My Granddaughter
A rather untidy sightmessy braids, an unironed school uniform with a crookedly sewn collar and cuffs. The girl looked neglected, her expression withdrawn.
Rebecca Wilson wrinkled her nose. Why had she remembered that scruffy child? She set aside her beloved éclair. Where was George? Hed promised to come earlytoday was the anniversary of her late husband, Arthur.
A knock at the door startled her.
“Whos there? George, is that you? Forget your keys again?”
“Miss Wilson, you left your keys on the chair.”
“What? What keys?”
Rebecca opened the door and froze. It was *that* girl. What on earth?
“Sedley? What keys? How did you know where I live? Have you been following me?”
The girl shook her head. Her worn-out coat had a stain on the pocket, her knee-high socks sagged, and her shoes were nearly falling apart. Only now did Rebecca notice the girls striking blue eyes, framed by thick black lashes.
Shed recently started teaching English literature at the local school after retiring from the college. A year without work had been unbearable. This girl was oddkept to herself, never mixing with the others. What was her name? Alice? Yes, Alice Sedley.
“You left your keys on the chair. I called after you, but you didnt hear.”
“Oh! Goodness, I mustve forgotten to put them in my bag. Getting old, I suppose,” she joked weakly.
“Youre not old,” the girl said earnestly. “Just in a hurry, maybe.”
“Thank you, Alice.”
“Youre welcome. Goodbye, Miss Wilson.”
“Goodbye…”
Rebecca closed the door thoughtfully, then suddenly reopened it. Quiet footsteps echoed as the girl descended the stairs.
“Alice,” Rebecca called down. The girl looked up. “How did you know where I lived?”
“I live next door. I see you walking to work sometimes. I stay close when we pass that stray doghe growls less if Im near you. He doesnt like the smell of cats. I feed them in the basement. His names Rex.” She hesitated. “I asked the ladies on the bench where you lived. Told them you taught at my school.”
Rebecca frowned. “We take the same bus?”
*What a peculiar child. Is she stalking me?*
“Would you like some tea?” The question escaped before she could stop herself. The girl nodded instantly.
*Rude, reallyshe shouldve refused.*
As Rebecca poured the tea, an odd thought struck her.
“Are you hungry?”
Alice shook her head, but Rebecca saw the truth in her eyes.
“Tell you whatlets eat together. I hate dining alone, and George is late.” She bustled about, pulling food from the fridge.
The girl ate neatly but ravenously.
“Thank you,” Alice murmured, eyeing the leftover meatballs. “I should go. Your cookings lovely.”
*So hungry shes praising my bland food.*
Rebecca packed meatballs, pasta, and sweets into a tin. “Dont thank me,” she muttered, but the girl took it anyway.
Later, Rebecca scolded herself. *Unprofessional. Tomorrow, shell hug me in front of everyone or blab about the food.*
George slunk in at dawn, avoiding her gaze.
“What day was yesterday?” she demanded.
“Thursday. Todays Friday”
“Dont play dumb, George.”
“Oh, were serious now? Im thirty, Mum.”
“It was your fathers memorial. He deserved better.”
“He wouldnt care if we mourned yesterday or today. Lets do it now. Im exhaustedday off.”
“Out all night, then?”
“You *really* want to know?”
At school, Rebecca waited for Alice to acknowledge herbut the girl just walked past with a polite nod.
*The cheek!*
Days passed. One evening, a scream pierced the air. Rebecca rushed toward it and found Alicethe stray dog snarling, its teeth tangled in her sleeve.
“Get off!” Rebecca shooed the beast away. “Are you hurt?”
Alice trembled. “Hehe wanted to k-kill the kitten…”
“Shh, its over.”
“I cant take him home. Theyll throw him out again.”
“Who?”
*Never mind.*
At school, she inquired about Alice. The maths teacherold Margaret Peabody, her hands shakingknew the family. “Troubled household. Mother and stepfather drink. Or maybe its the grandmother.”
“How did she even enroll?”
Margaret shrugged.
Later, Rebecca followed Alice home. The girl paused by a bench, pulling out a textbook.
*Studying outside?*
At home, she argued with Georgedivorced two years ago, no children. “Natasha was perfect for you!”
“Boring,” hed said. Now hed found someone *exciting*.
Needing air, Rebecca stepped outsideand heard a slurred shout.
“Alice! Wheres that wretched girl?”
A disheveled woman lurched near the building. Same blue eyes.
“Excuse meare you Alices…?”
“Piss off.”
“Im her teacher. Where is she?”
“Asleep inside.” The woman stumbled away.
“Alice!” Rebecca whispered. The girl crept from behind the bins.
“Come home with me.”
“Shell punish me later.”
“She wont dare.”
“Theyll take me to foster care if she loses custody.”
“Who is she?”
“My gran. Mums… gone. Four years now.”
“Gone where?”
“She died. Gran gets money for me.”
“Thats it. Youre coming with me.”
George gaped when they arrived. “Whos this?”
“Alice.”
The girl stared at him.
“You staying the night?” he asked.
“Dunno.”
In the morning, Rebecca took Alice shopping. The saleswoman gushed, “What a beautiful granddaughter! She looks just like you.”
Rebeccas heart lifted.
“Were tossing these rags.”
“No!” Alice clutched her old coat. “Theyll sell them for drink. Then beat me.”
At home, they baked a cake together, laughing. George returned too soon, ruining the moment.
“Whos this?” he asked sharply.
“Alice Sedley,” Rebecca said.
His face paled. “Dianas daughter?”
“Who?”
“Diana Sedley. Lived nearby. We were… involved. She never told me about the baby.”
Alice nodded. “I saw your photo when I brought the keys. I knew.”
Rebeccas world tilted. “Shes your?”
“Im keeping her,” George said fiercely. “Shes *mine*.”
Tests confirmed it. In court, Rebecca gripped Alices hand, terrified shed be taken.
Later, Alice asked, “Can I live with Gran?”
George feigned offense. “What about me?”
“Youve got Elena.”
Now Rebecca walks hand-in-hand with her granddaughter, uncaring of gossip. Shes found her joy.
George grew close to Alice, though Elena left. “Not because of you,” he assures her.
At parents evening, he meets Alices teachernow his new partner.
“Is it hard having your gran *and* mum as teachers?” classmates ask.
“Nah,” Alice grins. “Its brilliant.”
Sometimes Alice visits her other grancleaning, cooking, scolding her to quit drinking. The woman weeps, kissing her hands.
“My girl,” she sobs. “My flesh and blood.”
And promises, every time, to stop.
