Thanks to CamoGirl14, xQueen-Of-Applesx, x snow- pony x and Wall With A Fez for reviewing.
When I came out of the bathroom, dressed in a black pair of jeans of Qwyn's and a knitted, grey and mint- green shirt of Brielle's (Also underwear but that would be too much information). And some guardians-of-the-galaxy-wristbands that Nathan had promptly wanted me to wear George came out of Marley's room and carefully closed the door after him.
"Is she alright?" He showed me to keep my voice down. "Did she fall asleep?" He nodded, put a hand towards my back carefully and led me through the hallway. "What?" He stopped and turned to me.
"You see… Without further explanation. Marley came here two years ago after her whole family- including parents and an older brother were shot dead. Marley hid, but was the first one to see the corpses and well… there was a lot of blood and still to this day Marley gets flashbacks and panic attacks by seeing blood… or something that looks like blood." He patted my arm slightly. "I've got to go and talk to Mike."
I frowned, and sat down on the floor in the hallway. I had promised myself not to compare anyone's story to my own. And of course I wasn't going to compare it to a story where everyone had been shot. But putting my fingers towards the skin and felt the scars from the fleece pants that had melted in the plane crash's fire.
There was a thing I used to think about. Thinking about whatever had happened in the past. There had always been a point where it wasn't just a memory. That it had actually happened. And lord! What would have happened to such a young girl that would make her so broken she had a breakdown from seeing people stained with something that only looked like blood?
I shook the thoughts off of what had once happened to me. It never felt right to think about it with all of the children in here. And with that I stood up and walked down the hallway and into the office. I was still kind of curious of what had happened to Marley. But Mike was on the computer and honestly- I kind of wanted to find out myself before…
"House invasion."
"What?"
"Marley…" Mike continued. "She came her after her whole family died in a house invasion at their home. You… It's two years ago but it had just happened a few hours before she came here and I have never seen a such afraid person. She couldn't stand to be touched and jumped away if she as much as bumped into someone in the hallway. We couldn't have some red kind of juice or jam for months, or tomato sauce since she'd have a breakdown. Then one day Brielle, I guess she was badly craving because she kept on telling me how we needed Marley to get used to it or we'd never be able to even take strawberry jam into the house again and on it went from there. She haven't broken down like that in forever but, I guessed when she came in and not knowing what those stains were and… of course that too. But always, George seemed to be the only one who… kind of got close to her- you know how it is with every child kind of finding a favorite care worker…" Mike shook his head slightly. "Fascinating!" And I couldn't do else then agree. "But… I think I've thought of a punishment that will work for them all and how we could let Marley and Jim get away from it- of course since none of them had anything to do with it. So will you go and get everyone except for them two." I nodded, and then went up the stairs- and decided to go into Violet's room first. Only to get the worst part done fast.
"Go away, I hate you"
"Vee."
"Go away, I'm ill." I forced myself not to fall for that. Knowing that Violet would use it for me to go away even if she wasn't feeling that bad. And I put another few seconds onto figuring what I was going to say. "Are you still there?"
"Yes, and if you can partake in a food fight you can partake in coming downstairs and hearing what punishment Mike has for you." When Violet just moaned I went over and pulled her pillow away from under her head. "And you're not getting this back until after that." Violet glared at me- if glares could kill there wouldn't have been much left of me. Then moaned lightly and pushed herself up from the bed.
"I HATE YOU ALL." When she tried to reach for her pillow I held it away from her and shot her a meaning look. "UGH! I'M GOING TO CALL MY LAWYER AND SAY THAT YOU ABUSED ME WHEN I WAS ILL. AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE FIRED AND CAN NEVER WORK ANYWHERE AGAIN." With that, she threw the door to her room closed before she stomped down the stairs. I just smiled slightly- taking away the pillow when she refused to come wouldn't exactly count as abuse! And she wouldn't be able to do those. So when I was sure that she couldn't hear it, I threw the pillow back on her bed and went to ask Tracie and Ella to come downstairs too.
"So. Everybody." Mike started when they were all- except for Marley and Jim in the kitchen. "I have thought of a punishment for all of you. Because throwing around food like that was really immature and irresponsible."
"It's not fair." Tracie stated. "Peityn started it. She's the one who should get punished."
"That's not fair." Peityn squeaked with her arms crossed over her chest and pouting. "I did it by accident. Violet started it…" Violet started protesting that it wasn't an accident, but before anyone had the time to hear what she really had to say the dumping ground's kitchen had gone into an inferno of shouting voices so loud we could hear everything but not a single word of what anybody said.
"BE QUIET." At last Mike's loud voice sounded loud through all of the children's. "YES. THERE WAS SOMEONE WHO STARTED IT. BUT YOU ALL CONTINUED IT. AND YOU ARE ALL GOING TO GET IN TROUBLE FOR IT."
