Judith ran from the large white house pushing through strong winds that forced her to stumble across the driveway. She battled the gale as it snatched her car door from her grasp and with a final struggle managed to climb inside, slamming it shut behind her. Snatching her phone from her coat pocket she hit redial with trembling fingers. A number she'd called many times over the last few hours appeared on the screen. Once again she heard Caroline's voice message.
“Pete and Caroline here, sorry we're not home. Leave a message and we’ll call you back."Judith knew that voice, an echo from the past, came from the woman she’d met a few months earlier. Now, that woman was no more. In her place a deeply troubled individual had been reborn.
She grasped the steering wheel tighter her heart thumping as adrenaline rushed blood through her veins. Feeling giddy she lowered her head upon the steering wheel. Come on, don't lose it now, she told herself. Terrifying vision shooting through her mind, like snapshots, for the last few hours had returned, along with a searing pain stabbing at her brain. She inhaled and exhaled deeply, refocusing her attention as she inched the car slowly out of the driveway and down the steep country lane onto the motorway. Judith hit the accelerator and the car sped along the open road, soon surpassing the speed limit. She pressed redial for the umpteenth time and heard the same message again.“Damn, Caroline, pick up the phone, please. It’s Judith, Caroline can you hear me, pick up the damn phone." She threw her phone onto the passenger seat and stared out through the windscreen at the long road ahead. If there really is a God watching over us then please hear my prayer and keep them safe, please keep them safe.
Judith
“Hello, Mrs Greenwood. My name's Judith. Senior child psychologist here at Kennedy hospital, would you and Sarah like to come through to my office, please." Judith smiled at the angelic moon faced child gazing sweetly upwards at her. What a beautiful little girl and those eyes, so bright. The child locked her gaze upon her as she continued to smile. It was hard to pull her eyes away such was the magnetic appeal. Judith had worked hard to ensure the large office was a cosy child-friendly environment. At the front half two brightly coloured couches faced each other while the back area was laid out like a playroom. A huge antique rocking horse held centre stage. Its faded beige colour brightened by a deep red saddle was an awesome sight for the children that attended the clinic. It had been her own rocking horse from her childhood. She had lovingly restored it for the children that attended her clinic.
Little Sarah’s ocean blue eyes lit up just like the many children who had entered before her. She loved that first awestruck gleam in the eyes of a child. That first glint could also tell her a lot about the child in her care. If it wasn’t there then Judith wanted to know why. “Would you like to play, Sarah?” The child nodded excitedly, then looking to her mother for permission and hurried across the room when it was given.
“Please sit down, Mrs Greenwood?” The woman snatched a nervous glance at her daughter before sitting on the couch. Judith noted a haunted look within her mesmerizing eyes and their similarity to Sarah's was striking. She sat down on the opposite couch."Do you mind if I call you Caroline?" She attempted to instil a relaxed atmosphere, noticing the slight tremor in the woman's hands.
"No, that's ok.” She stiffened as if bracing herself for bad news.“When you’re ready we can talk of what worries you about Sarah’s behaviour?” Judith said, relaxing into her chair, her usual preparation when listening to a client.
A frown creased Caroline’s youthful face as she tugged at the hem of her blouse, neatening its folds and patted at her trousers as if swiping away invisible crumbs. Finally, she smoothed back a stray hair that had escaped from her neatly tied chestnut brown pony tail. Judith paid close attention to the elaborate actions. She seems anxious, but then it could be the hospital visit putting her on edge. Caroline
Caroline Greenwood stole a glance at her precious daughter before turning to Judith. She viewed the attractive, blonde haired woman who wasn't much older than her own thirty-two years.“It's hard to explain, Doctor Carlton. You see - um, I’m not really sure if there is anything wrong with Sarah.” Caroline rubbed at her brow, her words faltering. How am I going to explain. She decided the only way she could was to reveal the entire event at Sarah's school.
“Miss Rogers, the head teacher at Hazel Brooke primary school has spoken to me regarding some - ah - behavioural problems." Caroline glanced down the room at Sarah who looked a perfectly normal child giggling happily. Her blonde pony-tail flapped as she rocked to and fro on the horse. Satisfied Sarah was outside hearing distance, she began her explanation of the event that had occurred at school. Her mind wandered back to the day she'd been summoned to the principal's office.
Caroline paced the cold, drab hallway of Hazel Brooke primary school. She nibbled on her fingernail as she waited for the principal to arrive. Where is the woman! If it was the other way around, huh that'd be 'inexcusable'. Her dislike of the head had grown since her lecture on 'Sarah's inattention in class' last year, even though her grades were excellent. Her impatience grew with each step along with the intense desire to chew. Blood trickled from the self-inflicted wound. As she dabbed at the finger the hall doors swung open and Miss Rogers strutted through. Her hawk eyes landed first on the bloodied tissue then upwards to Caroline's embarrassed face. "Good morning, Mrs Greenwood, sorry I'm late. Please follow me through to my office."
