**My Granddaughter**
She was a messunkempt hair in messy braids, a wrinkled school uniform with a crooked collar and cuffs haphazardly stitched on. The girl looked neglected, with a weary expression.
Rose Williams frowned. Why had she remembered that scruffy child? She set aside her beloved éclairwhere was George? Hed promised to come early todayit was the anniversary of her late husband, Albert.
A knock at the door startled her.
«Whos there? George, is that you? Did you forget your keys?»
«Miss Williams, you left your keys on the chair.»
«What? What keys?»
Rose opened the door and saw that very girl. What on earth?
«Sedley? What keys? How did you know where I live? Are you following me?»
The girl shook her head. She wore a worn-out hat, a shabby coat with a stain on the pocket, saggy tights, and nearly broken shoes.
Only now did Rose notice the girls striking blue eyes, framed by thick black lashes.
Shed recently started teaching English at the local school after retiring from the college. This girl was oddnever mingling with classmates. What was her name again? Alice? Yes, Alice Sedley.
«You left your keys on the chair, Miss Williams. I called after you, but you didnt hear.»
«What keys? Oh, thank you goodness. I mustve forgotten to put them in my bagold age, I suppose,» she joked weakly.
«Youre not old,» the girl said earnestly. «You were just in a hurry.»
«Thank you Alice.»
«Youre welcome. Goodbye, Miss Williams.»
«Goodbye»
Rose shut the door thoughtfully, then hesitated. She opened it again and heard quiet footstepsAlice descending the stairs.
«Alice,» Rose called down as the girl looked up. «How did you know where I live?»
«I live in the next building. I see you walking to work sometimes. I stay close because of the stray dog on the cornerhe growls less if Im near you. I smell like cats; I feed them in the basement. Im not scared. I call him Rex.»
«And the address?»
«I asked the ladies on the bench. I said you taught at my school. We ride the same bus.»
*What a strange girl,* Rose thought. *Is she stalking me?*
«Would you like some tea?» she asked abruptly. The girl agreed instantlyoddly impolite, really. She shouldve refused.
Rose poured the tea.
«Are you hungry?»
Alice shook her head, but Rose saw the truthshe was starving. *Why am I bothering with her?*
«Tell you whatlets eat together. I hate dining alone, and George is late again.»
She fussed, pulling food from the fridge. Alice ate neatly but ravenously.
«Thank you,» Alice said, eyeing the leftovers. «I should go. Your cooking is lovely.»
*So hungry she even compliments my bland food.*
Rose packed the leftoversmeat pies, pasta, sweetsand handed them over. Alice hesitated but took them.
Later, Rose scolded herself. *This is unprofessional. Tomorrow, shell hug me in front of everyone or thank me for the pies.*
George arrived the next morning, sheepish.
«What was yesterday?» Rose demanded.
«Thursday, Mum. Todays Friday.»
«Dont be cheeky, George.»
«Ooh, full name. Serious, then.»
«It was your fathers memorial. He didnt deserve this.»
«Mum he wouldnt care if we marked it yesterday or today. Lets do it today. Im going back to bed.»
«So youre sleep-deprived? What kept you up?»
«You *really* want to know?»
Rose stormed off to work, irritable. She waited all day for Alice to acknowledge herbut the girl just passed by with a polite «Good morning.»
*The nerve.*
Rose lingered after work, hoping to see herno luck.
Three days later, walking home, she heard a scream.
Alice, in her tatty coat, was wrestling a massive mutt snarling at her sleeve.
«Get off!» Rose shooed the dog away. «Alice, are you hurt?»
The girls frightened eyes made her chest tighten.
«Hehe wanted to tear the kitten apart!» Alice sobbed.
«Its alright now. Lets get you home.»
«I cant.»
«Most girls your age» Rose stopped. *Strange child.*
«They wont let me. Ill hide him under the stairs if they dont throw him out again.»
«Who?»
«Them.»
At school, Rose inquired about Alices family. The maths teacher, old Margaret Hayes, muttered about a troubled homedrunk mother or stepfather.
Rose followed Alice home later. The girl paused at a bench, pulling out a textbook. *Doing homework outside?*
Rose argued with George that eveningdivorced two years ago, no kids. «Natasha was perfect for you!»
«Boring,» hed said. Now he was with someone «exciting.»
Rose stepped out for air and heard a slurred voice shouting, «Alice! Wheres that wretched girl?»
A dishevelled womanAlices eyes mirrored in hersstood by the door.
«Excuse me, are you Alices?»
«Piss off.»
«Im her teacher. Where is she?»
«Asleep inside.» The woman stumbled in.
Rose called softly, «Alice? Its alright.»
The girl emerged from the shadows.
«Come home with me.»
«Shell punish me.»
«She wont dare.»
«Theyll take me to care if she loses custody.»
«Who is she?»
«My grandma. My mums gone. Four years now. They handed me to her and her husband. She gets money for me.»
Rose took her home. George stared when they entered.
«Whos this?»
«Alice.»
The girl gaped at him. He left, glancing back.
Next morning, Rose fed Alice breakfast.
«Lets go shopping.»
«To the childrens home?»
«To the shops.»
George watched, thoughtful. «Whered you find her?»
«My student.»
At the store, Rose bought her new clothes. The girl glowed.
«Your granddaughters lovely,» the cashier said. «Looks just like you.»
Rose smiledstrangely happy.
Alice clung to her old clothes. «Theyll sell them for drink. Then theyll hit me.»
Rose sighed. «Lets bake a cake.»
Alice brightened. «Mum and I used to. Can I show you?»
They laughed, baked, and drank teauntil George returned, souring the mood.
Alice stood to leave.
«Wait,» George said. «Who sent you?»
Alice shook her head.
Rose frowned. «Whats going on?»
George exhaled. «Mum this is Diana Sedleys daughter. My daughter.»
The truth unraveleda youthful romance, a secret pregnancy, denial. Diana had died, leaving Alice in neglect.
Rose held Alices hand in court, terrified theyd take her. George fought for custody.
Later, Alice asked, «Dad, can I live with Grandma? Shes lonely.»
«And me?»
«You have Ellen.»
Rose walked hand-in-hand with her granddaughter, uncaring of gossip. Shed found her joy.
George grew close to Alice, though Ellen left. «Not because of you,» he assured her.
At parents evening, George met Alices teachernow his new love. Alice had both grandmother and mother at school.
«Hard having teachers as family?» classmates asked.
«Nah,» Alice grinned. «Its brilliant.»
George often whispered, «Diana, forgive me. Ill never fail her again.»
Sometimes Alice visited her other grandmacleaning, cooking, scolding her to quit drinking.
The woman wept, kissing her hands. «My granddaughter, my blood.»
And promised to change.
