New Beginnings

Let's Ride

"Thank you for driving me Alice." Cheryl said as Alice pulled up into the driveway of Thistle house.

She had been staying in the Smith household for a few weeks until she finally decided it was best she remained with family and took it upon herself to take the right procedures to be placed in the care of her grandmother Roseanne.

"Don't mention it honey." Alice smiled. "It's the least I could do after everything you've been through."

Cheryl smiled softly. "I would've gone earlier, but with all the lies and stories my Mom had said about her for the past few years, and then with social services intervening-"

"Your Mother is a bitch for that by the way." Alice interrupted referring to Penelope getting in contact with social services to prevent Cheryl being placed in the care of her grandmother.

"And claiming she was too elderly to be my guardian, I just put the whole thing in the back of my mind." Cheryl explained.

The two exit the vehicle and walked around towards the trunk to retrieve Cheryl's luggage.

"I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't have given them a piece of your mind." Cheryl said to Alice as she grabbed one of her suitcases.

"And I'd do it all over again." Alice said sternly as she shut the trunk. "I've had my fair share of bullshit experience with social services. They bend and break rules when it's convenient."

Alice had been no stranger to the operations of family services. She had always been poor, had Polly and Betty when she was quite young and was even homeless at one point so they had always been on her back. She felt that all they did was interfere and stick their noses into matter that weren't their business rather than actually do their jobs, which is to help families.

"And for the record, you would've always been welcome to stay with us, for as long you wanted." Alice added as she pulled Cheryl's suitcase up the driveway and towards the door.

Cheryl knocked onto the front door and was greeted by one of her grandmothers housekeepers. The man took Cheryl's luggage and she was slowly approached by the frail old woman in her wheelchair.

Nana Rose, as Cheryl called her had quite a distinct look. A streak of red in her grey hair, weirdly tiny hands and very definitive dark blue eyes.

"Cheryl dear? Is that you?" The old woman practically croaked.

"Hello Nana." Cheryl greeted before lowering herself to hug her. Nana Rose hugged her granddaughter as tightly as possible and Alice swore she saw a tear fall from the woman's eye, and it even made her tear up a little. They hadn't seen each other in a round five years. Penelope had kept Cheryl and Jason out of their grandmothers lives for unknown reasons, but Cheryl was sure it was just out of spite. Penelope had always hated Roseanne.

"I thought the social services said you couldn't stay." Roseanne questioned as she held onto Cheryl's hand.

"Well at first they were sceptical, until Alice here used her powers of persuasion to her advantage." Cheryl gesturing towards Alice.

"Thank you, for everything." She said to Alice.

Alice rubbed the girls shoulders and smiled back. "You're welcome, and if you ever need anything, just come to me."

•••

She was driving along the back roads towards Elm Street, as creepy as they were, they got her home a lot quicker.

Her phone began to buzz and the number flashing on the screen was unrecognisable.

She scrunched up her face at it before hitting the answer button.