"Jemima stop it," Tayzer growled from her bunk, the 13 year old looked up from her notebook,
"Tay, leave it, she's bored," Jack said, defending her.
"Yeah, but she's been pacing this room all freaking day," Jemima sent the older girl a scornful look.
"For you information Tay I have been calculating the strength of that door and the amount of force we would need to break it," she said, pushing her dark her behind her ears.
"Can you break I'?" Jack asked from the corner.
"No, you would need the power of a small digger, which none of us have."
"So all of your pacing has been for nothing,"
"Oh ge' off ya 'igh 'orse Tay, it's ya fault we're in this shi' 'ole anyway," Jack spoke, Tayzer shut her mouth, that was one thing she couldn't disagree with.
"Do you have to be so Cockney?" Jemima asked,
"Do you have to be so annoying?" Tay shot back, imitating Jemima's welsh accent.
"Ok kids, no need to kill each other," a Policewoman yelled from the other side of the door, they all stood back as she opened the door.
"So which of us do ya want?" Jack asked,
"well we have decided we have no choice but to put you in care,"
"for fucks sake," Tay yelled,
"you 'ave got ter be kiddin' me," Jack muttered, Jemima stayed silent, nibbling her lip,
"are they going to split us up?" she asked quietly.
"No, you three plus your sister are going to the same children's home,"
"but I'm not a child, I'm 16," Tayzer pointed out.
"yes, so Taylor you are allowed to walk away and return to the streets but the other 3 can't, surely it is better you go and live in a children's home. There you will be fed, clothed, sheltered and you will have a chance to get some qualifications," Tayzer grimaced at her real name but still shouted back,
"I'm not going back to fucking school and I don't need bloody qualifications,"
"but you do need food, water, clothes and a home," Jack smiled, having to admit that Policewoman was good. Tayzer sighed dramatically,
"fine, I'll go but if it's a lot of shit I'm walking straight out."
Xxx
Mike shifted his weight from one foot to another, "Mr Milligan?" a Policewoman called,
"that's me," he said, raising a hand,
"this way please."
She guided him through into a small room, she passed him the files that had been compiled that day. He looked at the names: Taylor Zericho, Jack, Jemima and Primrose Anderson. "Have any of them been in care before?" he asked,
"Jemima has, so I presume Primrose has been too. They're sisters after all," he nodded, picking up the folders, the only one that had a decent amount of paperwork in it was Jemima's. He looked up questioningly,
"Taylor and Jack have never been in care before and have refused to speak about their past, we got Jemima's file from her last care home," Mike opened the file,
"this paper work hasn't been done correctly," he told her,
"we know, Jemima ran away after only 3 months of being in care, it was just before her 11th birthday and Prim's file has gone missing but she is Jemima's sister so everything is bound to be the same," Mike nodded, putting the files in his bag. The Officer listened to instructions over her ear piece,
"ok, you can come and meet the girls," she told him.
Xxx
"Prim," Jemima shouted and ran up to her little sister and pulled her into a hug, Prim looked uncomfortable but didn't pull away.
"Hey Buddy," Jack said, sitting down by Jemima and Prim, it was only then that Prim pulled away from her sister. The tiny dark eyed 9 year old walked slowly towards Jack, even though she trusted Jack she still was cautious. Carefully she sat down on the seat next to Jack, Jack took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze, almost immediately Prim relaxed. Tayzer rolled her eyes, she knew that Prim had issues but they had all been together for nearly a year, surely she could be slightly more confident around people who cared about her. Her eye rolling was met with a cold stare from Jemima – overprotective like always.
One of the Policewoman walked in with a balding man who was probably in his 40s. "Girls," the Policewoman said, Jack scowled at her, "this is Mike, he is the head care worker of Ashdene Ridge, that is where you're going to live."
"Hello Mike, I'm Jemima," she said politely, "this is my little sister Prim,"
"hello Jemima, hello Prim," Prim turned away, burying her face in Jack's shirt. Tayzer looked away from Mike, refusing to speak, Jack sighed.
"I'm Jack, she's Tayzer, ignore 'er she's a bitch, she don' wanna come,"
"Jack we don't abide any kind of language like that,"
"what? Cockney?" Jack asked, genuinely confused.
"Swearing and such language," Mike explained.
"bloody 'ell," which earned Jack a sharp dig in the ribs from Jemima, Tayzer laughed.
"You're expecting us to not fucking swear? What kind of shitty kids home do you run?" She asked, brushing back her pink and purple hair.
"Ashdene Ridge is full of lovely kids, they may sometimes get into fights but they are great," he told them,
"lovely kids?" Jemima asked, "I don't believe you, it is probably just another messed up house full of teenage crackheads."
"Well if it is," Tayzer told, "you'll fit right in." The policewoman sent Mike an apologetic glance,
"well I guess we should get going," he said,
"can we 'ave our stuff back?" Jack asked,
"follow me," the officer said.
Xxx
The 5 of them walked across the car park: Tayzer with her head high and many people stared at her miniskirt, fishnet tights and high heels. Meanwhile Prim seemed to be invisible, no one noticed she was there at all. Jack was showing off with a random football Jemima had found.
"I'm guessing you like football," Mike said in an awkward attempt to make conversation.
"Only like?!" Jemima exclaimed, "Jack is obsessed with football."
"You can say that again," Tayzer muttered,
"foo'ie is awesome," Jack told them, kicking the ball into the air and Tayzer caught it.
"Jack, we're in a car park, not a football pitch," she said, Jack groaned at her, "it's for your own good."
"Jack I have a feeling that you will get on very well with Bailey – he absolutely loves football and he is good at it," Mike said,
"I bet Jack is better than him," Jemima said, and out of the corner of his eye, Mike saw Prim nod in agreement.
Mike opened the boot and Jack put both of Tayzer's suitcases in for her, Jemima swung her small holdall on top and then stuffed Jack's rucksack in the remaining space. "Prim would you like to put your rucksack in the boot?" Mike asked, Prim shook her head quickly and darted behind Jemima out of sight. Tayzer chucked Jack the football and climbed in the passenger seat while the younger three took the back.
Xxx
Jemima couldn't help but smile when she stepped out of the car, Ashdene Ridge was big and resembled the houses in her childhood stories, it was so different from the small flat in which she had grown up in. The moment was almost immediately ruined by Tayzer swearing loudly about her stupid being in care was. Jack sent her strange look and passed Jemima her holdall while swinging a rucksack over one shoulder and picking up the football. "Come inside," Mike said, opening the door and the three teenagers and the nervous child entered.
"We will need to sort out paperwork but I guess you want your lunch first," Mike told them, a petite Chinese woman walked out of one of the rooms,
"kids this is May-Li," he told them,
"hi," she said greeting them,
"this is Tayzer, Jack, Jemima and Prim," Mike told her, pointing at them in turn. "Well I guess you probably want to meet the others," he said to them, no one replied, Tayzer just shrugged. Mike sighed and led them into the kitchen.
"Kids listen up," the care kids looked up from their lunch, at the new residents.
"Now he is fit," Carmen whispered to Tee, while Jody was looking Jack up and down in confusion.
"This is Tayzer, Jemima, Prim and..." Mike said before Jody cut him off,
"Jack?!"