"Mike calm down." I tried. "No point with scaring them." Mike sighed. Then leaned against the kitchen bench with both hands on the desk. "Now…"
"As punishment for the food fight, the squirting water guns, the toilet flooding and everything else that happened today. And the TV will be taken away. Since neither Marley nor Jim did anything wrong it will be put in Marley's room temporarily and only Jim or the care workers can go in there to watch anything."
"But I need to watch glee tonight. They're having a re- run of it now, and they're not going to show it more times."
"No you can't watch glee. I'm gonna watch SpongeBob."
"No, I was going to watch star wars."
"Why would you need to watch star wars on TV Qwyn? You have the movie and you could just watch it on your laptop."
"ASHTON" Mike shouted to interrupt the nagging. "You're not going to watch glee tonight. Marty you're not watching SpongeBob. And Qwyn, you're not watching Star wars on either TV or your laptop. We'll be taking your laptops away for anything else than school work. And…" The protesting were loud. "AND YOU GOT YOURSELF INTO THIS MESS. IT IS FOR A MONTH. BUT IF YOU CONTINUE THAT I WILL MAKE IT TOO."
"What about cellphones?" Mike sighed at Wheezy's question. "You couldn't take away the cellphones, what if we get ill and can't call an ambulance? Or see a crime and can't call the police. Or there is a fire…"
"I was just getting to that Aidan." Mike stated, using Wheezy's real name to make it sound very, very serious. "And you're right. So we won't take away those. And yes, you can still use your phones for Internet or Facebook or whatever you want. But if we get too high phone bills I will take them away for that person. Is that understood?" One after one they nodded. Well, everyone except for Violet. "Understood?" Violet just shrugged and glared back at Mike. "UnderSTOOD?"
"Who cares?" She answered at last. "I can get my own TV. And never let anybody watch it. AND CERTAINLY NOT YOU." With that Violet raised from the table and stormed out of the kitchen- hmmm, I wonder how many times she had used the words 'certainly not you' since I knew her…. I would have to count them!
"She can't get her own TV can she?" Peityn asked with a child's innocence. "Because that wouldn't be fair." Mike smiled at her, then shook his head. "Good! But it's still unfair that Marley and Jim gets to watch TV. I didn't even mean to start it." Mike bit his lip- by this point he was almost boiling with anger. "Can I watch TV too then?"
"No." Mike sighed and held up his hands when all of the others were on their way on protesting. "Do you want to make it two months" There were a big number of pouts in the room. But Mike wasn't going to give in on this- "Now, everyone who wants dinner can eat what is left of the soup. And the rest go to your rooms and come back here with your laptops if you've got one." There were spread moans and protesting. "Or do you want to make it two?"
One after one they left the kitchen, and one after one they came back bringing their laptops while the ones who didn't have any just sat around the kitchen glaring at me, George and Mike (Mostly at Mike) and one after one they came back. Then one after one they walked away again, and one after one we could hear the doors slam loudly.
"STOP IT." George shouted at the top of his lungs. "YOU'RE GONNA WAKE UP…" After an especially loud and sudden slam we heard another ear piercing scream and George moaned. "...Marley" He sighed and kept still for another few seconds, then jogged out of the room and we heard his footsteps continue towards Marley's room.
"Something terrible must have happened to her." I said, half dreaming and barely knew that Mike nodded. "But… hey, I'm proud of you Mike." As usual, I jumped up to sit on the kitchen island. "I never heard you come with such a cruel punishment. And keep it… because you will be keeping it right?" I raised an eyebrow at Mike- if I knew him right he'd probably have given up after two days.
"Yeah." He leaned against the bench and crossed his arms over his chest. "I know, but I need to let them know that such behavior isn't alright." He moved and put his head in his hands. "Today have just been a big chaos." He sighed. "But well, today too shall pass and hopefully turn into a better tomorrow." He scratched his head. "I was going to go with having no TV and no Facebook or such until they have done ten chores. But then they will be fighting about chores and someone will get away with cleaning off a table while somebody else vacuum the whole house." He sighed again. "But this works… It does!"
"It does!"
It had sounded like Mike was trying to talk himself into that it would so I decided to help him a bit, patted his shoulder slightly. And got down from the kitchen island and went into the office to get a hang of how paperwork would work in this place. When I heard footsteps getting closer, I thought it would be some child coming with some reason of why they should be allowed to skip this punishment. But it wasn't.
"So, since I know you're a teenager who just moved into your own flat." Mike smirked when he sat down on the other side of the desk from me. "What kind of furniture have you got so far?" I shot him a grimace. "No, seriously. We might have something old and not used that you could have. Have you got a bed?" I sighed, and decided to change the subject.
