Their mother sent them to the orphanage right after New Years Day
The girls cried. They had been raised at home. While their mother focused on her love lifesomething she did constantlythe sisters, Emily and Lily, lived with their grandmother. But when their grandmother passed away on Boxing Day, their mother gave them up. No, she wasnt recklessshe didnt drink or even smoke. Still, wasnt it unfair that her ex-husband lived as he pleased, while she had to struggle alone with two children?
As she unbuttoned Lilys coat, their mother murmured, «Stop crying. Its just how things turned outam I to blame? Youll be fine here. Youll thank me later!» Lily, only three, was sobbing uncontrollably, not fully understanding what was happening. But seeing the anger in their mothers eyes and the frightened, tear-streaked face of seven-year-old Emily, she sensed something was terribly wrong. Their mother hissed, «Dont embarrass me. Im not abandoning youIll come back once Ive sorted things out. Ill fetch you at Easter!» The girls quieted, still sniffling, clinging to her promise.
Adjusting to the childrens home was hard, though the caretakers grew fond of themtouched by their quiet manners, quick minds, and devotion to each other. Emily captivated everyone with her solemn dark eyes, while little Lily, sweet and round-faced, followed her everywhere. «Whens Easter coming?» Lily would ask, tugging Emilys sleeve. «Will Mum come then?» Patiently, Emily explained, «Easters in spring, remember how Gran used to dye eggs?» Lily would nod gravely, but then, recalling Gran, her eyes would well up. Emily wished she knew the answer herself. When she asked the matron, Mrs. Thompson was surprisedmost children counted down to Christmas or birthdays. Still, she gave Emily a small calendar. «See this circled date? Thats Easter. Each number is a day. When I was in school, I crossed off days till summer break.» Emily did the same, watching the chain of numbers shrink.
On Easter morning, Lily burst into Emilys room clutching a red egg. «Sis! Mums coming today! Im so happyarent you?» Emily had been counting the hours, but after naptime, dread settled in. By evening, when it was clear their mother wasnt coming, she soothed Lily: «The bus mustve got stuck. The roads are awful noweven the caretakers say so. Dont crytheyll dig it out, and Mumll come tomorrow. Shell stay in the village tonight!» Lily nodded, swallowing tears. But their mother never came, though the girls invented excuses for her absence. One morning, Emily found Lily gonethe caretakers said their mother had taken her. Much later, Emily learned shed been formally relinquished. But luck found her: two years on, her fathers sister, Aunt Margaret, traced her. Kind and warm, Aunt Margaret became the mother Emily needed, slowly mending her heart. She tried not to think of her mother or Lilythough she knew Lily had been too young to understand.
Years passed. Emily trained as a nurse, married, had a son. Life wasnt lavish, but it was full of love. Then, a letter arrived. From Lily.
«Dear sister, you probably dont remember me? I only recall your braids and your checkered slippers. Id love to see you! Weve moved back to the areaif youre willing, may I visit?» Emily hesitatedinviting herself over was oddbut she agreed.
Lily, in a blue jacket, limped toward her at the bus station, waving eagerly. The moment their eyes met, she flung her arms around Emily. «Its you! I knew it straight away!» Emily grumbled, «Still a crybaby,» though her own eyes stung.
After dinner, Lily explained: «Dont blame Mum. When she met Uncle Simon, he said hed take her with kidsbut she feared bringing two at once. Then they had a boy, then a girlVicky, such a doll! Uncle Simons a brilliant carpenterwe even holiday by the seaside sometimes. But in Year 7, a bull gored me. Thank God no one else was hurt, but Ive limped since Your pies lovelymay I have the recipe?»
Emily asked, «Do you work? Study? Any sweethearts? Youre so pretty!» Lily flushed. «After the accident, I needed lots of treatmentcost a fortune. I help at home or with Uncle Simons accounts. Mums a council accountant. As for friends well, the limp doesnt help. But Im used to it.»
Emily insisted Lily stay overnight, promising to see her off in the morning. Once Lily slept, Emily noticed her neatly folded clothesclean but threadbare, mended repeatedly. Hospital orderlies earned pennies, but even they wouldnt wear such things to visit family.
At 3 a.m., Emily woke her husband. «Drive me to Willowbrook. Now.» He grumbled but went. On the way, she explained. His frown softened into a nod.
Finding her mothers house was easy. Her heart pounded as she knocked. The door openedher mother, still elegant but older, didnt recognize her. «Good morning, Mum. Here we are.» Her mother greeted her coldly, as if she were a bothersome neighbor. «Wheres Lily? In the shed? Tell her to come inthe kids need breakfast, and yesterdays mess is still here. Well, come in, since youre here.» Emily kept her voice steady. «Lilys staying with me. Pack her things. And money, if you can spare any. Ill get her a job as a hospital aideshe can train there. And her leg needs proper care. Shes too lovely to limp!» Her mother jutted her chin. «Get out. Well fetch Lily ourselves.» Emily shook her head. «Her names Lily. Call your cow Lily if you likeyoull be milking it yourself now. Shall I tell the village how the respectable council worker dumped her kids? Those village gossips wont forget. Try taking her back, and Ill shout it across the county!»
Her mother slammed the door. Half an hour later, a stooped man emerged with a rucksack. «Im Simon. Heres Lilys things. Tell her I hope shes happy. Well send money. Shes been Cinderella long enough.» He sighed. «Dont hold it against your mum. Lifes complicated.»
Walking back, Emily thought: *Yes, lifes complicated. But is simple so hard? That men dont drink or stray? That mothers dont abandon children for a new life? That siblings dont forget each other?*
To be decentthats whats simple.
