The New Neighbours

by Costeloe Diney

  “Hi,” she called.

  “Hallo, Cirelle,” said Shirley. “You haven’t met my daughter, Melanie, have you? Mel, this is Cirelle from next door.”

  The two young women exchanged greetings. “You look as if you’ve got your hands well full,” remarked Cirelle, as Todd emerged from the house again, swinging on his granddad’s hand. Todd stopped and looked at her, and his thumb went into his mouth.

  “Hallo,” said Cirelle. “My name’s Cirelle. What’s yours?”

  Todd eyed her from behind his granddad’s back, but didn’t answer.

  “This is Todd,” said Shirley. “They’ve all come to stay with us for a little while. Aren’t you going to say hallo to Cirelle, Todd?”

  Todd still didn’t answer, so Shirley said gently, “You left Tedder in the car, Todd, have you come to fetch him?” Shirley reached into the car and brought out Todd’s teddy bear and held it out to him. The little boy reached for him and hugging him tightly took refuge once more behind his grandfather.

  “Well, I’m off to the gym,” Cirelle said cheerfully. “If you need any help with babysitting, don’t hesitate to ask.”

  As she turned away, a thought struck her and she turned back. “I meant to ask you,” she said, “who lives in number nine? Are they away? I’ve never seen anyone there.”

  “The Smarts,” replied Shirley. “They are away, and have been for six months. They’re visiting their daughter in Australia. Why?”

  “It’s just that I saw someone going round through their side gate, earlier today. Youngish bloke, didn’t see his face, but when I saw his back disappearing through the gate, I suddenly thought that the house might be empty and he shouldn’t be there.”

  “I’ll take a look when we’ve got this lot unloaded,” David promised. “We’ve got a key, if necessary. Thanks for mentioning it. You didn’t recognise him, I suppose.”

  Cirelle shook her head. “No, but I only saw him from the back. He was in jeans and a bomber. Could’ve been anybody.”

  “Well, thanks anyway,” David said.

  Cirelle grinned at him cheerfully. “No probs,” she said. “See you all,” and she jogged off round the Circle.

  “She’s a lovely girl,” Shirley told Melanie. “She helps out at St Joe’s sometimes. Her babysitting offer is a good one, Mel, we might want to take her up on that.”

  Melanie, nodded, “Yes, whatever,” she said absently.

  While the two women finished carrying the luggage indoors, David went across to the Smarts’ house. He wanted to check that everything was all right there. The front looked as it always did, and so he went to the side gate and pushed it open. It wasn’t latched as it should have been. He walked down the side passage and into the back garden. All was still and quiet and there was certainly no intruder there now. He looked up at the windows, but they were all closed, and there was no sign that anyone had tried to open one. Similarly the garden door was shut and undamaged. Probably one of the Callow boys hit a ball over and had come to fetch it, David thought. He peered in through the kitchen window, but the little he could see appeared undisturbed. He walked back round the house, and noticed, in a muddy patch by the back gate, the print of a trainer, quite fresh and distinct. Well, he thought, Cirelle was right, someone has definitely been inside the gate recently. Perhaps he would just give Mike Callow a ring and see if his boys had been there today. If not they should keep a sharp look out in case someone had been casing the house.

  He went in home and found the children having their tea. Shirley had taken charge, but she encouraged Melanie to give Suzie her bottle and later to bath Todd, while she, Shirley, cooked the supper.

  “I must see Fran,” she said to David when he came into the kitchen. “I shall pop out after supper and see if she’s at home.”

  “Do you think she’ll be able to do anything for Mel?” David asked.

  Shirley shrugged helplessly. “I don’t know,” she sighed. “But at least she’s known her for years and might be able to talk to her as a friend, if not a doctor.”

  “Don’t you think Mel might think you’re going behind her back?” David asked.

  “I suppose I am really,” Shirley admitted. “But it’s for her own good.”

  “She may not see it like that,” David warned.

  “No, I suppose not. Still, I could at least talk to Fran, don’t you think? I really am worried about Mel, you know.”

  “I know you are, all I’m saying is, don’t make things worse.”

