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Chapter Fifty-Three

Banned

Despite the fact Ethel now had trouble with her walking, her and Sybil still attended the after school drama club meaning Esmerelda could speak to Julie for longer before she had to leave, Miss Drill went easy on Ethel and never made her do to much and she was probably the only teacher Esmerelda trusted to look after her. She went and waited outside the room like she always did for them to come out that day, ready to pick them up.

Students started to file out chatting to each other and Esmerelda looked for her sisters among them and was just wondering why she couldn't see them when Miss Drill popped her out out the door.

"Esmerelda I need a word" the woman said and Esmerelda could detect a little bit of worry on her face, with that her heart started to race thinking something was wrong with her sisters.

She walked into the room and saw her sisters sitting next to each other, Ethel looking at the floor and Sybil looking at her sadly.

"What has happened?" Esmerelda asked starting to panic now.

"Nothing serious, I am just worried about Ethel, she looked really upset when she came to drama today and sometimes Ethel takes a bit of persuading now because she is self conscious about her injury as you know, but I tried to talk to her, coax her around but she wouldn't have it, I don't know if she just isn't feeling to good, or if her pain is particularly bad but she won't talk to me" Dimity replied and Esmerelda looked at Ethel, trying to refrain from crying. She hoped she wasn't suffering, she had told her before she will come and pick her up early if need be, but she knows Ethel doesn't like to make a fuss.

"Thank you for looking after her and telling me" Esmerelda said with a small smile towards the teacher before she walked over to Ethel and looked at her.

"Ethie-Weathie what is wrong? Do you feel sick, is it pain?" she asked able to tell just by looking at her that something was wrong. Ethel shook her head, but said nothing.

"Ethel come on talk to me, what has happened?" Esmerelda asked. Sybil looked at her sister and sighed.

"Mildred said that she was fine when they were in potions and then Miss Hardbroom asked to talk to her and they went to talk outside and when she came back in she was upset but wouldn't say why" Sybil told her sister, explaining all the information she knew.

"Mmm" Esmerelda said out loud. She thanked Sybil and then helped Ethel stand, knowing right in this moment she didn't want to talk and there was no point in forcing her, she would take them home, get them some dinner and then tonight when she was doing the bed routine she would try again.

"Thank you again Miss" Esmerelda told her teacher as she led Ethel out with Sybil following behind her.


They got home and the girls went to their room to do homework as Esmerelda took the cottage pie out of the oven to serve. She sighed. From the kitchen she could see into their room and Ethel was still looking bad, she plated the food up before she called them, knowing dinner and a full stomach might help.

"And Clarice didn't get the joke, it was hilarious I still don't think she realises it was a joke" Sybil chuckled as she told her sister about her day as she ate. Esmerelda smiled but that dropped as she saw Ethel.

The middle sister was just playing with her food. Now Esmerelda was more worried. Yes it was true Ethel was so picky it sometimes drove Esmerelda insane but if she had food she liked she was a good eater and wasn't one to skip meals so seeing her not eating only made the worry manifest.

"Is your dinner okay Ethel?" Esmerelda asked wondering if she just didn't like it. She hadn't made it since Julie had gave her the recipe, maybe she made it a bit differently?

"I am not hungry" Ethel said as she continued to play with her food.

"You must be, you haven't ate since lunchtime, please try and eat some Ethel" Esmerelda told her but the girl made no attempt to eat any.

"Ethel you are not leaving this table until you have had some dinner" Esmerelda told her, knowing she couldn't let her go to bed starving, even if she was upset.

"I said I don't want it!" Ethel shouted causing Sybil next to her to flinch at the volume.

"Ethel there is no need to shout!" Esmerelda told her using a sterner voice but not raising the volume of her own voice.

"I SAID I DON'T WANT IT, LEAVE ME ALONE!" Ethel shouted before she pushed the table back and stood up, wobbling a bit because she was being so aggressive but then grabbing her crutches and getting her balance back. She stormed to her bedroom and walked in slamming the door hard.

Esmerelda looked at the door surprised, she thought Ethel had stopped having these tantrums. She turned back and saw Sybil sat their looking worried and upset.

"It is alright Sybil, I am going to go and talk to her, you eat your dinner, it is okay" Esmerelda told her sister getting up and walking to the bedroom and walking in, not knocking, because she was going in right now if Ethel wanted her to or not. She had to say she was surprised to find Ethel lying on her bed crying, she had thought she would be throwing things around.


"Ethel…." Esmerelda said going to sit on the side of her bed and touching her back "What is the matter? Please tell me, Sybil said Mildred told her that you were upset after talking to Miss Hardbroom, did she tell you something to upset you?" Esmerelda asked, knowing that was the only lead she had to go on.

Ethel nodded into her pillow and Esmerelda wondered what the woman could possibly have said to upset Ethel so much, Ethel was clever enough to know not to take the woman seriously in her insults.

"What did she say Ethie? Please tell me or I can't help" Esmerelda told her. Ethel sat up then, with tears streaming down her face before bursting into fresh tears.

"They have banned me from the museum trip" Ethel replied as she cried into her hands. Esmerelda was confused though, if it had being a punishment she would understand but Ethel had not being getting into trouble lately, so unless she did still get into trouble and she didn't know about it, it made no sense.

"Why? Did you do something you shouldn't? Tell me the truth Ethel" Esmerelda told her, knowing she couldn't had to know the exact story as to what had happened.

Ethel shook her head "I didn't do anything I swear, it is because Miss Hardbroom, said they can't cater for me with my additional needs were her exact words" Ethel replied as she cried more.

Esmerelda shook as she took in what she had being told. They hand banned Ethel from the trip because she used crutches? Why did it even matter, she wouldn't need extra care for something like that, it would be exactly the same as her being in school. Esmerelda suspected it was spite because of her rudeness towards Miss Cackle and Miss Hardbroom.

"Those bitches!" Esmerelda shouted unable to help it, they infuriated her so much, and she wasn't one to swear, especially in front of her sisters, but they had crossed a line this time. Ethel looked at her surprised.

"Sorry Ethie, I am just furious, why did you not tell me earlier?" Esmerelda asked and Ethel sighed.

"I thought you might agree…." she said looking down. Esmerelda sighed and hugged her.

"I don't agree, I think it is ridiculous and sick, but don't be upset Ethel, I will take you and Sybil to the museum myself" Esmerelda told her, her sister was not going to miss out. Ethel pulled away and looked at her.

"Really?" she asked

"Of course….I know it won't be exactly the same, you wanted to go with your friends but at least you will get to see it" Esmerelda told her. Ethel leaped on her hugging her again..

"I love you...you are the best big sister ever" Ethel said and Esmie was touched and let a few tears of happiness fall but she was sad too, Ethel had being looking forward to the trip for months and to tell her the week before she was barred was just cruel.

"Thank you Ethel, but next time just talk to me instead of holding it in okay? I can't help if I don't know" Esmerelda told her. Ethel nodded before replying.

"I am sorry for lashing out" she said, knowing she was in the wrong for doing that.

"It is okay Ethel, you are learning, you never would of said sorry years ago" Esmerelda replied knowing she couldn't expect her behaviour to be perfect straight away. It was the way she had always acted it would take time. Ethel looked at her then and smiled.

"Can we go have dinner now? I am starving" Esmerelda replied. Esmerelda chuckled and nodded, hungry herself.

"Of course, come on I will heat it up" Esmerelda told her helping Ethel to her feet.

She was happy Ethel had told her but she was angry at the teachers and was glad she was off so she could have a go at them tomorrow. She was not going to let this go without a fight.