Two days later, Mike returned from his two nights and one day off. He was feeling refreshed and ready to get back to work. He headed straight to the office to get on with some paperwork as soon as he had said hello to the children who were around.
Seeing as Mike was in the office, May-Li decided to busy herself in the house. She started by tidying some of the toys away, annoyed with the younger children for leaving them out.
Farah walked into the living room seeing May-Li. She needed the woman's help and knew that the woman hadn't seen her. This gave her time to prepare herself. She took a deep breath. She could do this. Se felt ready to do this. It was the right change. She had even had a slight practice and she could do it. She softly put her hand out and swiped it against May-Li's shoulder. Her hand swiftly touched May-Li just enough to get her attention without actually touching her.
May-Li turned around shocked to see it was Farah. She was unsure why she was shocked as all of the other children would have called on her. She was pleasantly surprised that the girl had made contact, although limited, with her.
Farah moved closer to May-Li and moved her mouth close towards May-Li's ear. The woman didn't move, not wanting to interrupt the movement of whatever the girl was about to do.
"Juice please" Farah whispered into May-Li's ear. May-Li nodded and guided the girl to follow her. She wanted to jump for joy, scream out that the girl had actually spoken to her but instead she knew she had to act as normal and pray that Farah would feel able to speak again.
"Then let's go into the kitchen" May-Li encouraged as they walked through the house to the kitchen. She was slightly confused as to why Farah had asked for juice as this was something that the girl was used to getting herself.
They entered the kitchen and May-Li went to get the juice out of the fridge, she had made more up this morning. She noticed that there was none so moved to the cupboard, again there was none. She looked questioningly at Farah, who moved her hand to point up to the top of the units.
"Ah that's why you need my help" May-Li said out loud. It made sense now. It just so happened that Ryan walked past to go outside.
"Ah Ryan, can you get the juice down for us?" May-Li asked and with one easy reach, Ryan reached up and got the juice before passing it to May-Li. During this time, Farah got herself a cup and May-Li poured it for her.
"Thanks" Farah said before walking up to her room. May-Li ensured that Farah was safely up the stairs and in her own room before running to the office.
"I got her to talk! I got her to talk!" May-Li sang as she danced around the office. Mike stopped and looked at her.
"What?" Mike asked.
"Farah, she just spoke to me" May-Li said excitedly, and Mike took his glasses off and smiled.
"What did she say?" He asked.
"Juice please and thank you" May-Li said. "But it's a start. That is a massive step for her"
Mike smiled. He was so relieved that the girl was finally starting to settle in.
Once May-Li had finished what she needed to do in the office, she headed to the kitchen to start making lunch. She saw Floss, Harry, Toni and Billie all gather around the table.
"Is everything okay guys?" She asked. They still weren't allowed any new toys out of the toy cupboard and had resorted to coming up with games themselves. They nodded towards May-Li and then continued their conversation.
"Why doesn't she talk though?" Harry asked.
"Can't she talk or is she just choosing not to? Maybe it's for attention" Floss suggested, and the twins shrugged. They liked Farah and didn't understand they why Harry and Floss had such a thing for her.
"Who are you talking about?" May-Li asked.
"Farah" Floss said "I just don't get why she won't talk"
"It's not that she won't or she can't. It's a mixture. Something in Farah's brain has told her that speaking is bad and no matter how hard Farah tries her brain isn't letting her speak. It's important that we spend time with Farah and hopefully she will feel more able to speak" May-Li explained, and Floss nodded. However, May-Li knew that look and Floss was up to something. She just hoped that they'd leave her alone.
Once lunch was ready, all the children came down the stairs and ate happily. Farah sat next to Carmen and Tee. She enjoyed spending time with the older girls. Therefore, after lunch she decided to watch TV with them. They walked through to the living room and suddenly Floss jumped out at Farah. The girl jumped slightly but didn't make a sound. Throughout the TV show they were watching, different things kept jumping out at Farah. Each time she didn't move, by the time the 5th thing had jumped out at her. She threw her pillow in the direction that the object was coming from and then stormed out the room.
On her way out the room, she noticed Harry and Floss hiding behind the sofa. When she walked past, Farah kicked her leg out kicking Floss hard in the shins.
"She just kicked me" Floss said standing up.
"You deserved it, she was just trying to watch the TV and you kept annoying her" Carmen said defending the girl.
"What happened?" Mike said coming through hearing the noise.
"Farah just kicked me" Floss said.
"Because we were watching the TV and Floss and Harry kept throwing things at her" Carmen defended.
"Why were you throwing things at her?" Mike asked.
"Because we wanted to see if she would speak" Floss explained and Mike put his hands through his head.
"Just leave her alone, it's her choice if she wants to talk or not" He said.
"So it is her choice, not because she can't" Floss said.
" Yes, I mean no, well it's a lot more complicated that than" Mike explained.
Meanwhile, May-Li was up the stairs handing out the washing that she had just dried. She peered into Farah's room having heard her coming up the stairs.
"Is everything okay?" May-Li asked, and Farah sighed putting her hand through her hair.
"Do you want to speak about it?" She asked, and Farah nodded slightly.
"Floss and Harry kept throwing things at me so I kicked her" Farah admitted looking nervously at May-Li. She was unsure how May-Li would react to that.
"Violence isn't the answer, but I will speak to Floss and Harry. I know it's hard but next time come to me instead of reacting" May-Li explained, and Farah nodded.
"How do you feel?" May-Li asked and Farah shrugged.
"Do you mind if I write something down?" Farah asked and May-Li shook her head.
"Of course not" She said sitting back and waiting for Farah to start writing. Farah wrote quickly before handing the note to the woman.
I don't want you to be confused if I stop speaking to you. It's not because anyone has done anything wrong. It's that my brain shuts down and doesn't allow me to speak even if I want to.
"I understand don't worry" May-Li said "I'm just happy you feel you can trust me enough to speak to me"
Farah smiled.
"I just want you to know that I won't be telling people what you are saying to me. I'm not like that, this is trust that we are building between each other and it's only right that I give you the respect back. I will only ever tell Mike, as he is my boss and your social worker if I think you or someone else is at harm" May-Li explained "And then I will only tell them the bits they need to know, it's up to you when you share any information"
Farah relaxed into a smile.
"Thank you" Farah said and May-Li smiled back.
"Well, I best get down the stairs and sort out the rest of this house. I think I'm the only person who does this" May-Li said and Farah nodded.
"Do you have anything else you want to ask or talk about?" May-Li asked, and Farah shook her head.
"Actually" She said realising something and May-Li stopped walking out of the room and looked at Farah.
"It's silly" Farah said nervously.
"Nothing is silly, you can ask or talk to me about anything" May-Li said.
"Can you show me how to work the shower as I only know how to work the bath" She asked and May-Li smiled.
"Of course, I can show you" She said as they walked to the bathroom. Farah grabbed the towel and wash bag from her room and followed May-Li. May-Li taught the girl what to do and then left her to allow her to have her shower.
May-Li spoke to Floss and Harry hoping that it would finally be the end of them annoying Farah. She knew that bickering was going to happen in a residential home but she didn't understand why they were so focused on Farah. It was hardly fair.
After her shower, Farah came down the stairs and watched TV with Carmen and Tee. She sat with her notebook in her hand ready to right down any responses or questions she had. Both Carmen and Tee found it useful to be able to communication with Farah and she really was a friendly girl.
Sorry it's just a filler chapter. I needed to have Farah speak to May-Li for the next chapter. Also two quick questions, do you know if May-Li and Alice adopted the two children or if they are Alice's? Also do you know their names? Please review and let me know what you think. Could do with a few more ideas too