Page 16 of The Stolen Child

‘It’s a mood ring. The stone will change colour in response to how you feel. And there’s a card that tells you what each colour means. Put it on!’

Elsie obliged, slipping the ring onto the middle finger of her right hand. They leaned in and watched the ring as the colour slowly morphed from inky black to light blue.

Sally pulled the small card out from the ring box and said with delight, ‘That means you are calm, comfortable and relaxed!’

‘Well, it’s perceptive because that’s how I feel. You know, I’ve always wanted one of these, but how could you afford one?’ Elsie’s pretty face crumpled into a frown.

‘I got it in the British Red Cross charity shop on Old Bond Street.’ Sally hadn’t wanted to admit this fact. She continued in a rush, ‘But the shopkeeper said that the ring is new. It was an unwanted gift, donated.’

Elsie’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. ‘It’s my favourite gift that I’ve ever received. I love it. I really do.’ Then Elsie pulled Sally into her embrace, hugging her tightly, letting her go with a squeal. ‘It’s changed colours again! Now it’s violet! What does that mean?’

Sally quickly checked the card and said, ‘It means you are happy.’

She reached under the bed and pulled out another bag. ‘I got something else when I was in the second-hand shop.’ Sally opened the bag and pulled out a plastic doll’s head, with long blonde hair. ‘It’s the Super Girl’s World styling head. You can change the length of the hair, and the colour too.’

She stopped speaking, feeling self-conscious. She glanced up at Elsie, half expecting her to laugh.

But Elsie understood immediately. ‘You can practise hairstyles on this. Genius. And it will give you something to do when I’m gone. You’ll be bereft without me,’ she finished with a wink.

Sally felt a rush of happiness for her best friend, the only person who understood Sally’s dreams, followed quickly by despair that Elsie would soon be gone – because she would be bereft.

Elsie’s eyes narrowed as she saw her friend’s bottom lip quiver. She quickly joked, ‘You can’t let Housemother see it, though. She’ll have her shears out and will give it a bloody bob like the rest of us!’

The following afternoon, the time came for Elsie to leave. Sally found her friend in their bedroom, packing her suitcase.

‘I hope you’ve packed your plaid pyjamas with their matching quilted dressing gown,’ Sally joked as she leaned against the door frame with a cheeky grin.

‘Naturally. I wouldn’t leave home without them. Because, after all, these beauties are . . .’ Elsie replied, pausing so that she and Sally could scream in unison, ‘flame retardant!’

Elsie and Sally clutched each other as they squealed with laughter at their inside joke at Housemother’s expense, who had been most excited when she’d handed out the new night attire to everyone the previous Christmas, repeatedly saying that she’d bought them especially because they were flame retardant.

‘I mean . . . at least you won’t spontaneously burst into flames . . .’ Sally said, which caused another round of almost hysterical laughter.

‘Nor will I ever attract a husband, the state of me in them!’ Elsie replied, holding up the pyjamas with disdain. ‘When I earn my first pay cheque, I will buy a slinky, silky nightgown in bright fuchsia or scarlet red. And I’ll get you one too, so it’s waiting for you as soon as you leave here.’

‘I don’t want you to go,’ Sally admitted in a small voice. All traces of her merriment were gone now, and a deep furrow creased her forehead. The prospect of three long years without her best friend was daunting. ‘I can’t see why they won’t let you stay here a bit longer. It’s cruel sending you off on your own.’

Elsie sighed. ‘You know that’s not how the system works. You turn eighteen, and it’s bye-bye, care home – hello, big bad world. But I do wish you could come with me.’ A bittersweet smile played on her lips as she looked at her friend. ‘I can’t get my head around the fact that I won’t wake up to see your mug opposite me every morning.’ Then her face softened, and tears glistened in her eyes. ‘We’ve done everything together, haven’t we, since that day you arrived here.’

Sally knew that she had to be brave, because, despite Elsie’s bravado, she could see how scared she was. So she tried to offer some solace. ‘We have, but we will again when I leave here too. The time will go by so fast. You’ll see. And you have to write to me every day,’ Sally said, her pink lips now pouting prettily.

‘I’m not much of a writer – you know that – but I’ll try to send a letter every week if I can.’

And Sally knew that next year, on her birthday, she’d make a new wish, that Elsie and she would remain best friends forever, just as the card had said they would.

NOW

July 2023

Lily

Phibsborough, Dublin

The room sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to Ben, who sat in his high chair, clapping his hands with delight. Lily’s throat constricted, and her body swelled with love for her little boy.

‘Blow the candles out,’ Lily said, holding the caterpillar cake closer to him.

‘Be careful, Lily. He’ll burn himself,’ Lily’s mother commanded, her hands reaching out to protect him.