  Shirley didn’t go to see Fran that evening; she decided to wait a couple of days and see how things went, but the next day, on her way to do a stint at St Joe’s, she bumped into Fran in the Dartmouth Road.

  “Fran, can I talk to you some time? In confidence?” she asked.

  Fran looked at her keenly and said, “Of course, Shirley. Do you want me to come over when I’ve finished today?”

  “I’m not sure, it’s a bit difficult. It’s about Melanie, and she’s staying with us. Honestly Fran, I’m so worried about her.”

  “Would you rather come over to me?” suggested Fran.

  “In a way. The thing is I don’t want her to think I’m going behind her back.”

  “Even if you are.” Fran smiled, taking any sting out of her words.

  Shirley laughed ruefully. “Exactly.”

  “Well, why don’t I pop in later, casually? I’ll think of a reason, and then we can take it from there.”

  “Would you? Do you mind doing it like that?” Shirley was apologetic. “It’s just that I feel in need of some advice.”

  “I’m always ready to listen,” Fran said. “As to advice, well, let’s wait and see. Melanie isn’t my patient, remember.”

  “No, but I am,” Shirley said, “and I’m the one who needs the advice… about Mel.”

  “I can see you’re worried,” Fran said, “but try not to be. I’ll drop in later this afternoon. What time will you be back?”

  “I finish at St Joe’s at about half past four,” Shirley said.

  “Fine, it’ll be after that, then.”

  Shirley went on to the day centre, and found that when she was busy with the regulars she managed to forget about Melanie for a while. There was only one other volunteer there, the co-ordinator, Mavis Potts, so they were both kept fairly busy. Wrestling with Vera’s ever-recalcitrant knitting and playing dominoes with old Fred Barnes, making and pouring numerous cups of tea, helped Shirley keep her mind occupied. Only once did she think of her daughter and that was when Vera called across to her, “’Ow’s that baby, then? Getting on all right, is she? Did you bring them snaps you promised?”

  “Oh, Vera, I’m sorry,” Shirley replied. “I put them out ready and then came without them.” Because Melanie didn’t want me to come and leave her, she added silently. For goodness sake, David was there! And in all the fuss, I forgot the photos.

  “Do you have to go, Mum?” Mel had wailed. “Couldn’t you miss it just for once?”

  “No, Mel, I couldn’t,” Shirley said firmly. “They rely on me.”

  “I’m relying on you, too,” Melanie said pettishly.

  “I shall be home by about half four,” Shirley said soothingly. “Suzie’s asleep and Todd’s got the toy box out in the dining room, you can play with him. And make your father a cup of tea at about half past three, will you? He usually stops for one about then.” She gave her daughter a hug. “And don’t worry, Mel, you’ll be fine, and I’ll be back soon.”

  So she had left without the photos and without the books she’d collected to add to the bookshelf in the centre.

  Towards the end of the afternoon, Cirelle came in.

  “Hi,” she said cheerfully. “ I’ve got half an hour before I’m due at a tutorial, so I thought I’d look in. Anything I can do?”

  Shirley smiled at her. “Well,” she said, “would you mind tackling the washing up in the kitchen? They were short of helpers at lunchtime and there’s still a pile in the sink.”

  “Yea
h, no probs!” Cirelle turned to the kitchen.

  “I’ll be in to help you in a minute,” Shirley promised.

  As soon as she could, Shirley went in to help Cirelle clear the kitchen.

  “I’m glad you came,” she said. “I wanted a quiet word with you.”

  “Oh, what about?”

  Shirley hesitated, wondering if she were being disloyal to Melanie, and then deciding she couldn’t help it. “It’s my daughter, Melanie,” she began.

  “The one I met yesterday?”

  “Yes.” Once she had decided to speak, all Shirley’s words came out in a rush. “The thing is she’s not been very well lately and is finding the children too much for her. That’s why she’s come to us, really, so we can help out. But we’re not getting any younger and I wondered, well, I wondered if you would like to help out with the children at times. We’d pay you of course, and it could be fitted round your college times. Would you be interested?”