Caroline did as she was told, fuming silently. Why am I always in a state every time I meet that damn woman. She sat opposite Miss Rogers wondering what the complaint was now. The principal sat rigidly behind the large desk, her probing eyes examining her over the top of heavy spectacles. Caroline hated her frosty attitude and her scrawny neck. She should have retired years ago.Miss Rogers spoke with an air of superiority. Her sharp tongue had always unnerved Caroline. “I don’t wish to alarm you Mrs Greenwood but Sarah's behaviour in class has been very distracting lately. Her teacher has tried to correct the problem on numerous occasions but it has now become intolerable." She added an exaggerated sigh and laid her bony arms on the desk, fixing a stern gaze upon her.
“What kind of behaviour?” Caroline forced her chin out ready to defend but the knot in her stomach squeezed her abdomen muscles tighter. She shifted uneasily in her chair withering under the bureaucratic gaze of Miss Rogers. “Well, it would be easier if you could see first-hand what I mean. So, if you would follow me to Sarah’s classroom then maybe you will see exactly what the problem is. Miss Rogers made the statement sound like an order.
“Oh, yes alright.” Caroline stood immediately and followed behind the woman whose towering figure had an intimidating effect and her long strides left Caroline lagging behind. The journey down the long corridor was a silent undertaking. The suspense of what she would find had her jittery nerves even more frayed.They both stood outside Sarah’s classroom. The principal glanced through the small rectangle window in the door then gestured to her to do the same. She peeped cautiously through the window and watched Sarah who was engaged in a very animated conversation. Her mouth was moving and hands signalling to an invisible person at the empty desk beside her. For several minutes Sarah continued chatting to her imaginary friend. The teacher stood in front of the class, all eyes fixed upon her. Caroline's hand sprang instinctively to cover her mouth. She was shocked. Sarah was completely absorbed in her own little world, seated alone at the back of the classroom and ignored by all around her. Caroline could look no more as nausea churned her stomach. Her maternal instinct urged her to rush into the room and remove her child. Instead, she turned to look at the awkwardness of the principal who averted her eyes. Miss Rogers was the first to break the silence.
“I think we should continue this conversation in my office.” They retraced their steps along the corridor. “Have you noticed this kind of behaviour at home, Mrs Greenwood?” The principal asked when they arrived back.
“Sarah's always been a chatterbox but I didn't realize it had got as bad as this. I've told her not to do it at school."
“So you don’t think it strange for a child of Sarah’s age to still have an imaginary friend?”“But, she's only seven, she's just pretending. I explained this to her new class teacher." Caroline's hands began to shake as her breathing hastened its tempo. Not now, please not now.
“Look, I don't mean to criticize but Sarah’s missing out on her lessons and has very little communication with the other children. I’ll speak frankly, Mrs Greenwood, this imaginary friend has got to be dispelled. It's got to the stage now where it's affecting the rest of the class."Caroline tugged at the neck of her sweater feeling suddenly constricted. Perspiration dampened her brow and her tongue clung to the roof of her mouth as anxiety sucked the moisture from it. She knew she was in the grip of a panic attack. God, why won't she stop! Miss Rogers continued with her lecture unaware of Caroline's plight.
“You’ve seen for yourself how she is in class. Sarah’s teacher and I have debated the situation and we have come to the conclusion that it would be in Sarah’s best interest to have a psychological evaluation.” “What the hell are you implying?" Caroline forced a high pitched croak through dehydrated lips.
“Please calm yourself Mrs Greenwood.”The principal’s stern command was ignored, her voice muffled as Caroline felt herself zoning out. Memories nudged their way into her mind. Mental pictures of Sarah's short life captured her attention. Sarah babbling at the wall, smiling up at the ceiling and chatting endlessly for hours. For the very first time she allowed vague suspicions entry to her mind to awaken the possibility that there was something different about her daughter. Her head felt woozy, a signal she recognized as the next stage in her panic attack.
“Mrs Greenwood, are you alright?” The principal spoke softly then called to her secretary to fetch some water.Caroline gripped the glass and sipped the cooling water. The principal opened a window which helped to relieve the claustrophobic atmosphere of the office. As she processed Miss Rogers's statement, the words ‘psychological evaluation’ disturbed her most. She glanced up at the principal's stunned face. I'll bet she thinks I'm a neurotic mother, if only she knew.
“Look, it’s not as bad as it may seem. A little professional help can do no harm, a few sessions with a child psychologist that’s all. Sarah needs to be focused on her lessons. She’s not the first child to need some help.” Miss Rogers’ voice droned on. Caroline desperately wanted to leave. In the end she agreed to take Sarah for some counselling.She breathed a sigh of relief, glad that her account of the drama at school was over. Her eyes met Judith's. She thinks I'm neurotic too.
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