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Is your fella married?"

  "I am not answering you?"

  "Is your fella married?" repeated Jill.

  "Yes. He is."

  "What."

  "He is a married man. Are you happy now, Jill?"

  "We were both bought up to respect marriage and sex before marriage is still forbidden in the church."

  "I was not in the church, remember. Anyway, dad is no angel."

  "God has given us a free will to make our own choices. You must say no way."

  "As I said before the mum's illness made me vulnerable and he gave me lots of attention which I needed. At first I rejected his affections but He was too determined and persistant in pursuing me."

  "Darling, he is a cold blooded predator. He took advantage of your innocence and vulnerability. He won't leave his wife and children for you. I don't want to be cruel but you are his bit on the side."

  "Don't you think I know that? I have struggled with this relationship for some time. I hated myself for living a double life. I despised the very thought of him cheating on his wife."

  "Have you ended the relationship with your married lover or is he still lurking around you ready to pounce on your young flesh."

  "I am old enough to make my own decisions, Jill. It's my life and will you stop lecturing me?"

  "No, I won't. I'm your big sister."

  "Isn't Jeff entertaining you enough?"

  "What do you mean by that, Naomi?"

  "You know exactly what I meant."

  "You are so naughty, Naomi."

  "Sorry sis. I am a bit sensitive."

  "Even if Jeff was entertaining me and I'm not saying he is not, I would still make time for you, sis."

  "I know you would, Jill."

  "I won't be lecturing you anymore if you promise me that you will end the relationship with the unnamed married man."

  "It's been over a while ago."

  "How long is a while ago?"

  "It's been two months."

  "He'll be back for more. Go back to church girl and find yourself a good God fearing man."

  "There are not enough men in the church, Jill."

  "God has hidden them away in a cave just like He did in the Old Testament when He hid the prophets from Jezebel."

  "I am no Elijah."

  "You don't need to be Elijah. God loves you."

  "Thanks sis."

  "Listen to me carefully, Naomi."

  "Yes."

  "Are you listening to me?"

  "Yes. What is it?"

  "Don't you make a rash decision in quitting your job? Also, I want you to write to Mr. George Brown requesting a copy of your supervision notes and the council safeguarding policy and procedures. If they want a fight, we'll give them a fight."

  "Thanks you for your support, Jill."

  "That's what sisters are there for. I will call you back later. Jeff is probably wandering where I am. We have hardly spent time together these days especially when Jayne is becoming more and more obsessed with her hair."

  "Is there anything you wish to talk to me about Jayne?"

  "Not really. Why have you asked me this question?"

  "Jayne needs a lot of assurances and guidance from you and Jeff."

  "It's normal for teenagers to seek support from their parents."

  "Yes. But she is seeking approval repetitively about her appearances."

  "I'll speak you tomorrow, Naomi."

  "Okay, speak to you, later."

  Fifteen

  Jill and Jeff had cared for Jayne without any support from the local authority or relatives. Naomi felt Jayne was acting strange and had wanted Jill to shed some light on Jayne odd behaviour. She decided to phone Jill a few minutes following their last telephone conversation.

  "Jill, I can't sleep. I know there is something wrong with Jayne?"

  "There is nothing wrong with Jayne."

  "I don't believe you, Jill."

  "Jayne is a healthy girl who is anxiously waiting for her exam results, Naomi."

  "I noted that Jayne is very obsessive with her hair and figure."

  "She is a teenage for god sake."

  "Yes. But she seems different. Why is she so repetitive?"

  "You know the old Jamaican saying?"

  "Which one are you talking about, Jill?"

  "Your hair is your beauty."

  "Beauty is skin deep?"

  "Rubbish Naomi. Not in this world. It's the outside that counts. If you don't look groomed and anorexic the boys won't like you."

  "There is too much pressure placed on teenage girls to look like Barbie dolls which is why Jayne is extremely obsessive with her hair."

  "I noted how many times she had mentioned her hair to you and to Jeff."

  "Do you think she is mentally well, Jill?"

  "Yes."

  "I have kept on telling Jayne to stop worrying about her hair. There is one particular girl who was gossiping about Jayne's hair. Her hair looked awful."

  "That's peer pressure, Jill. Girls can be amazingly bitchy."

  "I know."