  “Yeah, very,” Cirelle said at once. “I like kids. There’s lots in our family and I often help with them. What sort of thing d’you want me to do?”

  “It would probably be Todd, mostly,” Shirley said. “Taking him into the Circle garden to play, coming over and giving a hand at bedtime, that sort of thing. Perhaps we can link up with the Hammond and Forrester children so that he has other children to play with. If they stay any length of time, I’ll want to take him to the local toddler group. To be honest,” she went on ruefully, “I don’t really know. We’d have to play it by ear. I haven’t discussed it with Melanie yet, so I don’t know what she’ll think of the idea, but when you mentioned babysitting yesterday, she didn’t seem to mind.” Shirley sighed. “The trouble is, you never quite know what’s going to upset her just at the moment.”

  “Yeah, well if you want me, like, just give me a call,” said Cirelle. “It’s the sort of job I’d enjoy, and to be honest too, I need to find something, I need the cash.”

  They finished the dishes chatting easily and then Cirelle went off to her tutorial, leaving Shirley to go back into the day room, feeling a little more optimistic.

  The rest of the afternoon passed all too quickly and, before she knew it, Shirley’s clients had gone and she and Mavis had cleared up and were ready to go home.

  Mavis looked at her critically. “You look tired, Shirley,” she remarked. Shirley managed a smile. “Didn’t sleep so well last night,” she admitted. “We’ve got Melanie and the children staying for a few days.”

  “Oh Shirley, you should’ve said,” Mavis scolded. “I could have managed on my own this afternoon.”

  “No you couldn’t,” Shirley returned. “And anyway it did me good to get away for a couple of hours.”

  Mavis smiled. “Well, thanks anyway. See you soon.”

  As Shirley came into the Circle she heard the sound of children playing in the Circle garden, and looking over the fence she saw David pushing Todd on the swing, while Isabelle played with Tom and Sylvia in the sandpit. She went in and was greeted by David, still pushing the swing.

  “Hello, love. Look Todd, here’s Granny.”

  “Hello, you look as if you’re having fun.” Shirley spoke to Todd, but her eyes flicked to David, who said, “Yes, we thought we’d play out here until you got home again, didn’t we, Todd?”

  “Everything all right,” asked Shirley anxiously.

  “Fine, but it was too nice a day to stay indoors.” David let the swing slow and then catching Todd in his arms, lifted him off. “There you go, young man, go and give Granny a kiss.”

  Todd ran to Shirley and she bent to hug him. “Have you had a good time with Granddad?”

  “Yes, I swinged very high!”

  “I saw you,” Shirley agreed. “You were very high. Shall we go and find some tea now?” She took his hand and they all three walked back to the house. “Where’s Melanie?” Shirley asked David.

  “Indoors, reading,” he replied. “Suzie was awake for a while, and Melanie changed her, but I think she’s put her back in her cot now. How was your afternoon?”

  “Quite helpful actually,” Shirley said and told him briefly of her conversations with Fran and Cirelle. “So Fran will drop in later and we can ask Cirelle to help if we need her.”

  Melanie looked up as they came up the stairs. “Hello, Mum.”

  “Hello darling, nice afternoon?”

  “Yeah, not bad.”

  “Good. Will you put the kettle on while I just pop upstairs? I’ll be down in a minute and we’ll have some tea.”

  While they were eating, the doorbell rang and hoping it was Fran, Shirley said, “Answer the door, Mel, will you?”

  Melanie went to the entryphone. “It’s Doctor Fran,” she reported.

  “Fran? How nice, tell her to come on up.”

  “Melanie,” Fran cried as she came up the stairs, “I heard on the grapevine that you were here and I thought you wouldn’t mind if I popped in to see this new baby I’ve heard so much about.” She gave Melanie a hug. “Hello, everyone. Hello Todd, how are you? You are getting a big boy.”

  “Fran, how lovely to see you,” cried Shirley. “Cup of tea?”

  “Oh, yes please, just a quick one.” She turned to Melanie again. “So, where’s Suzie? Can I see her?”

  “She’s asleep,” Melanie said.

  “Well, I won’t wake her, but could I have a peep?”

