During lockdown I've been watching all episodes of the dumping ground and I came up with this idea. Let me know if you like it :) I hope to continue this if people enjoy it. I'm currently just moving onto 4thseries so I'm going to set it in Series 3. Sasha has arrived and is currently sharing with Tee.
All copyright belongs to CBBC
"What do they mean she doesn't even have a name?" Mike shouted down the phone.
"I understand but this makes things very challenging for us" Mike said. He hung up the phone and looked at May-Li.
"New child?" May-Li asked and Mike nodded.
"A girl of about the age of 11 or 12. Her father was arrested last week, and the council only found out today when they went to empty his flat" Mike explained.
"What? She's been on her own for a week?" May-Li asked, and Mike nodded.
"That poor, poor girl" She said looking down and Mike nodded.
"And she doesn't talk. They don't know if it's because she is traumatised or if it's a learning difficulty" Mike explained.
"Where is she going to sleep?" May-Li asked.
"I don't know. Should we put her in with Jody or move Floss in with Jody and give the new girl her own room?" Mike asked.
"Good luck getting Jody to agree to that" May-Li said as she walked out of the room to continue with the washing. Mike put his head in his hands. This was going to be challenging. Opting for the slightly, and only slightly easier option Mike decided that putting the new girl in with Jody would make most sense. He walked up the stairs to tell Jody. Of course, she wasn't happy about it but it was easier than having both Jody and Floss mad.
"There is a car pulling in" Mo shouted from his bedroom which overlooked the driveway. Mike quickly opened the door and walked towards the car where the social worker was currently climbing out of.
A girl sat in the back, even though the car had stopped she made no movement of getting out. She had long dark hair which was badly matted and his face dark with mud. It wasn't clear what the girl would look like after a good bath.
"Apologies for the delay, I had great difficulty getting her in the car. Also she doesn't like being touched" The social worker explained as Mike opened the backseat door and took a step back.
"Does she have a suitcase?" He asked and the social worker, Helen, shook her head.
"She has a backpack which she took from a hidden cupboard. Someone will have to check it as she refused to let me see inside it" Helen explained "Do you have a female care assistant on today?"
Mike nodded.
"She will definitely need a shower and has fleas" Helen whispered, and Mike nodded. He was relieved that May-Li was in the hallway when they entered the house. Mike walked over to her first.
"You need to stay with us" Mike whispered, and May-Li agreed. She knew that often when she was asked to stay it is due to needing a female assistant to do something especially when the new child is female.
They went into the office so that all the paperwork could be filled in. It was challenging as they did not even have a name. Mike and Helen completed the paperwork while May-Li sat near the girl.
"We will quickly get you settled and then you can have a nice bath or shower. Does that sound nice?" May-Li asked softly but she got nothing back in response. The girl did not even turn her head to speak to her. Helen asked for a private word with Mike and May-Li.
"So I'm sorry that I don't have much more to tell you. She will not speak so I don't know her name. Dad is refusing to speak to anyone as well. He did not even tell them he had a daughter when he went into prison. He is in prison for dealing illegal drugs and violence" Helen explained.
"So he might of hurt the girl?" May-Li asked, and Helen nodded.
"He's also involved with a gang and regularly works with prostitutes so there is a lot to keep an eye on with her. I will arrange a doctor's appointment for as soon as possible. She is very wary of people and I strongly advise giving her, her own room. Ideally, I would wish to place her with a short-term foster family or even a secure unit but nothing is available at present. I will keep in touch and we can review the case next week" Helen explained and they both nodded before seeing Helen out.
"She has fleas and needs a shower or bath. I think you will have to go with her. I don't think she has a clue what to do" Mike said.
"But what about safeguarding?" May-Li asked. This was something she'd never done before.
"It's fine. We had the same issue when Jody arrived, and you help the younger children" Mike replied.
"The younger children are different. They get in the bath, I then come in and wash their hair. Then I leave" May-Li explained still worried.
"Get her to keep her pants and vest on" Mike said "Now I best go and tell Jody and Floss the news".
May-Li returned to the quiet room and looked at the nervous girl. They waited in silence for a couple of minutes before going up the stairs.
"Now you are going to be staying in Floss's room. She will just be moving out just now so why don't we go and have a shower just now?" May-Li said. The girl didn't reply instead stood very still. May-Li made a point of not getting to close to the girl.
"First we'll get you a towel and some clothes from the emergency supply" May-Li explained as she showed the girl to the linen cupboard. She then grabbed a wash bag and put some toiletries in it.
"Can you shower alone or do you need some help?" May-Li asked but was met by silence again. May-Li walked into the bathroom with her and started running the bath. She wanted to give the girl privacy but needed to ensure that she did wash. May-Li exited at bathroom but listened carefully at the door. She gave the girl a couple of minutes before knocking and walking in. The girl was still standing still with all her clothes on.
"It's going to get cold if you don't get in soon" May-Li encouraged softly. She still saw the girl was shaking with fear.
"Come and put your hands in?" May-Li encouraged and slowly the girl did as she was asked and knelt down. She put her hand in and jumped back instantly in shock. She was expecting it to be very cold, but it wasn't. She put her hand back in and added her other hand.