  "Society expects girls to be skinny and wearing short skirts or miss sexy black trouser."

  "Jayne is overweight and girls taunt her at school for wearing size 20 clothes."

  "She doesn't need all that criticisms, Jill."

  "Jayne seems to be continually requiring reassurances from me and Jeff about her appearances. I can't relax at home like other mums do. She wants me to take her out every day. I have no time to rest at home. I'm not happy. She is driving me mad, Naomi."

  "I thought Jayne was a bubbly and happy little girl."

  "Yes, she still has her moments. At home, Jayne is a scatter brain. Her physical development is on track. But her mental capacity needs stimulating 24/7.The other day Jayne threw out all of her clothing from the bedroom onto the bathroom floor and they remain there unless Jeff and I pick them up."

  "That is typical of most teenagers, Jill."

  "I know that, Naomi."

  "She was disappointed with Jody who had promised to meet her at Burger King. Jody was Jayne's acquaintance and she was still in her bed when we called her on the phone."

  "Oh crumbs. Jayne must have been heartbroken."

  "The whole family suffered the consequences of Jody nonappearance."

  "What do you mean by that, Jill?"

  "She called me the worst mother in the world and Jayne wished I was dead. I am not invited to her wedding and she told me she isn't coming to my funeral."

  "I don't think she meant it, Jill."

  "She kicked Jeff, shouted and spat on me and she threatened to stab us."

  "Jayne clearly doesn't know the social boundaries."

  "I know God has blessed me with Jayne but sometimes I called her the devil child out of frustration. I feel like taking my life but I hold onto a hope that things will get better."

  Naomi wished she could reach over to Jill and give her a hug. She felt upset hearing Jill talk openly about her suicidal thoughts.

  "I can't stand the pressure here and there is no help for parents."

  "Your future will be good and Jayne will get the help she so desperately needs."

  "I hope my life will change for the better, Naomi."

  "It will change. How is she doing at school?"

  "The teachers don't understand her. She presents herself to the teachers as being a verbally matured pupil. When she had asked the teachers to repeat the same question four times they were annoyed with her for not listening to them and they gave her a detention. They don't understand that Jayne's brain needs to hear things more than once."

  "How does she relate to the other children at her school?"

  "She hates debating with the other kids in the classroom on citizenship. Jayne doesn't know what to say in large group settings. She has no confidence in talking within a group."

  "I know I was quiet when I was a youngster at school. I didn't have many friends as well. It's different from when we we've young at school. Girls are much more
insensitive and uncaring. Does she like her new school?"

  "No. She hates it."

  "Do you think she is shy?"

  "No."

  "You can tell me, Jill."

  "Jayne has become more withdrawn at secondary school. She is finding it difficult to talk to girls of her own age. She has never been invited to birthday parties. She did befriend a girl who was a compulsive liar. Jayne was even more ostracized by the other girls. Jayne has always defended the oppressed."

  "Is there something more you would like to share with me, Jill? We are sisters, you know. You can tell me anything."

  "There is nothing more I would like to share with you, Naomi."

  "Promise me Jill you won't hide anything else from me."

  "I can't."

  "Why not?"

  "This is different?"

  "You know I'm always here to support you, Jill."

  "I know that."

  "Well."

  "Well what."

  "Talk to me."

  "About what?"

  "Don't change the subject."

  "Jayne doesn't like going to school. Jayne was happy at primary school. Ever since she started going to the secondary school she has changed from being a pleasant girl to a very angry girl."

  "It's so sad. What's wrong with Jayne?"

  "Don't get me wrong she is still a wonderful girl. It's like a hostile and aggressive person has repossessed her body and her behaviour at home is manic when she has a bad day at school."

  "Is she having difficulties adjusting from primary school to secondary school?"

  "Oh yes, secondary schools are far larger than primary school. The Secondary School of Ashworth has over a thousand pupils whilst Lower Ashworth Primary School has less than two hundred children."

  "Yes. One can get total lost in a secondary school setting."

  "At the primary school, the Headmaster knew every pupils names whilst at the Secondary school children are anonymous unless they are either naughty or bright."

  "I totally agree with you, Jill. Secondary schools are too big and far too impersonal to provide support to children who have different needs."

  "They expect all children to fit into a certain mode and God help the child who deviates from the