Mum Kate
Whats that noise youre making? Splashing everywhere! Its damp enough outside as it is, and here you are, adding to the mess!
A large, cheerful woman, easily as wide as the bench, sat down next to Ciara.
Its so sticky today! Rain this morning, now the air is like a sauna. Not even lunchtime and Im already drenched. Could wring myself out!
She rummaged in her bag and produced a water bottle, struggling a moment with the cap.
Thirsty? she offered it to Ciara. They say water helps calm you down. Doesnt do a thing for me. I could drink a bucket and it wouldnt matter.
Ciara stared at her weird bench companion, dismay etched on her face. What had she ever done to deserve this? As if things werent bad enough already, now thisthis woman.
Ciara never liked overweight people. They had always set her on edgehow could you let yourself go so much? Was doing a few exercises really that hard? Or eating a little less? Didnt they understand how unpleasant it was for others? All those folds, enormous clothes, the sweat, the smellyuck! One time at a spa with her friends, when a plump woman got into the pool, Ciara had shaken her head.
Im not going in with that, Lisa, her best friend, had huffed, stretching her perfectly tanned, toned body. So many hours in the gym, and a personal trainer.
But Lisa, we planned to spend all day here.
With her? Lisa pointed, disgust writ large on her face. I cant even look at that, let alone swim near her. Its revolting.
The rest of her rant was still mortifying to recall. At the time, Ciara was uneasy with her friends words, but she wasnt going to be a hypocrite: part of her agreed. If you cant keep yourself in check, stay homeLisa had a point.
And now there she was, sat next to a woman at least twice the size of the one in the pool, who never seemed to stop talking. Ciara had no energy to move. Shed already been here for hours, crying at first, and then staring blankly at the station wall. She had nowhere else to go. As her strange bench neighbour nattered away, Ciara found herself listening in spite of herself.
So beautiful! No suitcase, not even a bag. Youre not travelling anywhere, then. Waiting for someone, or no place to turn?
Ciara averted her gaze, but finally looked up. The woman’s rosy, doll-like cheeks dimpled into a smile, which vanished as Ciaras tears fell and, without meaning to, she burst out sobbing. The woman wrapped her in a gentle hug, and Ciara never could explain afterwards why she melted into those pillowy arms. She pressed her tousled head against the womans soft blouse, which soaked up every tear, and realised there was no unpleasant odourjust the softest trace of wildflowers. She wondered if it was her detergent, or if shed washed her blouse in actual herbs.
Startled, Ciara pulled back abruptly. Suddenly, she remembered: her mothers hands had always smelled exactly like that, when she wove daisy chains for little Ciara. But her mother had died when she was five, taken too soon in a car crash; just a memory of a meadow full of flowers and gentle floral perfume remained.
Whos upset you? the woman asked, frowning.
Ciara shook her head, denying anything was wrong, but ended up nodding instead.
Rotters! To make a young one cry, the woman said, digging out sandwiches and a shiny English apple. Here you go!
She unwrapped a sandwich and the aroma hit Ciaras empty stomach. She hadnt eaten in almost a day and was completely skint.
Here, eat. Hamchickenproper homemade. Youre all skin and bone, you need feeding! The woman pressed the sandwich into her hand and halved the apple.
I dont eat meat Ciara whispered, embarrassed, but the woman wasnt having it.
Nonsense, she insisted, so Ciara took a biteand almost moaned at the flavour.
Tasty, isnt it? Thats better! Now whats the storywhy are you here, all alone, with nothing but the clothes on your back?
Ciara just nodded and dabbed her eyes as fresh tears came.
Right, enough waterworks. Tell me first, and then well have a proper cryand maybe even a laugh.
She didnt want to talk, but knew she had little choice. It might have seemed a trivial tale, but it was hers, and it was the only one she had.
Shed fled home the night beforerun, really. Her father had announced that she wasnt his biological daughter, and that he was expecting a child of his own now. Ciara could still hardly process it. The man who raised her and whom she always called Dad wasnt her father at all. Hed never given her any reason to think otherwise.
Shed never really got on with her stepmother, Annwho was only a few years older than Ciara herself. Anns indifference was obvious from the start behind thin, tight lips.
Youre so sweet, the stepmother had chirped, and Ciara knew the peace was over.