"I'm proud of you for thinking and fulfill that punishment with the TV Mike and…" Mike wasn't going to let himself be fool or tricked by anyone changing subject. "I have two chairs, a couch, you know these kitchen things that just comes with the flat like stove and cupboards. The bathroom things of course…"
"Stop trying to make it more than you actually have"
"…A living room table, a blow-up mattress, a microwave and a bathtub." Mike sighed and seemed on his way to say something but I was quicker. "And I don't want anything for you… I think what I'm in the most hurry with would be a kitchen table and considering how many people fit into the dumping ground I don't think my kitchen would be big enough for it."
"I think I have an old…"
"Mike, no."
"Why not?"
"Because I want to get my own furniture for my own money. And yeah, I will go kind of high on having my own money so I'll spend way too much. But hey, I will manage in some way. And first of all, I'm going to go to some kind of thrift shop. The Red Cross or something. And first of all I need another couch. Since the one I have is so big you need to crawl over it to even get into the living room- which also is the bedroom and yeah, you get it. I know you're gonna say I should prioritize what I don't have but seriously Mike. I don't think I can even squeeze a bed into the flat unless I change that couch into a smaller one. And after that, I'll get a kitchen table, and then a bed. But I don't really need a bet because those blow up mattresses are really comfy. So maybe I'll get some kind of shelf instead. A bookshelf that will also work to put other things in…. I'll have to think about that." Mike let hear a short chuckle. "What's so funny?"
"It's nothing to laugh about actually but… Oh Emma." Mike let hear another few chuckles. "Do you get that what you're saying now is the exact same thing as I went through? Or like ninety nine percent goes through? And do you know how much it reminds me of how I went through the same thing?" He chuckled another few times. "Oh Emma…." I just shook my head and sighed at him, then decided to change the subject.
"Aren't the children supposed to be at school today? And who has the night shift until tomorrow?"
"The children had a day off today for some course's for the teachers. And Luce had the night shift. But you also have to know that sometimes it happens we have to take two night shifts in a row. But since we can sleep at night the night shifts usually are from four or five in the afternoon until ten A.M. But when there's two the second is set from nine to nine. And sometimes we have shifts from nine in the evening and until two or three in the afternoon the next day. It's not ideal but with four members of staff…" Mike just gestured to me instead of finishing the sentence. "It could have been worse. We actually do get days off." He chuckled to himself instead of continuing. "And, we all love being at the dumping ground so honestly the times for when shifts start and end are a bit messed up" He chuckled to himself again. "So, from tomorrow night will be your first night shift. But the night shifts are sometimes the hardest as those are the longest times someone as care worker are left alone. But you do know that if you need someone you've got my number and everything. I know your shift doesn't end in another while. But you're going to need resting before your first night shift. So go now and don't come back until tomorrow."
"I know," I reassured him. "But I'm sure I can manage Mike." From then on, I made a commitment to myself that no matter what. I would be able to handle it myself. And not call for Mike as soon as I could. "Now where did I put my bag?"
"In the hallway just inside the door." Mike mumbled- how was it that that man just kept track on anything and everything? "I saw you put it there when you came. Now go home and get some rest. You'll need it before a night shift." I nodded and turned towards the door. "Bye, see you tomorrow."
"Bye Mike." I walked through the hallway and towards the door, and just as I came Luce came inside. "So… Two nights in a row?" Luce nodded and smiled at me. And honestly, even if I thought that I shouldn't fall in love with another care worker. The sparkle in his brown eyes made my heart beat so hard it could just beat right out of my chest.
"Yeah, but I don't mind. I really like spending my time here. Are you going home now? Short shift in the beginning? Yeah, I can understand that. So, when will I see you again?" Luce asked, and I answered him I didn't know. But that might next shift would be from tomorrow night to the morning after. "Oh… how fun! These kids can for sure be a handful. Especially at night! I won't see you until after then though. So good luck." He slightly patted my shoulder and then threw my backpack over one shoulder and turned towards the door.
I needed to do some grocery shopping before I went back to my flat. Honestly, I had known there would be a lot of work that I hadn't done before that I'd have to do now that I didn't live with Leon. But I don't think I had ever realized how much, or exactly how hard it would be. With bills to pay, and stuff that needed to be bought with food and hygiene products. There wasn't any money left and while I had bout loads of Tesco sandwiches and double decker chocolates. I would pretty much have to live on noodles and water (oh, and food at the dumping ground) if I wanted to have enough money left to make any of a living until the first paycheck from the dumping ground came.
I had noticed an old man that sat outside the main entrance for the grocery store every few times I was there. He was wearing old, ragged clothes. He seemed muddy and tired- probably ridden by old alcohol or drug addicts but I couldn't quite figure if it was just imagine. And had a paper cup standing on the ground in front of him. And he just sat there, in the middle of the rain, in the middle of the sunlight. Or whatever weather it might be- he still just sat there. Looking like beggars did most.
