My Granddaughter
She wasnt exactly irritated by the girl, nobut there was something about her that made you want to keep your distance.
Scruffy, with hair half-heartedly tied into messy plaits, a crumpled school uniform, and a collar sewn on all wrong. The girl was unkempt, with this perpetually downtrodden look.
Rachel Winthrop wrinkled her nose. Why on earth had she thought of that scruffy child? She set aside her beloved éclairwhere was George? Hed promised to come home early. Today was the anniversary of her late husbands passing…
A knock at the door startled her.
«Whos there? George, is that you? Forget your keys again?»
«Miss Winthrop, you left your keys on the chair.»
«What? What keys?»
Rachel opened the door and froze. It was *that* girl. What on earth?
«Sedley? What keys? How do you even know where I live? Are youare you following me?»
The girl shook her head. Her threadbare coat had a stain on the pocket, her tights sagged at the knees, and her shoes looked ready to fall apart. Only now did Rachel notice her eyesbright blue, framed by thick black lashes.
Shed recently started teaching English at the local comprehensive after retiring from the sixth form college. A year of idleness had been unbearable. But this girlAlice Sedleywas odd. Quiet. Never mingled with the others.
«Miss Winthrop, you left your keys on the chair. I called after you, but you didnt hear.»
«What keys? Oh! Goodness. Mustve forgotten to put them in my bag. Getting old, I suppose,» she joked, though she wasnt sure why.
«Youre not old,» Alice said, dead serious. «Just in a hurry, probably.»
«Thank you… Alice.»
«Youre welcome. Goodbye, Miss Winthrop.»
«Goodbye…»
Rachel shut the door thoughtfully, then suddenly flung it back open. The girl was already halfway down the stairs.
«Alice!» Rachel called. The girl turned, looking up. «How did you know where I lived?»
«I live next door. I see you walking to work sometimes. And… theres that dog on the corner. I stay close to you so he doesnt growl at me. He doesnt like how I smellI feed the cats in the basement. His names Rex. Hes a stray.»
«The address… I asked the ladies on the bench where you lived. Told them you worked at my school. We take the same bus sometimes…»
Rachel sighed. *What a strange girl. Is she stalking me?*
«Fancy a cuppa?» The words slipped out before she could stop them. Alice nodded instantly.
*Rude, really. She shouldve refused.*
Rachel poured the tea.
«Are you… hungry?»
Alice shook her head, but Rachel wasnt fooled. The girl was starving. *Why am I bothering with this?*
«Tell you whatlets eat together. Hate dining alone, and George is late. Might as well.»
She bustled about, pulling leftovers from the fridge. Alice ate neatly but ravenously.
«Thank you,» she murmured, eyeing the leftover shepherds pie. «I should go. It was really nice.»
*Good Lord, the childs so hungry shes complimenting my cooking.*
Rachel packed up the foodpies, biscuits, a handful of sweetsand handed it over.
«You dont have to thank me.» But Alice took it anyway.
Later, Rachel scolded herself. *Terribly unprofessional. What if she hugs me at school tomorrow? Or thanks me loudly for the food?*
George slunk in the next morning, guilt written all over his face.
«What day was yesterday?» Rachel demanded.
«Thursday, Mum. Todays Friday.»
«Dont be clever, George.»
«Oh, now its serious. Im a grown man, thirty years old»
«It was your fathers memorial. He didnt deserve to be forgotten.»
«Mum, he wouldnt care if we did it yesterday or today. Lets just move it to tonight, yeah? Im knackered. Day off.»
«So youre sleep-deprived. Dare I ask why?»
«You *really* want to know?»
Rachel stomped off to work in a foul mood.
She waited all day for Alice to approach her, to *acknowledge* their bizarre little moment. But the girl just walked past with a polite «Good morning, Miss Winthrop,» like nothing had happened.
*Cheeky little thing.*
Rachel spent the week half-heartedly trying to corner her, but Alice was avoiding her.
Then, three days later, she heard a scream.
Alice was backed against a wall, a massive stray dog snarling at her, its teeth sunk into her sleeve.
«Oi! Get lost!» Rachel shooed the beast away. «Alice, are you hurt?»
The girls eyes were wide with terror. «Hehe wanted to k-kill the kitten!»
Rachels heart clenched.
«Shh, its all right now. Lets get you home.»
«I cant.»
«Most children your age» Rachel cut herself off. *Strange girl.*
«Ill hide him under the stairs. If they dont chase him out again.»
