Living a Lie Read Online Free PDF

“NO!”
    Fighting to keep him in sight, she struggled like a thing demented. He seemed to hear her tortured cries because, in those last few seconds, he blew her a kiss. His mouth moved as though he was saying something to her. Then he smiled and was gone.
    “He saved your life,” they said afterwards.
    “He got you out of the house.”
    Kitty wondered about that. She wondered why her father who’d always seemed to resent her, should want her to live, while her mother, who’d loved her dearly, had wanted her to die, It would be many years before Kitty could even begin to understand.

Chapter Three
    An order was given for Kitty to be placed in a home.
    “I’m sure it won’t be for long,” Linda Jenkins promised her.
    “Some kind family will foster you. Be patient. Everything will come out right.” For a while Kitty believed her. But that was at the courthouse, before the enormity of her situation had sunk in; before she was brought to the outskirts of Bedford, and her new ‘home’.
    The thin-faced woman climbed out of the car first.
    “Come along, Kitty,” she instructed in a firm crisp voice.
    “The sooner we get you settled in the better.” When Kitty paused to look at the unfamiliar red-brick building, the woman stood by, fidgeting and visibly harassed; presently she took hold of Kitty’s hand to propel her forward.
    “I don’t want to rush you,” she apologised, ‘but I have to be back in court this afternoon, and I have three home visits to make before then. ” Not for the first time she wondered whether she had chosen the right profession.
    “A social worker can never afford to waste time,” she complained. In fact she didn’t care for children very much, but in the short time she had known Kitty she had taken a liking to her.
    “You’ll be all right here,” she said in a kinder voice.
    “The woman in charge is a good sort.”
    In fact, ‘the woman in charge’ was a formidable figure. Miss Davis was built like a Churchill tank; six feet tall with miniature eyes, miniature spectacles, and a hairy chin.
    “Well then, my dear,” she said, ushering Kitty and the social worker into her spacious office, “I hope you’re a good girl?”
    Kitty nodded. She didn’t know what to say. The sight of this huge woman had been another shock.
    The social worker stepped forward.
    “Speak up. Kitty. It’s rude not to answer when spoken to. Are you a good girl, or not?” She smiled at Miss Davis, and the two of them looked at Kitty who wished the earth would open and swallow her up.
    “I suppose I am a good girl.” She tried hard not to stare at the dark stubble on Miss Davis’s chin, but it was difficult. At school there had been a box filled with old comics, to be read at your desk on rainy playtimes; in one of the comics there was a character called Desperate Clan. He had stubble on his chin, just like Miss Davis; in fact, he and Miss Davis looked much alike, except he wore a cap and she had a big roll of grey hair.
    “Well, now, that’s a good thing,” Miss Davis’s smile was quite frightening, ‘because I don’t welcome naughty girls into my house. “
    Turning to the social worker she said pertinently, “I expect you’re in a rush to get away?”
    “Well, yes, I do have a tight schedule.”
    “You’d best get off then. Don’t worry about Kitty. We’ll take good care of her.” She turned to smile at Kitty.
    “You’re not worried about being left with me, are you, child?”
     
    Strangely enough, Kitty felt safe with her, “No, Miss Davis.” The younger woman placed her hand on Kitty’s shoulder and said softly, “I’ll be back tomorrow, to see how you’re settling in.” She looked down at Kitty’s upturned face and was deeply moved by the confusion in those beautiful brown eyes.
    “Don’t worry,” she murmured, ‘we’ll try to get you fostered out, into a real family. That’s what you want, isn’t it? “
    Kitty knew it was impossible, but in spite of the awful