There were snarky comments, tears, and gamesjust like some bad penny novelette. But Ciara could do nothing about it; never wanted to, really. She was used to Dad always being her shield. She learned, too late, that things had changed forever.
The final straw was when Dad laid out adoption papers in his study and said the words that pulled the ground from under her. She wasnt his flesh and bloodhed adopted her at three months old. When she asked about her birth father, he gave no answers. Maybe he didnt know; maybe he didnt want to say.
Ciara had spent half the night staring at her wall, then just grabbed her jacket and left. She didnt know where to go. By dawn, shed somehow ended up at the station. Her phone was deadand she didnt want to speak to anyone anyway. She never really had close friendsher family moved too much for her ever to form deep roots. And the ones she did know would never help nowtheir favourite saying, from some old cartoon, was: Love yourself! To heck with everyone else! Thats how to succeed! A little devil had rebelled against that phrase in the cartoon, so Ciara once bought a keyring of him, wearing it on her backpack until she lost it.
The woman listened intently, not interrupting or asking questions. When Ciara finished, she handed over tissues from the bottomless bag.
There. Wipe your face.
With another rummage, she produced a hefty purse.
Well now, love. You need to talk to your father, but theres time for that. Is your phone working?
Its dead.
Of course. Here.
She handed over an old brick of a mobile. Not the fanciest, but I like it. My daughter gave it me. Big buttons, good sound. Phone him, or textjust let him know youre alright. Hes no saint, but dont give him any more worry.
Ciara managed to text her father and handed back the mobile. The woman stood up, adjusting her crumpled blouse.
Call me Aunt Kate. I live out in the country. Want to come? Since youve nowhere else, its not a bad option, is it?
But why? Why help me? Im a stranger.
With a generous smile, Aunt Kate cupped Ciaras chin. Her fingers were soft and so warm.
Theres no such thing as someone elses child, not really. No child should be left alone.
But Im not a child any more
Oh, you are, darling. Come on, up you get! Weve a train to catch.
And thats how Ciara ended up with Katherine Johnson.
On the train, Aunt Kate asked nothing more. Later, shed explain that some pain needs time to share.
You have to wait till someones ready, dear. If you barge in, theyll only clam up. But give them a moment, and the whole story comes out, nothing hidden.
Exhausted, Ciara slept right through the journey, only waking when Aunt Kate patted her.
Wake up, love, were here!
At the little country station, a tall, skinny woman came barrelling over.
Mum Kate! Missed two trains waiting for youI was beginning to worry! Hows Nia?
Shes fine. Sorted her and Harry. Ill visit in a few days. Spoke to her doctorpromised hes on it. Young, but seems sharp.
And whos this? the woman eyed Ciara.
Dont ask so many questions, Susan; were hungry and just back from town.
Right-o. Lets go!
The little old Fiesta made Ciara grin.
What? Thats custom paintwork! My brother Sam did it.
You mean airbrushed, Ciara corrected, tracing the painted cat.
Whered you find this clever one, Mum Kate? At the station?
Like me Susan peered closer. Can you draw?
Yes, I went to art college.
Thatll please Sam! He taught himself, but hes ace. Come on, were expected.
Who?
Youll see!
Susan drove in her own lane, and Ciara shut her eyes at the bends.
Steady on, Susan! Kate chuckled. Im used to it, but the poor child isnt.
Shell grow used to it too! Susan announced, slamming the brakes by a large gate. Were here!
Seeing the horde of children run to the car, Ciara gasped.
All mine, love! Kate levered herself out. Dont worrythey dont all live here, just nearby. Makes for a busy house! Come along, dont be shy.
The children clamoured around Aunt Kate, who greeted them all, roughing hair and pinching cheeks.
For a week, Ciara tried to figure out who was related to whom. That got cleared up when Susan arrived to drop off her youngest for babysitting and sat down with Ciara:
Right, along this street live three of oursJean, Mike and Tessa. All with their own families. You’ve seen their kids. Two more, Holly and Vera, are just around the corner. Hollys got two, Veras just got married. I live down the other end, with Sam and Niayou know, Nia with the little boy Harry, heart problems. He needs an operation soon, hopefully.
Susans house was small but homely, the kitchen bright and clean, white curtains embroidered with forget-me-nots at the windows.
