Amelia's story Read Online Free PDF

I were urgently whisked away without any warning and with just a few clothes to cover us for the next few days. We were told that our mother and father had been taken ill and needed to recuperate for a while. We were left at a neighbour ’s house the day before , but our parents never returned home. Everyone was anxious , but they were trying so hard not to worry us.
 
    As the even ts unfolded, I discovered that M other and Robert had both taken a suicide pact and overdosed together. They were eventually found by concerned neighbo u rs who had slipped over the back gate and let themselves into the house. They immediately called an ambulance, and then they called the Social Services . J ake and I were both devastated; we had very little knowledge of what was going on, only that it was very serious. Of course , we both k new where this was going to lead again. We were sure that we would be placed in yet another children’s home. Once again we were left fearing our immediate future, and the familiar feeling of instability, insecurity , and fear consumed us at that time .

We were all sent to Colton Hall again, while our mother and father were being investigated by Social Services a nd the health services for their stability as parents. We at least were familiar with the surroundings of Colton Hall . W e knew one or two of the children who were permanent residents until they reached a cer tain age and then they would be moved on to another home. So , settling in the second time was far easier on us all than it was the first time. We were spared the usual ritual of our beds being soiled, which was a relief to both Jake and I. The staff did all they could to make us feel welcome , and I remember that our breakfast sitting was the ver y first time I had tasted honey. I was encouraged to try some with my porridge and it was delicious! I’ve loved it ever since. I will never forget that first taste in my mouth, a beautiful mixture of honey and oats! As the days passed, we were all settling into a routine . W e were quite happy and had adapted well to our temporary surroundings. I loved the fact that we had a set breakfast time each day . In the morning when the alarm rang out like a billowing horn, we all jumped out of bed and washed before we were all escorted to the small dining hall where there was a feast f it for a king set out before us. T his was something we were definitely not used to at all. The tables were laid with plain plastic cloths and small-sized cutlery. T he table was adorned with mini -s ized boxes of cereal for us to choose from, there was warm toast delicately cut into triangles in a neat , little toast rack, and the option to have warm por ridge was there if we preferred.

I n ever wanted to leave the table. I wanted to eat everything set out before me, and most mornings I did! After breakfast we headed into the nursery area , which also double d into a pl ay area for the five- to- seven-year-olds. A ctivities would be arranged to keep us amused until lunchtime arrived . Once again we would be greeted with a delicious feast of meat and potatoes and a side dish of peas, simple wholesome food. I loved it and the regular routine was so good for us all.

We thought about our parents less and less mainly due to the regular stability Col ton Hall had given to us. While at Colton Hall , a problem that I developed in the form of bed-wetting had stopped after a while; I no longer woke up in the middle of the night soaking wet and crying out. Jake’s confidence had also increased; no rmally he was exceptionally shy; however , he had become more outgoing and was joining in with the other children rather than sitting alone in the corner. Jenny was just happy no matter what ; thankfully, she was far too y oung to know what was going on. S he was also taken very good care of at Colton.

Unfortunately , our current welcomed stable lives were about to be disrupted once more. Our m other and stepfather had recovered