many intelligent children who fail the examination for one reason or another, and from this report it seems your daughter may well have been one of them.’
‘Well, yes, I always knew she was bright,’ Delia blustered now, blushing at the lie.
The man ignored her reply, instead pulling a card from an index file and focusing on Jennifer again. ‘With your knowledge and interest in literature, I think I have a position that may appeal to you.’
Delia was startled. This was news to her, but then again she had barely looked at Jennifer’s school reports.
‘What sort of position?’ she asked abruptly.
‘It’s in local government, as a local junior librarian.’
‘Surely she needs qualifications?’
‘The CILIP, that is the Chartered Institute of Libraries and Information Professionals, offer rewards for in-house experience and with training they can offer certification. This of course can eventually lead to managerial advancement, or work in other important sectors, such as museums, archives—’
Impatiently Delia interrupted the man, ‘Yes, yes, I understand, but do you really think Jennifer has a chance of obtaining the position?’
‘Yes, I do,’ he said abruptly. ‘However, it depends of course on whether your daughter is interested in this kind of work.’
Delia was annoyed to see that Jennifer was just staring at the man, her mouth agape. Far from appearing bright, the girl looked like an imbecile, and Delia snapped, ‘For goodness’ sake, Jennifer, buck up and answer the man.’
‘I…I’m sorry. It…it’s just so unexpected…but yes, I’d love to train as a librarian. It would be like a dream come true.’
‘Very well, I’ll arrange an interview and you’ll be notified in writing of the date and time.’
Still looking dazed, Jennifer rose to her feet. ‘Tha…thank you.’
‘Yes, thank you,’ Delia echoed, feeling a little heady too as they left the room. She didn’t know what she’d expected; perhaps a junior position in an office at the most, but this outcome was far better. For once, when Delia smiled at Jennifer, it was with genuine warmth.
‘That went well,’ she commented. ‘Now we’ll just have to ensure that you’re successful at the interview.’
Jennifer ignored her, instead turning to talk to Tina, who was waiting her turn, ‘You can go in now. I’ll wait for you.’
‘Great, see you soon,’ the girl said, hurrying in to see the adviser.
Delia was annoyed. Jennifer knew she didn’t approve of Tina Hammond. ‘You’ll do no such thing,’ she said sharply. ‘There’s a stack of ironing waiting for you and you’ll walk home with me.’
‘I’m not a child. I’ve made my way home from school without escort for years so it’s a bit late to start now.’
Delia heard the ring of sarcasm in Jennifer’s tone and bristled, her voice rising. ‘How dare you use that tone with me. Now come on, we’re leaving.’
‘No, Mother. I’ll do the ironing as soon as I get there, but I’ll be walking home with Tina.’
A few heads turned, curious parents looking their way. Aware that they were causing a scene, Delia hissed, ‘Right, I’m going, but I’ll deal with you later and there’ll be more than ironing waiting for you.’
‘Yes, I’m sure there will,’ Jennifer said, sounding, for the first time, unafraid.
Delia couldn’t believe her ears, but she wasn’t going to continue this here. Though she was inwardly fuming, she haughtily walked away, her dignity intact as she left the building. It was as though Jennifer had transformed in front of her eyes, changing from a compliant child who always tried to please to an assured young woman. Not only that, an argumentative one, and Delia knew that unless she could reassert herself, this new development would make living with Jennifer intolerable. It was bad enough that she’d been forced to look at the girl for nearly sixteen years, but at least she had been able to feel that in her coldness towards Jennifer she was punishing Edward too.
As Delia continued on her way home, her mouth was set in a tight line of annoyance. She had wanted rid of Jennifer as soon as possible, had planned for that, but then had been forced to put it off. Now, however, she set her mind to the problem again.
At last, Delia came to realise that she could use this change in Jennifer’s attitude to her advantage. She had told Robin that Jennifer was a difficult baby, but now she could extend that period. If she set the trap carefully and it worked, Robin would see Jennifer in a new light.
Delia expected to find her son home from college, and composed her face to one of sadness in readiness. Her new plan to get rid of Jennifer had to work. She would drive the girl out – but this time Robin wouldn’t threaten to leave home too. He’d be on her side, and Delia looked forward to going into battle now.
Jennifer was no match for her and the girl would soon find that out.
Jenny was amazed that she’d stood up to her mother like that, but knew she’d suffer for it later. There’d be more than ironing to face – probably floors to scrub and other menial tasks lined up. Yet as she waited for Tina, she found her thoughts drifting back to her own interview with the careers adviser. If she could have chosen any job, it would have been in a library. She loved books, the smell of them, the feel of them in her hand and the anticipation of being enthralled by a story as she turned the first page. Many had taken her away from her unhappiness at home to another place and sometimes to another time. When would she hear about the interview? Would she be successful? But then Jenny’s bubble burst. A local library, the careers adviser had said, and she now saw the job slipping away. Tina wanted to move out of this area and she’d agreed. Oh, but to work in a library! For a moment Jenny wondered if she should change her mind, stay at home, at least until she’d completed her training.
It didn’t take Jenny long to dismiss the idea. It wasn’t just that she wanted to get away from her mother, there was Tina to consider too. Her friend needed her and she couldn’t let her down.
‘Right, I’m done. Let’s go,’ Tina said.
‘How did you get on?’
‘I was offered a job in a department store and pretended I was keen. What about you?’
‘A trainee librarian.’
‘Blimey, I wouldn’t fancy that. Talk about boring. With your posh voice and typing speeds I’m surprised you weren’t offered something in an office.’
‘It doesn’t matter. We’ll be moving from this area and finding our own jobs.’
‘I know, and I can’t wait,’ Tina said, smiling happily as they left the building.
Jenny felt the same. She knew what would be waiting for her when she arrived home, but the thought of leaving gave her courage. She was sick of being punished for no reason, of being treated like a servant, and now all the years of hurt, of degradation, culminated in Jenny’s mind.
She wouldn’t be meek any more, and her mother was soon going to find that out.
When his mother came in, Robin saw that she was upset, surreptitiously wiping tears from her eyes.
‘Mother, what’s wrong?’
‘Nothing, it’s nothing,’ Delia said.
Robin saw that her hands were shaking, her nerves obviously playing up again, and asked, ‘Has something upset you?’
‘Yes,