Admiring them? Susan asked, making tea. My favouritemy daughter Vickys handiwork.
Theyre beautiful! Ciara stroked the fabric.
Mum taught mewell, everything, really. When she took me in, I knew nothing.
Took you in? Ciara wrapped her hands around her mug.
My parents were in and out of trouble, my childhoods barely a memory. Mum used to say sometimes, when youve suffered so much, your mind just blocks it out to stay sane.
Dissociative amnesia, Ciara said quietly.
What? Never heard that.
Memory loss. I wanted to study psychology.
What stopped you?
Nothing at first. But I was ill during sixth formsurgery on my spine. Missed out, so I needed to pay for uni. Dad covered it, but now he wont. I need to work, find funds somehow.
Whys that?
Hes having a proper childhis words, not mine.
Susan just nodded and sipped her tea, then went back to her own story. Mum Kate found me at the station, much like you. She brought me home, tried to become my guardian. When that fell through, she adopted me. First me, then Samshe saved him as a baby. She helped each of us sort our lives, get somewhere to live. The council helped a bit, but it was mainly down to Mum Kate and well, Mr Parsons.
Who?
A rich chap from London. His son, Josh, was one of ours. Kate found him lost in the city, wild and hungry. Hes got some differencesautism, I think. Mr Parsons has businesses, resources. He never abandoned Josh, just wanted him safe. He offered Mum Kate anything to care for him full-time, but she wouldnt leave the rest of us. Instead, they became friends. Now, thanks to him, theres always legal and financial help if we need it.
Susan grinned, pouring more tea. Sounds like a soap, I know. Would you believe it otherwise?
Ciara smiled. Never.
Susan shrugged. But here we are. If not for Kate, most of us wouldnt have made it this far. She pulled us out when nobody else would.
The kitchen door burst open. Aunt Susan, Ciaras people are here for her! Gran said to send her home!
Susan looked warmly at Ciara as the little girl darted away. Nias eldest. Lovely girl. You go on, Ciara. Or shall I come?
Ill be fine. Ciara gave Susan an unexpected hug. Thank you.
Ive done nothing. Just rememberyouve got a home here now. If things get tough, you know where to come. Susan patted her hair. Family isnt just blood. Its those who caresometimes, those bonds are even stronger.
When her father turned up, he seemed awkward, not meeting her gaze. Ciara didnt know that Aunt Kate had sought him out in town, and spoken at length to him. And now here he was, hands shaking, asking her to forgive and come home.
I cant, Dad. Dont want to get in the way. This is for the best.
Let me find you a flat, then.
She glanced at Kate and nodded. Id be grateful for some support, but I want to find a job, switch to part-time studyingstart doing things for myself.
Ill handle it.
No, Dad. This time, I decide. You always taught me to stand on my own two feet. Thats what Im doing now.
Is it because you dont trust me anymore? He looked stricken.
She shook her head. No. Because this is right. Im just putting your lessons to use.
Her father did pay for her to stay at university, and soon Ciara became one of the best child psychologists in town. Her appointment book was always full. Ann had her babya boy, as shed hoped. Ciara was pleased for them, but they rarely spoke. Not out of bitternessjust because, after meeting Kate, her real family now felt closer than the one by blood.
And when Katewhom Ciara now called Mum like everyone elsefell ill with a stroke, Ciara left everything to care for her. Those months, exhausting yet rich with meaning, turned out to be the happiest of her life, surrounded by those who needed her, who loved her simply as she was. She finally understood what Susan had meant.
With support from everyone, Kate slowly recoverednever again as shed been, but well enough for Sash and Russ to build her a special bench by the door. Kate spent many an afternoon there, laughing as children joked about her throne, and inviting her to judge their games.
Your Majesty, will you have some tea?
The children would swarm around, eager to show off: Gran, did you see? I swung the highest! Fred scored a goal! He should play for England!
Only when Kate was safe and settled again did Ciara return to the city. And when, six months later, Ciara married, Aunt Kate was the first person she invited.
Mum Kate, will you be with me?
Always, my dear. Always
Because in the end, Ciara learned that family isn’t just who youre born toits who you love, and who loves you back. And sometimes, those ties are stronger than any blood.
