Beside me, perched on a worn bench in a quiet London park, sat a little girl, barely five years old. She swung her legs, telling me about her life with earnest innocence. Ive never met my dad, she said softly, because he left me and Mum when I was very small. Mum passed away last year. The grown-ups told me shed gone to heaven.
She looked up at me with wide, hazel eyes and continued, her voice trembling just a little. After the funeral, Auntie Ruth, Mums sister, came to live with me. They told me she was very decent, that she didnt send me away to an orphanage. Now, Auntie Ruth is my guardian and I live with her.
The girl paused and glanced under the bench, her fingers tracing patterns on the slats. When I moved in, Auntie Ruth started tidying up our houseshe put all Mums things in one corner and said she wanted to throw them away. I cried and begged her not to. Finally, she let me keep them. Now I sleep in that corner, surrounded by Mums clothes. At night, I curl up on top of them and its warmalmost as if Mum is right there with me.
Every morning, Auntie gives me something to eat. She cant cook like Mum couldMums food was always betterbut Auntie wants me to finish everything. I dont want to upset her, so I eat everything on my plate. I understand she tries her best, its not her fault shes not like Mum. Then she tells me to go out for a walk, and Im not allowed back till it starts to get dark. Auntie Ruth is really, really kind!
She always brags to her friends about me. I dont know these ladies, but they visit us often. Auntie sits with them over cups of tea, tells funny stories, says lovely things about me, and treats us both to biscuits and sweets.
The girl sighed, her small shoulders drooping, and continued, I cant eat sweets all the time though. Auntie never scolds me for anything. Shes always gentle. Once, she even gave me a dollits a bit poorly, it has a lame leg and one eye always squints. Mum never gave me a broken doll.
Suddenly, she hopped off the bench, balancing on one foot. I have to go, Auntie said her friends are coming over today, and before they arrive, I need to dress nicely. She promised Id get a delicious cake afterwards. Goodbye!
The little girl skipped away, eager to finish her errands. I sat there, wrapped in my own thoughts, all circling around the so-called good Auntie Ruth. I wonderedwhy did she want everyone to think she was so noble? How could anyone look so calmly at a child who sleeps on the floor, wrapped in her deceased mothers clothes?
