"Look Tracy, I know that I’m not supposed to talk to Rachel but she was so sad and anyway, it was a stupid idea of yours to go out late and..."

 
Looking at Tracy and the other girls, I could see that I was not their favourite person.

‘Look Tracy, I know that I’m not supposed to talk to Rachel but she was so sad and anyway, it was a stupid idea of yours to go out late and...’

Tracy had a frown on her face. She didn’t look pleased; I assumed that I wouldn’t be on her Christmas card list, this year. Her foot was tapping and she looked like she was sizing me up for a coffin or something.

‘Look Stephanie. You are new and I should make allowances but I won’t, so you are in Coventry like Rachel.’

She turned away with the other girls and then we all sort of jumped as Rachel shouted at her.

‘TRACY, I TOLD ON YOU COS I DIDN’T WANT YOU TO GET HURT LIKE I WAS!’

Everyone looked at Rachel with surprise at the outburst. She was sitting on her bed, tears flooding down her face.

Tracy went over to her with a frown on her face.

‘What do you mean, you were hurt?’

Rachel looked at Tracy through tear stained eyes. She was sobbing now and could barely speak.

‘I…I was hurt once.’

All thoughts of Coventry were gone now. This was a girl who was hurting and we all wanted to know what had happened and we gathered around her.

I sat on the bed next to Rachel and held her hand.

‘What happened?’

‘’I…I can’t talk about it.’

‘You have to. Look at you, all upset. It will help, truly.

She looked up at us, blew her nose with a tissue and then took a deep breath.

‘I was nine at the time. My mum and dad were always arguing It was about 11’oclock at night. They went to bed, still rowing about money and that he hadn’t got a job. He kept saying that he only got drunk because he had nothing else to do. Then mum said that she wished that he was dead and then I put my pillow over my head to shut out the noise.’

She stopped to wiped her eyes again and then carried on.

‘I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew was that it was very late and the row had stopped. I decided to leave home, so I got up and dressed, put a few clothes in a carrier bag and then got my money from my piggy bank. I quietly went downstairs, put my shoes and coat on and opened the door carefully, shutting it as quietly as possible behind me.’

‘And you were just nine years old?’ Tracy said incredulously.

‘Yes; I wasn’t happy at home and dad often hit me after drinking and mum didn’t really like children; even her own. My younger brother was taken into care just after he was born because mum couldn’t cope. I suppose that was one of the reasons I ran away but I had had enough.’

She paused a bit and looked at us with concern and worry on her face.

‘Promise you won’t tell anyone?’

‘About what?’ said Tina.

‘What happened to me when I ran away?’

We all looked at each other and nodded our agreement.

‘Hang on,’ said Tracy, ‘Phillipa, can you keep watch so no warders can see us. We’ll tell you about it later.’

‘OK.’

Phillpa went over to the door and stood there while Rachel continued.

‘When I got out of the house, I didn’t know where I was going. I just wanted to get away. I was only nine and hadn’t a clue about being alone at night in the middle of the town. I had no idea of the danger. Anyway I walked about twenty minutes and came to the park where my mum used to take me occasionally when she wanted to get away from my dad. I sat on the swings and thought about what I was going to do. I was getting cold and it was dark and I thought that I was alone.’

Rachel’s eyes began to tear up as she carried on her story. I kept holding her hand which was shaking slightly and a bit damp.

‘Suddenly, in front of me was a man. He had dark hair and was about twenty or thirty. I don’t really know what he looked like, cos he had something over part of his face to hide his features. I think it might have been a hanky or something. He hadn’t had a shave and his breath smelt of drink. He didn’t say anything and just dragged me to some bushes. He…he then pulled my clothes off and…and then he…he…hurt me!’

I pulled her into my arms as she cried her eyes out. All the other girls were crying too. We were all in a state for a few minutes.

Eventually, Rachel calmed down a bit and finished her story.

‘When he finished hurting me, he hit me in the face and I don’t remember anything else till I woke up in hospital. I was badly bruised and battered and was in a state. Mum came to visit me once but dad wouldn’t, he had said that it was my fault for going out like that. A lady came to see me and asked lots of questions; I think she was a police woman. Then another two ladies came and said that my mum had asked if the authorities could look after me as she couldn’t cope. I haven’t seen my mum or dad since as dad walked out and mum moved and I don’t know where she is. They never caught the man.’

She looked up at a still crying Tracy and said, ‘That’s why I told on you. I didn’t want you to get hurt.’

Tracy knelt down in front of Rachel and then suddenly gave her a big hug.

‘I’m sorry Rachel. I can be a pig sometimes. You were right; it was a stupid thing to try to do.’

‘That’s all right. I should have told you.’

Everyone came up and gave Rachel a hug and then Phillipa gave a warning hiss; someone was coming.

It was Miss Cathcart with a sour look on her face.

‘Tracy.’

‘Yes Miss Cathcart.’

‘Don’t sigh like that Tracy. It was your turn to help with the washing up, now scoot.’

With more sighs and a few sulky looks, Tracy went to do her duty.

Miss Cathcart looked over at the rest of us.

‘What have you all got sour faces for and Rachel, why are you crying?’

‘Nothing, Miss Cathcart.’

‘Hmm; do you want to talk?’

‘No thanks Miss Cathcart, I’m just a bit sad,’

‘OK, dear if you want to talk you know where I am. Now girls I notice that beds haven’t been made so hop to it.’

With that she walked out leaving us to do our chores. I gave Rachel another hug.

‘Are you OK?’

‘Yes; it was good to get it off my chest.’

‘I’m glad you’re not in Coventry any more.’

‘So am I!’

‘Will you be my friend?’

‘Yes, that will be great. By the way, where did you get your teddy, he’s nice?’

‘I’ve had him since I was a kid. I’m a bit old for teddies but don’t tell him that as he gets upset easily.’

‘I won’t. Perhaps he could be friends with my doll, Stella.’

‘That would be great, they could go to the pictures and hold hands…paws, whatever and have popcorn.’

I don’t think Stella likes popcorn, she loves maltesers though.’

‘Teddy prefers Treats as they melt in the mouth not the paw.’

We looked at each other and then started giggling. I think that Rachel was feeling a bit better now.

To be continued…

This is in free form so probably has tons of mistakes…never mind no one's perfect.

Please leave comments as Teddy likes to read them.