The girl was untidy, her hair tied up messily in uneven braids, her school uniform wrinkled with a crooked collar and cuffs. She had a downcast look about her.
Margaret Winthrop wrinkled her nose. Why had she thought of that scruffy child? She set aside her beloved éclairwhere was George? Hed promised to come early today. It was the anniversary of Edwards passing
She thought she heard a knock at the door.
«Whos there? George, is that you? Did you forget your keys?»
«Miss Winthrop, you left your keys on the chair.»
«What? What keys?»
Margaret opened the door and saw that same girl. What was this?
«Sedley? What keys? How did you know where I live? Were you following me?»
The girl shook her head. She wore a worn-out hat, a shabby coat with a stain on the pocket, and old, sagging tights with shoes nearly falling apart.
Only now did Margaret notice how striking the girls eyes weredeep blue, framed by thick black lashes.
She had recently joined the school as an English teacher, retired after years at a college but unable to stay idle. Strange child, this oneshe never mingled with the others. What was her name again? Alice? Yes, Alice Sedley.
«Miss Winthrop, you left your keys on the chair. I called after you, but you didnt hear.»
«Oh! Well, thank you goodness. I mustve forgotten to put them in my bag. Old age, I suppose.» She tried to joke.
«Youre not old,» Alice said earnestly. «You just hurried, thats all.»
«Thank you Alice.»
«Youre welcome. Goodbye, Miss Winthrop.»
«Goodbye»
Margaret closed the door thoughtfully, then pausedopened it again. She heard soft footsteps descending the stairs.
«Alice,» Margaret called down. The girl looked up. «How did you know where I live?»
«I live next door. I see you walking to school sometimes. I stay close when the dogs aroundRex, the stray. He growls at me, but Im not scared. I feed the cats in the basement, and he doesnt like that. As for your address I asked the ladies on the bench. Told them you teach at my school.»
Margaret frowned. What a peculiar childwas she keeping tabs on her?
«Would you like some tea?» The question slipped out before she could stop herself.
Alice nodded instantly.
Impudent, reallyshe shouldve refused.
Margaret poured the tea.
«Are you hungry?»
Alice shook her head, but Margaret knew better. Why was she bothering with this girl?
«You know what? I cant eat alone. George is latelets have dinner together.»
She bustled about, pulling food from the fridge. Alice ate neatly but hungrily.
«Thank you,» Alice said, eyeing the leftover meatballs. «I should go. Your cooking is lovely.»
A child so hungry she even complimented my cooking
Margaret packed the meatballs, some pasta, a handful of sweets, and handed them over.
«No need for thanks,» she muttered. But Alice took them.
Later, Margaret scolded herselfthis wasnt professional. What if the girl hugged her in front of everyone tomorrow?
George arrived in the morning, sheepish.
«What was yesterday?» she asked sharply.
«Thursday, Mum. Todays Friday.»
«Dont be smart, George.»
«Ah, now its serious. Im thirty, you know»
«It was your fathers memorial. He didnt deserve to be forgotten.»
«Mum he wouldnt care if we remembered him yesterday or today. Lets do it properly tonight. Im knackeredday off.»
«So youre sleep-deprived? What were you doing all night?»
«You really want to know?»
Margaret left for work in a foul mood.
She waitedfor a sign, a word from Alice. But the girl passed by with only a routine greeting.
Cheeky little thing.
All day, Margaret tried to corner her. Was she avoiding her?
She walked home slowly, hoping to spot Alicenothing.
Three days later, near the bus stop, she heard a scream.
Alice, sleeve torn, struggled as a huge mongrel snarled at her.
«Shoo!» Margaret chased the dog off. «Alice, are you hurt?»
The girls frightened eyes pierced her heart.
«Hehe wanted to hurt the kitten!» Alice sobbed.
Margaret held her. «Its alright now. Shouldnt you be home?»
«I cant. They wont let me.»
«Who?»
«Never mind.»
At school, Margaret inquiredno one knew much about Alice. Only the elderly maths teacher, trembling Miss Cartwright, muttered, «Troubled home. Mother and stepfather drink.»
Margaret trailed Alice after schoolwatched her stop at a bench, pull out a textbook. Doing homework outside?
At home, she argued with George againdivorced two years ago, no children, drifting. «Natasha was perfect for you,» she snapped.
«Boring,» hed said. Now hed found someone «interesting.»
She stepped outside for airheard a raspy voice.
«Alice! Wheres that wretched girl?»
A dishevelled woman lurched near the flats. Same eyes as Alicemother? Grandmother?
«Excuse meare you Alices family?»
«Buzz off.»
«Im her teacher. Where is she?»
«Home. Asleep.» The woman stumbled inside.
Margaret called into the dark, «Alice? Dont be afraid.»
The girl emerged from the shadows.
«Come home with me.»
«Shell punish me.»
«She wont dare.»
«Theyll take me away if she loses custody.»
«Who is she?»
«My nan.»
«Wheres your mother?»
«Gone. Four years now.»
«Did she drink too?»
«No. We were happy. Then she got sick. Now its just Nan and her bloke. They get money for me.»
Margaret took her home. George, halfway out the door, froze.
«Whos this?»
«Alice.»
The girl stared at him.
«Staying the night?» he asked.
«Dunno.»
In the morning, Margaret let her sleep, fed her breakfast.
«Lets go.»
«Where? The childrens home?»
«Shops.»
George, still home, watched curiously.
«Whered you find her?»
«My student.»
«Ah.»
At the store, Margaret bought her new clothes. The girl glowed.
«Your granddaughters lovely,» the shopkeeper remarked. «Looks just like you.»
Margaret smiledher heart oddly light.
«Well toss these rags.»
«No!» Alice clutched her old coat. «Theyll sell them for drink. Then Ill get hit.»
«What should we do?»
«Dunno.»
«Café?»
«With you?»
«If youd like.»
«Can you bake?»
«Ernot really.»
«Mum and I used to. I could teach you.»
They baked, laughed, drank tea. George returnedtoo soon.
«I should go,» Alice murmured.
«Ill walk you.»
George blocked their path. «Who are you?»
«Alice. I told you,» Margaret said sharply.
«Did she send you?»
Alice shook her head.
«George, whats going on?»
He exhaled. «Mum this is my daughter.»
The truth spilled outa youthful fling with Diana Sedley, years of denial. Hed only believed when he saw Alices faceMargarets mirror.
«I wont let her go back there,» George vowed.
Tests confirmed it. In court, Georges girlfriend stood by him. Margaret clung to Alices handher granddaughter, her blood.
Time passed. George grew close to Alice, though his relationship ended.
«Dad, can I live with Gran?»
«What if she says no?»
«She wont. Shes lonely.»
«And Im not?»
«Youve got your life.»
Now Margaret walks hand-in-hand with Alice, uncaring of gossip. Shes found her joy.
George, attending a parents evening, met Alices teachernow Alice has both grandmother and mother at school.
«Hard having teachers as family?» friends ask.
«Nah. Its brilliant,» Alice laughs.
She still visits her other grandmothercleans, cooks, scolds them to stop drinking. The old woman weeps, kisses her hands.
«My girl, my blood,» she cries, promising to change.
Sometimes, the smallest kindness unravels the tightest knotsand love finds its way home.
