It was the following week and the day of Farah's mother and sister's funeral. Both Mike and May-Li were accompanying Farah to the funeral. Farah had begun to slowly settle into school. It wasn't the best environment for her as she was always on edge, but they had started to introduce her into mainstream classes, and she was doing well academically. Socially however was another story. She still refused to speak at school, this had been expected but it meant that she hadn't been able to communicate with other children in her year. Luckily, she felt comfortable going to the SEN base during breaks where she would sit and read. The staff were concerned for her social skills but again she got on well with the children at the Dumping Ground, it was just a case of taking time.
May-Li had woken Farah up early on the Wednesday to get her ready for the funeral. She had showered the night before and quickly did her morning routine before returning to her room. May-Li had laid out a black dress for Farah to wear. The girl put it on with the tights and ballet pumps also left for her.
She walked down the stairs with her brush in her hand. May-Li had grown to realise that when Farah needed contact but felt out of her depth, she would do it in a very subtle way. This was a common one, asking to have her hair brushed. May-Li instantly took the brush from the girl's hand and gently brushed all the knots out of her hair. She held the top of Farah's head and the girl caved into her hold.
"We will be leaving shortly, and Mike will follow behind once he has dropped the younger children off at school" May-Li explained, Farah nodded.
Farah headed into the kitchen to make herself some breakfast. Once she had eaten, May-Li reminded her she had 5 minutes before they would be leaving. Farah nodded, she was nervous about today. Farah was unsure if she had ever been to a funeral before, but she knew she couldn't remember a time when she had.
They drove in silence. It would take them over an hour to arrive and May-Li wanted to ensure that Farah was settled and had perhaps got a milkshake from a café before the funeral started. It would be difficult for her and they were unsure how many people would actually turn up. Helen hadn't told them anything, they didn't even know if it was the council who had arranged the funeral or not.
They arrived and found a café to head to in order to wait for Mike. He was about half an hour behind then and arrived as soon as he could. Both care workers could tell that Farah was nervous and they did what they could to put her at ease but it was difficult.
"We best make our way to the church now" Mike said and both May-Li and Farah nodded. As they arrived, they noticed that a lot of people were going into the church.
"It's busy" Farah said, and May-Li and Mike glanced at each other, it was a lot busier than they had thought it would be. The coffin was already inside as they walked into the funeral directory.
"Where is my sister if that's my mum?" Farah whispered.
"They put them in together" Mike explained, and Farah nodded. That meant they would be together, and she was happy about that. They found a seat about 4 rows from the front and sat down. It was getting busier and Farah was looking around. May-Li grabbed her hand noticing the increased anxiety.
The music started and May-Li encouraged Farah to stand up. She did so and the minister walked in with a couple behind.
"Who are they?" Farah whispered and May-Li shrugged. She really didn't know. It was an elder couple and they were dabbing their eyes clearly upset.
The funeral got underway and Farah did very well. It felt weird hearing this minister speaking about her mother. The woman that she had missed for 6 years. She looked confusingly at May-Li as they started speaking about her and her mother. Different memories they had together, some memories that Farah couldn't remember. That was the hardest part and when the tears slowly started. May-Li pulled the girl into her arms during this time and Mike stroked her hair to let her know he was there.
The service finished and the coffin was taken away. They would follow behind to the church yard.
They followed the line out and shaked the couple's hand.
"Farah is that you?" The older woman asked, and Farah nodded.
"Oh darling" The woman said before pulling Farah into her arms and the tears started. Farah widened her eyes to May-Li and once the woman let go of her so scouted over to May-Li.
"You must come in the car with us. It's only fair" She said.
"How about Farah and May-Li go with you? I need to drive a car there" Mike suggested, and May-Li nodded. She had no idea who this older woman was but clearly, she knew Farah well, not so much vis versa.
They got into the car and drove to the grave side. Again Farah got upset.
"Can I be buried beside them when I die?" She whispered to May-Li who nodded. May-Li held the girl in her arms as they were driven to the wake.
They stayed clear of the couple for most of the wake as they went around speaking to others. No one else came over to Farah which they were grateful for. Once everything was settled the couple came over to Farah, May-Li and Mike.
"Sorry to have been so rude earlier, Bob and Lorna we were Kulap and Shaun's next-door neighbour. We were very close to Farah when she lived there" Lorna explained.
"Farah used to call us, Lulu and Bobo" Bob said smiling. Farah smiled but she really didn't remember.
"When we saw that you had all left the house, we went in. We took three boxes of belongings. All things belonging to your mother and yourself. We wondered if you would come today, they are in my car" Bob explained.
"We can get them and put them in my car" Mike explained and Farah nodded. She was nervous of this couple but wanted to know more about her past.
"Social services spoke to us, asked if we could look after you but we are too old now. It wouldn't be fair. But Farah, we hope that you will visit and write to us. You were like a granddaughter to us, with out grandchildren being in Canada. We loved you like our own and we were so upset when you left. Of course, we understand now." Lorna said and Farah smiled.
"If you give us your number and address, I'm sure Farah will read to you, won't you?" May-Li said and Farah nodded. Both Mike and May-Li were so proud of how Farah had handled today.
They stayed a bit longer and promised to stay in touch with Lorna and Bob. Mike and Bob disappeared to put everything in Mike's car while Farah said her goodbyes to Lorna. It was challenging as she was unable to talk but she did nod and interact in her own way.
Mike travelled home in his car while May-Li took Farah with her.
"You did so well today" May-Li said and Farah nodded. She took a deep breath and relaxed. She had been on edge all day and was very tired now.
Farah fell asleep in the car on the way home, she was so tired, and May-Li had to gently wake her when they arrived home.
Mike had gone straight to pick the younger children up but would only be another 10 minutes.
"Go and have a nap. I'll wake you up in an hour. Do you want the boxes in the attic?" May-Li asked.
"I'd like to look through them first" Farah admitted and May-Li nodded. She felt proud of Farah for being brave and wanting to see what was left.
While Farah was having a nap, May-Li put all the boxes outside the girl's room and once the hour was up. She woke the girl.
"I'm going to make dinner but if you need me then you just need to call" May-Li said and Farah nodded. Farah started looking through the boxes. There was lots of photo albums and she found a photo frame of her mother which she placed next to her bed. She began to let the tears slip down her face until she couldn't hold it in anymore and the sobbing started. Tee was next door and heard the crying, she knocked on the door and walked in, engulfing the girl into her arms.
"Everything is going to be alright" She mumbled to the girl and slowly in the arms of her friend, she calmed down.
"I think dinner is ready, do you feel ready to go down the stairs?" Tee asked and Farah nodded. She walked down the stairs and sat at the table. She was quiet and it was apparent that she had been crying. May-Li squeezed the girl's shoulder to show her that she was there.
Once she had finished eaten, Farah disappeared up the stairs and went straight to bed.
"I hope this isn't her closing up again" Mike said and May-Li nodded.
"I don't think so, she's just tired" May-Li explained and Mike nodded. He did hope that was the car.
Sorry it's been so long. Hope this is okay tho :)