Nobody’s Son: Part 2 of 3: All Alex ever wanted was a family of his own. Cathy Glass

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СКАЧАТЬ home Alex’s absence was obvious. He hadn’t been with us for long but he was such a dear little chap and had fitted so easily into our family that it felt as if he had been with us for much longer. He would be dearly missed.

      The following day, Thursday, when I collected Alex from school, he came out with his overnight bag and looked at me, slightly puzzled. ‘Where’s Mum?’ he asked.

      ‘She’s at her house. Did you think she was going to meet you?’ He nodded. ‘I know it’s a bit confusing, but not for much longer. You’re coming back with me tonight and then your mum will collect you tomorrow and every day after that.’

      He smiled, and Paula, pleased to see him, threw her arms around him and gave him a big hug.

      Jill telephoned shortly after we arrived home, having spoken to Debbie. She said they’d agreed that it would make sense if Rosemary stopped by my house on her way to collect Alex from school the following day (Friday) and took his overnight bag and also some of his other belongings, including his bike, so they didn’t have it all to move on Monday. It would also help Alex to feel more at home, as he was spending the whole weekend there. Debbie had cleared this with Rosemary and I said I’d have Alex’s belongings ready. Jill wished us a pleasant weekend, and once I’d finished talking to her I told Alex what was happening. He was very happy that his bike was going. ‘I’ll be able to ride it at the weekend,’ he said. And I felt guilty that he hadn’t had a chance to ride his bike while he’d been with me as I’d originally said, but we’d been so busy there really hadn’t been an opportunity.

      When his family telephoned that evening much of his conversation with James was about riding their bikes and other things they were planning to do at the weekend: two boys on a big adventure. Edward wasn’t home from work, so just James and his mother spoke to Alex. Rosemary also spoke to me and confirmed she’d stop by around 2.30 p.m. the next day for some of Alex’s belongings.

      The following morning Alex was beside himself with excitement at the thought of spending the whole weekend with his family and going for a bike ride. Adrian was looking a bit envious, so I told him that if the weather was good we would take his bike to the park.

      ‘Perhaps my dad could take me bike riding?’ Adrian said, which stung me as such comments always did.

      ‘You could ask him,’ I said. ‘Although he took his bike with him when he moved.’ When he went to live with his secretary, I thought but didn’t say. ‘You do other nice things when he takes you out,’ I added. ‘And when Paula is older the three of us could go bike riding.’ But I doubted this would make up for not going with his father.

      We took Alex to school that morning, and as we said goodbye we wished him a nice weekend. The next time we would see him would be Sunday afternoon (before his move on Monday) and I was planning a special goodbye tea. When children have been with the same foster carer for some time it’s usual to give them a little goodbye party, but Alex had only been with me a few weeks and had never met my parents, brother or my friends, so it seemed more appropriate that it was just us. I would buy him a leaving present and card the following day and make his last evening with us special. Goodbyes are always difficult, but thankfully Alex, like many of the children I’d fostered, was leaving us to go to a loving forever home, so there was plenty to be happy about.

      When Rosemary arrived that afternoon I had Alex’s cases, some of his toys – in the boxes – and his bike ready in the hall. Rosemary was surprised he had so much, especially when I said there was as much if not more again, which I would pack ready for Monday.

      ‘I always thought that foster children didn’t own many possessions,’ she said as we loaded her car. This was a mistake many people made and I explained to her that while this was sometimes true when a child first came into care, once they’d been in care a while they had as much as any other child – sometimes even more, as the carer made up for what they’d missed.

      ‘I see,’ Rosemary said. ‘I’ll have to explain that to James. I told him he’d have to let Alex have some of his toys, but really there’s no need.’

      ‘No, but it’s still nice to share.’

      ‘Oh yes, I’ve already told James that.’

      Rosemary didn’t stay for a coffee, as she wanted to leave in plenty of time to collect Alex from school. Paula and I saw her off at the door and then I had to try to explain to Paula why Rosemary was taking Alex’s belongings: that she was his mummy now and Alex was happy he was going to live with his new family on Monday. But of course it was impossible for a small child to understand and she slipped her hand into mine and said, ‘My mummy.’

      ‘Yes, I’m your mummy forever and ever.’

      Chapter Nine

       Unwelcome News

      ‘Can’t I stay?’ Alex protested when I collected him on Sunday afternoon.

      ‘No, love, you have to go back with Cathy for just one more night,’ Rosemary said to him. ‘Then you come to stay with us.’

      ‘Forever,’ I added, smiling encouragingly at Alex. ‘I’m going to make us a special tea with jelly and ice cream, and we’ve bought you a present.’

      ‘A present!’ Rosemary exclaimed, helping Alex into his coat. ‘You can’t miss that. Enjoy your evening and we’ll see you tomorrow morning.’

      She kissed the top of his head and Alex came with us, a little reluctantly, while Rosemary and James saw us off. Edward had gone out for a while. As I settled the children into their seats I saw that Adrian was looking a little hurt that Alex hadn’t wanted to come with us, and I threw him a reassuring smile. But of course it was a good sign that Alex had wanted to stay with his family, and confirmed that during the introductory period he had successfully transferred his affection and sense of where home was from us to them. By the time we arrived home Adrian was chatting happily to Alex and they were both looking forward to our party tea.

      I’d hung balloons and streamers in the living room and had set the table ready with a colourful tablecloth, matching napkins and paper party cups. In our absence Toscha had managed to pull down one of the streamers and was playing with it, chasing it around the room, which made Alex laugh.

      ‘Do you think my mum will let me have a cat?’ he asked me.

      ‘I don’t know, you’d have to ask her. Not everyone likes pets.’

      ‘I’ll ask her tomorrow,’ he said.

      I organized some party games that worked with just the few of us – hide and seek, hunt the thimble, sleeping lions, pass the parcel (in which I’d hidden a wrapped sweet between each layer of paper and a prize in the centre). Then I set the party food on the table: small sausage rolls, slices of pizza, little samosas, cheese straws, crisps and bowls of finely sliced cucumber and tomatoes, which we ate with fizzy lemonade. Once we’d had our fill of the savouries I brought out the individual jellies and ice cream, and a plate of chocolate biscuits and cupcakes. Then we gave Alex the presents we’d bought him and which I’d previously wrapped – boxed games of Guess Who?, Operation and draughts, which he’d enjoyed playing with us, together with a card signed by us all. There was also a good-luck card from my parents containing a five-pound note, even though they’d never met him, which was kind. There was a card from Jill sent on behalf of the agency wishing Alex luck in his new home. Once he’d СКАЧАТЬ