Pretty Little World

Emma stuffed her mum’s package into her back pocket and pulled up her hood. She stuck her hands in the pockets of her sweater to keep them warm and hurried through the dark streets; her eyes scanning the footpath as she walked.

When she reached the housing commission flats, she took the stairs two at a time. The apartment was dark when she entered. The flicker of the TV could be seen under the door to the main room, but Emma couldn’t hear the sound. She opened the door and saw her mum lying on the couch. The familiar worry froze her until she saw her mum’s chest move up and down.

Emma threw the zip lock bag onto the table for her mum to find when she woke and needed more. Then she went to her own room and put the chair under the door handle to prevent anyone opening it while she slept.

***

The alarm pierced her sleep and Emma rolled over and turned it off. She dressed in her school uniform before she unbarred her door to see what was left in the fridge. Surprisingly, the milk was still in date and there were enough Coco Pops for a full bowl. Emma ate looking out the window at the grey skies before putting her bowl on the growing pile in the sink and grabbing her school bag.

“Off to school?”

Emma turned quickly and saw a stranger leaning against the doorframe. The man was bare chested and smoking a cigarette.

“Yeah.”

“Name’s Stan.” He squinted through the smoke as he exhaled.

Emma nodded in acknowledgement, not wishing to engage.

“Got a name?”

“Emma.” Her voice was flat and bored.

“Name and attitude,” he commented.

“Get it from me mum.”

“Damn.” He barked a laugh as she left. “I think ya do.”

The walk to school was short and Emma went straight to her classroom. Her best friend, Lily, had been done for shoplifting and was in juvie for the next three weeks. Emma sat at her desk, lounging in her chair, and watched the rest of the class file in. Some glanced towards her but none held her eye.

“Good morning 5C.” Miss Burns’ voice was cheerful.

Emma sighed as she traced her initials scratched into her desk. The rest of the class responded, and Miss Burns marked the roll. She always started with a question.

“Emma?”

“Yeah.”

“What’s your favourite animal?”

Emma refused to look up. “Don’t have one.”

There was a slight pause as Miss Burns debated a course of action. “Mine’s a dog. My dog is always happy when I get home. Brodie?” She turned away from Emma, not wanting a confrontation so early in the day.

The morning dragged and Emma scribbled in her books and refused to participate. Lunchtime saw her eating the ham sandwich the school provided, watching the other students play.

The bell went and she trailed the others back to class. She screwed up the paper bag which had held her lunch and threw it towards the bin. It hit the rim and landed on the ground.

“Loser, like your mum,” Ollie teased.

Emma launched herself at the boy and he fell forward. She landed on top of him and started punching. Emma aimed for his stomach and lower back, knowing that was where it hurt the most.

Miss Burns’ voice reached her. “Emma! Stop!”

Emma didn’t.

Someone grabbed her arms and pulled her away.

“You can’t touch me!” Emma screamed. “I know my rights!”

“I can when there is danger to another student,” a voice informed her calmly.

Emma pulled her arms free of Mr Riccelli, the vice-principal. She turned on him, her eyes full of anger and her hands still in tight fists at her side.

“Will you come with me, please?” he said, refusing to rise to her challenge.

She glanced around and saw other teachers herding students away. Miss Burns was helping Ollie to his feet and Emma could hear his sobs.

“Serves ya right for being rude,” she spat at him.

“Emma.”

She turned back to Mr Riccelli.

“What?” Emma raised her chin as she stared at him. She knew this was one man who wouldn’t harm her.

“Ms Li would like a word.”

“Fine,” Emma snapped and strode past him.

***

Emma waited outside the office, staring at the floor, her arms crossed.

“Emma, take a seat.” Ms Li opened the door and gestured to the chair in front of her desk. Emma glanced at it and then threw herself onto the couch instead.

“Not a good day?” Ms Li’s voice was gentle.

“Never is,” Emma responded, folding her arms across her chest.

“Em, you know you can’t solve things with violence. How else could you have handled this?”

“Let me think,” Emma said with exaggerated sarcasm. “That’s right, I use my words, not my fists.”

“Yes—”

“Maybe that works in your pretty little world, but it don’t work in mine,” Emma cut her off.

“This is the fifth time this term—”

“Oh, wow, you can count. Is that how you got the job?”

“Emma, do I deserve to be spoken to like that?” Ms Li said calmly.

Emma bit back a reply and looked down, not willing to meet the guidance counsellor’s gaze.

“Is your mum working today?”

Emma shrugged.

“She needs to come and get you. You assaulted another student; we can’t let this one go.” Emma refused to look up. “Em?”

The silence stretched and Emma began to fidget. She glanced up and then down again. Ms Li remained impassive, waiting for her to speak.

“What do ya want me to say?” Emma’s voice was defensive.

Ms Li did not comment.

“Ollie deserved it. He’s an arsehole.” Emma chose her words deliberately and looked up to see Ms Li’s response.

Ms Li ignored her remark. “We can’t contact your mother, so a social worker has been called. You’ll be put into emergency care.”

“Ya can’t.” Emma shook her head. “Me mum needs me.”

“Sweetheart, you’re ten. You shouldn’t be looking after your mother, she should be—” Ms Li stopped herself. “You need to be in a safe, supportive home.” She glanced down at the fading bruises on the girl’s arms.

Emma pulled down her sleeves and glared at the woman.

“The call has already been made. We have a duty of care to you, not your mother.”

Emma sat up, her chest tightening. “So, you’re just gonna force me to go to some stranger’s house? And leave me there?”

“They are a registered emergency foster care family. They have experience in—”

“Kids like me?” Emma butted in.

“Yes, kids like you.”

“You don’t know me!” Emma accused, her voice rising in anger. “You think just coz ya nice I’m gonna trust you? You get paid to be nice, it’s ya job.”

“Emma.” Mr Riccelli interrupted from the doorway. “This is Ms Karagiannis.”

“Sofia, please.” The woman smiled and turned to Emma. “Nice to meet you, Emma.”

Emma turned away to stare at the opposite wall.

“Do you mind if Ms Li and I have a word?” the woman asked.

Emma ignored her and the adults left the room, closing the door behind them. They spoke in quiet voices and Emma scooted along the couch so she could hear.

“You’ve attempted to contact the mother?”

“Yes. We’ve also tried the emergency numbers on file, and none have responded,” Ms Li replied.

“Emma is in danger,” Mr Riccelli added, his voice insistent. “We’ve been pushing to have her assigned to care all year. The failure of her mother to respond yet again constitutes neglect, you have to do something.”

Emma slid away from the door, not wanting to hear any more of the conversation. Lily had been in foster care and told Emma the good and bad. Would a stranger accept her? Or would they discard her when she became too much?

The adults returned and the social worker explained the process. Emma continued to stare at the wall, offering nothing. She followed the woman to a car and sat in the back. The woman tried to make conversation, but Emma ignored her. She stared out the window as they entered suburbia with its green nature strips and neat front gardens.

The car slowed and turned into a driveway. They got out and a woman greeted them. Emma looked at the ground.

“Go on through,” the woman invited. “Jessie, our dog, would love to meet you.”

Emma entered the house and saw the dog blocking the corridor. It was a large dog, with long, golden hair. It wagged its tail and sniffed her leg, unafraid of this stranger who had entered its home. She reached down hesitantly and stroked its head. The dog leaned against her leg, its tail moving back and forth and its brown eyes calm. So, this is why Miss Burns’ favourite animal is a dog.

Emma smiled.