"You can take your clothes off and get in" May-Li encouraged. The girl looked curiously at May-Li before nodding and starting to take her clothes off. May-Li was shocked to see that the girl was wearing 6 layers of clothes. It was not until she got to the last layer a vest that she looked curiously at May-Li.
"You can keep your vest on if you want" May-Li reassured the girl. The girl nodded and then moved onto her trousers. She pulled off her baggy joggers, then another pair of joggers and then two pairs of leggings. At least she did have some clothes, but they all clearly needed washed and were not in the best conditions.
"You can keep your pants on too but when it's just you in the bathroom you can take your pants and vest off too" May-Li explained, and the girl nodded. They quickly got to work on cleaning the girl and May-Li gave the girl some shampoo. The girl loathed her hair in it and then started rinsing it off with the cup given.
"You can quickly put your head under the water if you want" May-Li said and the girl's eyes widened and she shook her head.
"Okay, don't worry. Let me help you" May- Li said as she gently put a hand on the girl's forehead to help her get the shampoo at the line of her hair. The girl jumped out of bath and away from May-Li. She pulled herself tightly into a ball beside the toilet and the wall. It wasn't the most hygienic but May-Li didn't even think about that. She had accidently pushed the girl to far.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean that. I just wanted to help you get the last of the shampoo out" May-Li explained.
"Let's get the shampoo out and then you can go into your bedroom" May-Li softly explained and with a lot of coaxing, she managed to get the girl back over to the bath.
"Just put your hair in the water and make sure you bring the water right up to the hair line" May-Li explained, and the girl nodded before doing what was asked. She was then passed a towel in order to she dry herself.
"I'll go outside. Come out when you are ready. There are new clothes there" May-Li said as she pointed to the small chair with clothes on it. The girl nodded.
"Remember to bring your dirty washing out and I'll show you how to work the washing machine" May-Li explained, and the girl nodded. The girl came out of the bathroom 5 minutes later and walked down the stairs with May-Li. They went into the utility while many of the other children were setting up for lunch. May-Li showed her how to work the washing machine and she completed all the steps as May-Li said them.
It was now lunchtime, luckily Mike had explained to the other children about the girl not speaking but they did all try to speak to her continuously. The girl must have felt so nervous that the whole lunchtime she sat in fear and couldn't even eat.
"Do you think she doesn't like it?" May-Li asked nervously.
"I think she's too overwhelmed. Let's get the other children away" Mike suggested and he encouraged all the other children into the garden. May-Li stayed and as she put away the dishes, she noticed slowly the girl started to eat. Nervously at first and then lavishly. She was clearly hungry.
Once finishing, she nervously walked around with her plate in her hand.
"Shall we put it in the dishwasher?" May-Li asked and the girl nodded. Before doing as she was asked. May-Li smiled. Although it was weird having someone not speaking to her, the girl was kind and helpful. She also listened.
"Floss will be moved out by now. Let's go and see your bedroom" May-Li said going up the stairs. She grabbed the bag from the top of the stairs but was shocked when the girl grabbed it out of her hand.
"It's okay. I don't want to steal it" May-Li explained, and the girl nodded. Once in the room, the girl emptied her bag while May-Li put new bedding on the bed. She watched the girl unpack to ensure nothing dangerous was brought into the room. There wasn't.
"Now I think I've followed you about enough today so I will leave you alone. We have a toy cupboard at the end of the hall. The TV and computer are down the stairs. If you need me, just come and find me" May-Li stated, and the girl nodded. May-Li closed the door behind her and went to the office where Mike was.
"How is she?" Mike said and May-Li shrugged.
"It's hard not knowing her name. She hasn't spoken to me but she did have a bath and do her hair. She hates being touched. She also ate once everyone else was outside. I think it's either choice or selective mute as to why she isn't talking. She doesn't appear to have any learning difficulties. She listens and follows instructions. We should see if she can write. I bet they didn't try that" May-Li thought and Mike nodded.
"Shall we try that tomorrow. I think the girl has had enough for one day" Mike explained, and May-Li agreed.
The girl stayed up the stairs for the rest of the day. She refused food when told it was dinner time. As it was her first day, May-Li agreed and brought food up to her. She explained this would only be a one off. However, when it came to bedtime and May-Li made sure everyone was in bed. She noticed that the food was still untouched.
"Don't you like it?" She asked and the girl shook her head. That wasn't the case. She just wasn't hungry, but she couldn't explain that.
"Okay, it's time to go to bed now" May-Li explained, and the girl nodded. May-Li handed her pyjamas and reminded her to brush her teeth. She was given a look back.
"I placed a tooth brush in your wash bag" May-Li said handing it to the girl. The girl nodded and returned 10 minutes later.
"Straight to bed now" May-Li encouraged and the girl nodded.
"Into bed" She said and the girl looked confused. She took the blanket and pillow from the top of the bed and got underneath the bed. May-Li got down on her knees.
"Come on out. I'll show you where you sleep" She encouraged.
"You pull the duvet down and then get in here" She explained and the girl sat down on the mattress and swung her legs round. She smiled at the comfort.
"Sleep well" May-Li said turning the bedside light on and closing the door tightly. How sad that this young girl didn't even know how to sleep in a bed? She hoped that she settled in well here but they had a long way to go.
So what do you think? Please review :) Love to hear any ideas