualifications?’

‘The CILIP, that is the Chartered Institute of Libraries and Information Professionals, offer rewards for in-house experience and with training they can offer certification. This of course can eventually lead to managerial advancement, or work in other important sectors, such as museums, archives—’

Impatiently Delia interrupted the man, ‘Yes, yes, I understand, but do you really think Jennifer has a chance of obtaining the position?’

‘Yes, I do,’ he said abruptly. ‘However, it depends of course on whether your daughter is interested in this kind of work.’

Delia was annoyed to see that Jennifer was just staring at the man, her mouth agape. Far from appearing bright, the girl looked like an imbecile, and Delia snapped, ‘For goodness’ sake, Jennifer, buck up and answer the man.’

‘I…I’m sorry. It…it’s just so unexpected…but yes, I’d love to train as a librarian. It would be like a dream come true.’

‘Very well, I’ll arrange an interview and you’ll be notified in writing of the date and time.’

Still looking dazed, Jennifer rose to her feet. ‘Tha…thank you.’

‘Yes, thank you,’ Delia echoed, feeling a little heady too as they left the room. She didn’t know what she’d expected; perhaps a junior position in an office at the most, but this outcome was far better. For once, when Delia smiled at Jennifer, it was with genuine warmth.

‘That went well,’ she commented. ‘Now we’ll just have to ensure that you’re successful at the interview.’

Jennifer ignored her, instead turning to talk to Tina, who was waiting her turn, ‘You can go in now. I’ll wait for you.’