«Who?»
«Them.»
«Right. Of course.»
Shed asked around at school about Alice. Most teachers shrugged. Only old Ms. Peabody, the maths teacher, knew anything.
«Troubled family. Mother and stepfather drink. Or is it the grandmother? Hard to keep track.»
«But how did she even get enrolled?»
«Dunno,» Ms. Peabody said, shaking her head.
That evening, Rachel followed Alice home. The girl paused near a park bench, pulled out a textbook, and started doing homework under a streetlamp.
Rachel went home, argued with George (divorced two years ago, no kids, now «finding himself»), then stormed out for air.
Near Alices building, a woman swayed drunkenly. «Alicccce! Wheres that rotten girl?»
Rachel approached. «Excuse me»
«What dyou want?»
«Are you Alice Sedleys guardian?»
«Yeah. Whats it to you?»
«Im her teacher. Where is she?»
«Home. Asleep.» The woman stumbled inside.
Rachel called into the dark, «Alice? Its me. Come out.»
The girl emerged from behind a bush.
«Come home with me.»
«Shell punish me.»
«She *wont*.»
«Theyll take me away if she loses custody.»
«Who is she to you?»
«My gran.»
«Wheres your mother?»
«Gone.»
«Gone where?»
«*Gone.* Four years now.»
«Did she… drink too?»
«No. We were happy. But she got sick. There was no one else. They took me inGran and her husband. They get money for me.»
«Right. Youre coming with me. Well sort this.»
George was home when they arrived. He froze at the sight of Alice.
«Whos this?»
«Alice.»
The girl stared at him.
«You staying the night?» George asked.
«Dunno…»
In the morning, Rachel let Alice sleep in, then fed her breakfast.
«Lets go.»
«Where? To the care home?»
«To the shops.»
George emerged, rubbing his eyes. «Whered you find her?»
«My student.»
«Ah.»
They bought new clothesAlice lit up like a Christmas tree.
«What a lovely granddaughter!» the shop assistant gushed. «Looks just like you.»
Rachels heart swelled.
«Were tossing these rags.»
«No!» Alice clutched her old coat. «Theyll sell the new ones. Or hurt me.»
Rachel sighed. «What do we do?»
«Dunno.»
«Fancy a café?»
«With you?»
«If youd like.»
«Can you bake cakes?»
«Ernot really.»
«Mum and I used to. Before she got sick.»
«Lets try. Need ingredients?»
«If you dont have any…»
They baked, laughed, drank tea. George came home early (of course).
*Blast. He ruined it.*
«I should go,» Alice whispered.
«Ill walk you.»
George blocked their path. «Whats your name?»
«Alice. I *told* you, George,» Rachel snapped.
«Did *she* send you?»
Alice shook her head.
«George, whats going on?»
«Its Diana Sedley. Remember her? Shes her mum.»
«No.»
«Dianalived two streets over. We were… involved. Young love, Mum. I cared for her. Then I met Natalie, you liked her»
«And Alice?»
«She never told me. I found out later. Saw her onceshe said the baby was mine. I didnt believe her. Called her a liar. But Id never abandon a child, Mum.»
«You *did*.»
«I didnt *know*! Three years passed. Alice, do you know me?»
«Yes. I have your photo. I recognised you when I brought the keys.»
«Im not sending her back. I dont care what you think. Alice, come here. Shesshes my *granddaughter*.»
The DNA test confirmed it. Georges girlfriend, Eleanor, stood by him in court. Rachel held Alices hand, terrified theyd take her away.
Months later…
«Dad, can I live with Gran?»
«What if she says no?»
«She wont. She gets lonely.»
«And I dont?»
«Youve got Eleanor…»
Rachel walked hand-in-hand with her granddaughter, uncaring of gossip. Shed found her happiness.
George grew close to Alice. He and Eleanor parted ways.
«Dad, its not because of me, is it?»
«Course not. Id never trade you. Shame Grandad never met you.»
At parents evening, George met Alices form teacher. Now Alice walks to school with both her grandmother *and* her stepmother.
«Isnt it weird having your gran and mum as teachers?» her friends ask.
«Nah. Its brilliant,» Alice laughs.
George often murmurs, «How did I live without her?»
Alice still visits her other grancleans, cooks, scolds her to stop drinking. The old woman weeps, kisses her hands.
«My girl. My blood,» she sobs, promising to quit. Again.