As I walked by, I couldn't leave him money or even buy him anything to eat. But what I could do was look straight into his eyes and smile. And hope that that would mean much more than a pound or two or a cup of coffee and a sandwich. The old man didn't seem to mind, he just smiled back at me slightly. And if it was true that when you looked into people's eyes you looked into their souls- this man must be very tired, and very kind.
But still, even though knowing that I couldn't afford it. I threw a pack of sandwiches into the basket with a coke to give to the old man. And still knowing that I couldn't afford it. I didn't change my mind for a single second. No, not even when I stood by the cashier- put my card into the machine and praying that there would be enough money left. Then thinking of the parts that I had heard about Luce. And was reminded by it when the muddy, but kind man took the things I handed him and took my hand to slightly touch it with his lips and saying a hoarse thank you while I turned and walked away. And tried to fight away the thoughts about Luce.
I had enough of problems to deal with without falling in love with another care worker. And while walking home with my groceries. I forced myself to forget about what I was feeling whenever I was close to Luce and most important- he could never know about it! And even though it hurt to do so, at last I just shrugged and walked the rest of the way home with my head full of food fights and night shifts again.
Maybe it was the fact that I hadn't known Luce for very long, or I had just imagined those feelings. Because when I walked into the store I could feel all of those feelings roaring up inside of me but when I left I had pushed them away so far I barely remembered them. And wouldn't be remembering them afterwards in God knows how long.
And while I got on the bus to Rigsby- the area I lived in. With a bag full of pasta, noodles and some things to make sandwiches. And while I had to make a commitment to myself after running so badly out of money I'd have to live on pasta and noodles for the rest of the month to, as far as it was possible not buy any more Tesco or frozen meals. And somehow I just felt weirdly in a good mood suddenly.
From when I came home that Friday night, made myself a sandwich and sat down in the living room to continue watching holby. The flat seemed unusually quiet and boring after spending time at the dumping ground. And while I realized I couldn't spend all of my free time in that living room sofa I put Holby on pause, and went to pull up that air mattress I had brought.
It was amazing how bored you could feel with having so many things to do. I read for a while, watched holby, chatted with my friends back at home, played card games with myself, took a few walks and had about eighty sandwiches. But still I spent most of the time lying in the sofa or on that air mattress and stared into the wall or up into the ceiling. Honestly feeling quite nervous about tomorrow.
But I had heard the stories about how Tracy Beaker's first night shift had turned out. So there would be no way it turned out worse than that… would it?
"So, Emma?" Mike put the last of the plates for dinner on the table and then turned to the stove to get the food on the table while I walked in on Saturday afternoon. "Ready for your first night shift?" I shrugged, then nodded along with a smile on my lips. "Are you sure? You know? I could stay for tonight if you're not sure."
"No thanks Mike. I'll manage. Besides, how hard could it be?"
I smirked, that last part had been a joke because I knew exactly how bad the dumping ground could be.
"Well, you've got my number and don't hesitate to call or anything." He sighed slightly. "I'll ask Qwyn and Nathan to keep an extra eye on everything as well." I sighed- papa bear! "However, since George who had the early shift is still here. You know I'm going to be around for another…" He looked to his clock. "It's four so… six hours." I just smiled and shook my head. "Okay… KIDS. DINNER, PANCAKES!"
While all the kids gathered around the table. Beaming over that pancakes (PLÄTTAR!) and how it was yet one yet the other person's favorite food. And looking at them I just felt more confident about staying here alone the whole tonight. And with that, I just turned to the big plate with a huge stack of pancakes and stole a few before Qwyn had eaten them all.
"Marty are you okay?"
"Yeah sure, I'm fine."
Besides! How bad could it be?
The series Emma calls Holby is real, and is basically short for Holby city.
So, Emma is finding it quite boring coming home after spending time at the dumping ground. And she's just about to have her first night shift. The children except for Marley and Jim are not allowed to watch TV or use the computer. And Marley is scared of blood and loud bangs after a house invasion. While Emma have got feelings for Luce but tries not to think about him. All of this can only mean one thing- chaos! Although. When is the dumping ground not in chaos.
Random fact
There is a point where it says' pancakes. And then (PLÄTTAR) and that is actually referring to a constant discussion Swedes have. The thing you make by the same thing you make pancakes of but make in the oven is either pannkaka (pancake) or ugnspannkaka (Oven's pancake) And the ones you make in a pan is called either pannkakor (pancakes) or plättar. And then at last the small ones you make in a special iron is called either plättar or småplättar (Small plättar) And no one can ever get along about which is right. But of course, the right is ugnspannkaka, plättar and småplättar… of course!