Hope people are still reading this :) I aim to update every 3 or 4 days at least to start off with so make sure you check every few days :) I only had a couple of reviews so not sure if people aren't reading or if they haven't noticed. Remember you can follow or favourite the story to get emails when I update. Love hearing your ideas and thoughts, also just to know if you are reading or not :)
Farah had been at Ashdene Ridge for almost a week now. She was very much the same as to how she had been when she arrived. Though she did seem more comfortable. She enjoyed reading her book and had gone through a number of books from the bookcase. She coloured in and drew with the twins and Floss at times as well as watching TV with Tee and Carmen. However, all in all she did like to spend time alone in her room.
She still had not spoken to anyone. Mike and May-Li had tried to ensure that they did not put too much pressure on her to speak. They continued as they normally did. They both decided to give Farah some space to settle in.
It was Tuesday morning and Mike was in the office going through some files. He had ensured that all the children were up and dressed as well as already eaten breakfast. He was in the middle of updating a file when the phone rang.
"Hello, Ashdene Ridge" He said.
"Hello Mike, it's Helen, Farah's social worker here" Helen said.
"Oh hello, have you found out anymore information on Farah?" Mike said as he stood up and closed the door to ensure privacy.
"I have, although it has simply made me even more concerned" Helen said. Helen went on to explain that Farah had gone to school until the summer when she would have gone into Year 2. She simply did not return to school. There had been no recording of her since that date. Her mother was exactly the same. Yet still, it was a mystery as to where she was.
"Did they say anything about Farah's speech?" Mike asked.
"I called them up to speak about it as nothing was stated in her notes but they said she was a bright, articulate little girl. Mum was a stay at home mother who was pregnant the last time they saw Farah" Helen explained, and Mike nodded. He made some notes on the file about this. So now they had a missing mothing and perhaps a missing sibling too.
"I have booked Farah in for a doctor's appointment today at 2 o'clock" Helen said "I need a full examination to check for any signs of abuse"
"Today, I'm on my own here. May-Li is off for the next two days" Mike pleaded.
"Sorry, it's essential. I can get a relief care worker to take her, but I don't know how well that will go down" Helen said.
"Don't do that yet. I will call May-Li and see if she would be able to take Farah" Mike said. There was no way he'd be able to take Farah, the girl still struggled around men and he wouldn't be allowed in the room when they were doing the examination anyway. The girl needed someone with her one to one. This was one of the challenges of having Farah in a children's care home rather than with a short-term foster family or secure home. However, he knew how short they were on resources.
As soon as Mike had ended the call with Helen, he quickly phoned May-Li. He hated phoning her on her days off, but it was a really difficult situation that they were in.
"Hello, I'm so sorry to bother you. I've just had Helen on the phone, and she's made Farah an emergency doctor's appointment. She's really concerned about her as she's found out that she's been untraceable since just before she turned 7 and her mother is also untraceable" Mike said.
"Don't worry about it, I'll take her. What time is it?" May-Li asked.
"It's 2 o'clock" Mike stated.
"Okay, I'll be there at about 1:30" May-Li said, and Mike thanked her. He was so lucky to have such an amazing care worker working along side him. He was not sure where he would be without May-Li.
Mike went up the stairs to speak to Farah. He knocked on the door and waited until Farah opened the door. Farah was starting to understand the rules they followed in the home and understood that people would knock on her door and wait to be allowed in. She liked this rule; it allowed privacy. They were very patient here. She opened the door and looked at Mike.
"Helen was on the phone; you have a doctor's appointment at 2 o'clock. May-Li will pick you up at 1:30" He explained and instantly Farah started shaking her head. She really did not want to go to this appointment.
"I understand that you don't want to go but every young person that comes into care has to go through a medical examination. We just want to make sure that you are okay" Mike explained. He noticed that his words did nothing to calm Farah done.
"Try not to worry about it just now. Just relax until May-Li is here" He said supportively, and Farah stepped back. She waited until Mike was going down the stairs and then closed the door behind him.
