‘It may be sensationalist, it may not, we don’t know. It may help us, teach us to recognise more Laura Bells. Lorna. Sorry.’
The documentary was entirely predictable. The girl they had got to impersonate Lorna did look a little like her, but Rabbit Girl and Pete were altogether too attractive, and Carl was a good-natured savant who doted on Lorna. The fire was filmed from a variety of perspectives. ‘Some have even questioned the role of family members in starting the fire,’ said the narrator.
‘That’s a bit far-fetched,’ huffed Miss Pickin.
‘EastEnders much?’ snorted Miss Peel.
When the programme ended, there was an anti-climactic feeling in the staffroom. The school hadn’t figured much, which was both good and bad. Miss Pickin was a bit miffed because she’d had her hair done especially, and hadn’t even made the final cut. James claimed to be happy that the school came out well, but bemoaned the fact that he’d given up an entire day to be filmed for interviews and only a couple of minutes had made it onto the screen.
‘That’s showbiz,’ muttered Miss Peel, squinting at her phone.
* * *
‘Bring back the birch, that’s what I say.’ Derek had watched the documentary, and had wasted no time calling Claire.
‘Derek, families need support. It’s not a simple case of punishment and reward. And if a child has never learned a sense of morality, or had a safe enough environment . . . It’s all about the proper intervention, and the skills to see what’s happening—’
‘Oh Claire! You’ve not changed, have you?’ Derek chuckled affectionately. ‘Still the bleeding heart!’
Claire closed her eyes and leaned tiredly against the wall where the sideboard used to be. ‘I’ve changed Derek. I guarantee it.’
46
A few weeks later, Claire got the letter. It was tucked into a card: ‘Hi there!’ cried a cheery cartoon dog. Lorna had written her name in a heart.
Dear Miss Penny
I bet you’re surprised to hear from me after such a long time and after everything that’s happened. I hope you are well.
I am fine. Here they have TV, I saw you on it, and then they turned it off, but now I know you are still at the same school so you probably live in the same house too! I LOVE your hair! I hope your not too upset with me and that we’re still friends. Yesterday I read something in the Bible that said bad company ruins good morals and I think that is really true, don’t you? I didn’t mean to keep bad company, but here they say that I should have had more guidance so maybe it’s not all my fault. I see a counsellor here who is very nice and reminds me of you a bit! She is so kind. I love her almost as much as I love you!
I am doing school work. They also have some guinea pigs that I help look after, and a garden.
I write stories and they say that I’m very good at them, and yesterday I started to learn a bit of French, but I’m not very good at that yet.
The other girls here are ok but sometimes they don’t like me and it’s lonely. You can come and visit me if you’d like. I’d like that because, in my heart, despite everything, I know we are still friends and friends should stick together! I trust you and you should trust me because I love you and I’d never do anything to hurt you.
With Love From Lorna