  “OK,” Melanie shrugged and led the way upstairs to where her daughter was in her cot. Suzie wasn’t asleep and waved her fists at Fran as she bent over the cot.

  “May I pick her up?” asked Fran, and when Melanie shrugged again she reached into the cot and lifted the baby out, cradling her in her arms. Fran looked across at Melanie, smiling. “She’s beautiful, Mel,” she said. “You must be very proud of her.”

  Melanie managed a small smile. “Yes, I am.”

  “You’re looking tired, though,” Fran said gently. “Does she cry a lot? Is she getting you up much at night? I remember being terribly tired when I brought Carol home. Max needed me as he always had, but all I wanted to do was sleep!”

  She held Suzie out to Melanie, but Mel shook her head. “Put her back in the cot, I’ll see to her after tea.”

  Fran did as she was asked, but immediately Suzie started to grizzle.She was tired of being in her cot and wanted to stay up in someone’s arms.

  Melanie looked at her for a moment, making no move to pick her up again, then all of a sudden her face crumpled and she began to cry. Fran at once gathered her into her arms and held her as she sobbed and sobbed.

  When at last her sobs died away, Fran led her to the bed and sat her down, still holding firmly on to her hand. “Now, Mel, come on, tell me what’s the matter? What’s this all about?”

  “I just can’t cope with the children,” Melanie blurted out. “Todd’s OK, except he’s so demanding, but Suzie… it’s all too much. I can’t seem to make the effort. That’s why I’m here now, with Mum and Dad, because things at home were just awful! Mum wants me to go on Prozac or something, but I don’t want to. She made me go to the doctor at home, but he didn’t say much, just I need counselling and more time. It’s hopeless, I don’t know what to do.”

  “What about Peter?” asked Fran gently. “He does what he can, but he’s away so much with his work. He says he has to go, and I know he does, but it doesn’t make it any easier. Then Mum came up to fetch me, and when I knew she was coming I had a whisky to keep me going, but I had too much and now she thinks I’ve got a drink problem as well, I know she does!”

  “And have you?”

  “No! At least I don’t think so, though I have had a few drinks lately when it’s all got beyond me. But I don’t go round looking for it all the time. The odd drink just helps me get through.” She looked earnestly at Fran. “What am I going to do, Fran? I don’t know what to do.”

  Fran squeezed her hand. “The first thing to do is to stop worrying. Oh, I know that’s easier said than done,” she added as Melanie began t
o protest, “but all this can be sorted, you know, and you’ll be back to your usual self. Now, what I suggest we do is take things a step at a time. Your doctor recommended counselling. Well, at my surgery we have a counsellor who can help you. You could see her while you’re staying here. She’s very nice, her name’s Jackie Spencer. What do you think?”

  Melanie shrugged. “I could try,” she conceded.

  “That’s my girl,” smiled Fran. “I’ll make an appointment for you to see her as soon as possible and we’ll take it from there. In the meantime, do as much as you can with both the children. Don’t be afraid to accept help, but don’t rely on other people entirely. They’ll want to help, but gradually you’ll find you can begin to cope without them. OK?” Fran fished in her pocket and produced a handful of tissues.

  Mel nodded and taking the hankies blew her nose. “You don’t think I need to go on to anything?” she asked, anxiously. “Pills, I mean?”

  “No. Certainly not yet, anyway. I think that would be very much a last resort. Let’s have a go with counselling and support first, eh?”

  Melanie managed a smile and nodded.

  “Good girl. Now, I think you need to change your daughter’s nappy. From the whiffs I’m getting, I think she’s been busy while we’ve been talking. Then we’ll take her downstairs and you can tell Mum what you’re going to do.”

  When the baby was clean and comfortable, they went downstairs and joined the others at the tea table. Shirley was longing to know what had been said upstairs, but she managed not to ask and soon Melanie said casually, “Dr Fran’s suggested I see the counsellor at her surgery, Mum. I think it’s quite a good idea, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I do. It sounds an great idea, darling.” She beamed across at both of them. “Do you want me to give Suzie her bottle while you drink your tea?

  “No, thanks,” Melanie said. “I’ll do it.”