Farah stayed in her room for the whole morning until she was called down for lunch. She debated about hiding in her bedroom, but she knew that it would just cause too much hassle. She just needed to take a deep breath. She could do this, she also had May-Li with her. What else could go wrong?
Farah nervously walked down the stairs and was served her lunch from Mike. She accepted it and went to sit down. Slowly, Farah was becoming more confidently and able to eat with the rest of the children. She still ate nervously and was wary of her surrounding, but she was at least more comfortable.
Just as they were finishing lunch, May-Li arrived. She smiled to Farah as she walked into the room. She knew that the girl was nervous.
"Are you ready for our little adventure?" May-Li asked. "I'll have time to stop for ice cream afterwards, if you'd like?"
May-Li thought putting a reward on the end might help Farah. It was a strategy that tended to work with younger children, but Farah was often someone who wanted to please, so she thought that a little reward might work well for her.
May-Li waited patiently for Farah to finish eating but soon realised that the girl was taking her time on purpose.
"Farah, we need to leave soon, or you will be late. If you have had enough to eat, then put the leftover food in the bin and your dish goes in the sink" May-Li said sternly. She needed the girl to know that this was important, and that May-Li was aware of what Farah was doing. Farah glared unhappily at May-Li before standing up and putting her uneaten food in the bin and placing the dish beside the sink.
She did not understand why May-Li was being like this. She thought that May-Li was on her side and someone that she could trust. If she was on her side, why was she making her go to an appointment which she didn't want to go to?
"Come on sweetie, I promise it won't be that bad" May-Li said softly as she walked over to Farah.
"Let's get you in my car" She said softly as she guided Farah. Farah reluctantly followed. They arrived at the car and May-Li opened the back door. She saw the girl start to move away. She was unaware as to why the girl might dislike cars so tried everything, she could think of to calm her down.
"You are going to sit in the back and put your seatbelt on. If you don't know how then I will help you" May-Li explained "I know the drive to the doctors by heart but if it makes you feel better then we can put it into my phone and I will follow the directions"
Farah nodded listening to exactly what May-Li said. She sat down and started to put her seat belt on. May-Li waited until she was sure that the girl was all belted up before getting in the car herself. She put her data on and listened to the instructions to the doctors. She followed them which helped Farah relax. May-Li continually spoke to the girl the whole time.
They arrived at the doctors and didn't have to wait long to be seen. May-Li was nervous as to how Farah would cope with the examination as she hated anyone touching her.
"Hey, you will be okay" May-Li said supportively "I will be with you the whole time"
Farah nodded and they drifted into a soft silence until Farah's name was called. Together they walked to the office.
"If you want me to go at any point just let me know" May-Li said, and Farah nodded. She did not want to be left alone. Normally at the age of 12, May-Li would speak to the child about whether they wanted her in the appointment or not. Usually she would at least stay for the start and many children just asked her to stay anyway.
"Hello, my name is Dr Gardner and I am the GP here. I know all of the children who you live with. I will be doing your medical examination today" Dr Gardner explained, and Farah nodded.
"Now we will start with your weight and height" The doctor said. Farah co-operated for both of these. The doctor then took her blood pressure and temperature which she recoiled from slightly. She checked her throat and noted that nothing was wrong with the girl's vocal cords. She went to ask Farah a question and May-Li stepped in.
"We think she is selective mute, but she does write" May-Li explained and the doctor nodded.
"I need you to take your clothes off for part of the examination. Are you happy for both myself and May-Li to stay here?" She asked and Farah agreed. She was too scared for May-Li to leave her. She pleaded with her eyes at May-Li to tell her what to do.
"If you could take your clothes off leaving only your underwear" Dr Gardner instructed and reluctantly Farah did as she was asked. She took off her jeans and then her top leaving her pants and crop top that May-Li had bought her off. May-Li closed her eyes to prevent her from gasping as she saw the girl's back.
"I'm going to need to take some pictures of these" Dr Gardner instructed. On Farah's back were about 8 big, red, infected welts. Dr Gardner touched one gently and Farah squealed and unexpectedly jumped into May-Li's arms. It was a quick contact before she recoiled again.
"I will give you cream and antibiotics for these" Dr Gardner instructed and May-Li nodded. Dr Gardner then checked Farah's breathing and quickly looked over her for more bruises. The girl had hand marks on her arms which had bruised.
"Farah, these two bruises worry me a lot" She said as she pointed to the two bruises on Farah's hips.
"You are underweight which I will speak to May-Li and your social worker about meaning that you don't have a lot of fat covering your hips but these bruises suggest more than that. It looks like someone has put all they weight on you here" She said indicating to the front of the girl's hips.
"Now people only hold you down here, when they want you to stay still so that can have control of your lower body, perhaps to stop you getting away" Dr Gardner went on to say. "Due to these concerns, I'm going to have to do a pelvis examination too"
This was something that May-Li had never had to sit through before, she had heard about it happening but never to a child that she was looking after.
"Farah, that means that you need to take your pants off for the doctor" May-Li softly explained. She hated the thought of what this young girl had been through. Farah started shaking her head and moving backwards.
"Put this gown on" May-Li said as she opened it up and helped the girl put it on. May-Li spoke her through all the steps and soon got her onto the bed. She was lay back and May-Li was standing next to her holding her hand. Farah was not holding it back but at least she wasn't recoiling from the contact.
"If you turn so that you are facing her and sit slightly on the bed, it might take the pressure off" The doctor explained, and May-Li agreed. She stepped up and leant towards the bed. Dr Gardner spoke through the whole process that she was doing but Farah closed her eyes and looked up to the ceiling. May-Li noticed that the girl was holding her breathe, making her head sweat slightly and her hair stuck to it. She softly moved the hair away from Farah's face. Farah's eyes pinged open and she was relieved to see May-Li.
"You are almost done" May-Li said softly, and Farah nodded. The doctor was as quick as she could and then told Farah that she could get dressed again. Herself and May-Li walked out with the curtain.
"I will sent this away for testing and a report will be given to the social worker within 2 working days" Dr Gardner explained "I have also sent through a prescription for antibiotics and cream from the welts"
May-Li nodded. She was still in shock from what she has witnessed.
"Do you think she has been sexually assaulted?" May-Li whispered, and the doctor nodded.
"There doesn't seem to be any lasting damage, but I suspect that she was, though I don't think she was raped but was sexually assaulted" The doctor said, and May-Li nodded. She hoped that Farah would be willing to speak to them so that they could give her the support she required.
"Is there any conditions I should be aware of? Anything from her previous notes?" May-Li asked.
"She has a history of eye infections which are due to her heritage but that's it" the doctor said.
"Heritage?" May-Li said confused.
"It appears Farah's mother was Thai. You can slightly see it in her, with the hair and her eyes. I think you'll notice it more when she spends more time in the sun" The doctor said and May-Li agreed. Just as they finished speaking Farah came out.
"We'll go and pick up your prescription and then do you want ice cream?" May-Li asked as they left and Farah shook her head.
"Are you sure?" She asked and Farah nodded. They quickly picked up the prescription and drove home. They drove home in silence thinking about everything that had just happened. Farah was so nervous that May-Li had changed her opinion of her due to what she found out today.
They arrived home and Farah ran up the stairs to her bedroom while May-Li spoke to Mike. She explained about the antibiotics and then the cream, stating that she would put the cream on when she was back at work on Thursday as she doesn't think that Farah would let anyone else do it. She quickly explained about the abuse they noticed and the pelvis examination before telling him to keep a close eye on her.
"I'm going to check on her before I go" May-Li said and Mike nodded. He was going to suggest that May-Li stayed but it was clear that she was affected by the appointment today and some space was needed.
"Farah" May-Li said loudly through the door after knocking. Not hearing a reply she opened the door.
"Farah, that's me going away but please remember if you need to speak to me you can text or call me" May-Li said. Farah was lying on her bed. She did not even move when May-Li spoke. The woman knew it was best to leave her alone so closed the door and left.