Free On a Clear Day by Anne Doughty

and down stairs all day. She could come no speed with anything. Whatever she started to work on in the morning was still on the ironing board at the end of the day, ready to sew, when it should have been hanging up, ready to fit. Even when Jimmy was reading his newspaper with nothing else to do, she still had to come down to the phone because these days he felt too uneasy to answer it and take a message.
    But all these distresses and frustrations were as nothing when three days after Clare’s arrival, Polly heard a small voice outside her door.
    ‘Please, Auntie Polly, I know you are very busy, but could I have a word with you? It’s most important.’
    ‘Of course you can, sweetheart,’ she said, jumping up so quickly she nearly tripped over the flex of her machine. ‘Are you fed up with that jigsaw? I’m sorry, I wanted to take ye to the park this afternoon but this big fat lady is comingtomorra and I hafta finish her dress. Come inta Ronnie’s room, we can sit on his bed.’
    She gave her a hug as they sat down together in the small, tidy room that seemed even smaller because of the huge wardrobe that had come from McGillvray’s after Jimmy’s mother died and his father went to live with his eldest daughter.
    ‘Auntie Polly,’ she began, taking a deep breath. ‘It’s very kind of you and Uncle Jimmy to have me to stay with you, but I don’t want to impose on your kindness. Mummy always says that families shouldn’t impose just because they are family. So I’ve come to tell you that I’d like to go to the orphanage as soon as you have time to take me. Perhaps, if you are very busy, Ronnie could take me, when he comes back from camp tomorrow.’
    Polly looked at the small, pale face and felt as if her heart would break. What could she say? What could she do? She could see the child was unhappy and was doing her best not to show it. How could she be anything else, shut up in this unfamiliar house with these noisy young men and nowhere to play except the sitting room and only when there was no one waiting.
    She’d had words with both Davy and Eddie about their behaviour towards their little cousin but beyond the odd hello neither of them could be bothered to talk to her and the idea that they might play card games or read stories with her had fallenon deaf ears. She’d even pointed out to Davy that if he was going to get married maybe he should find out a bit about children and their needs. But he hadn’t paid a bit of heed to what she’d said. It was just water off the duck’s back.
    ‘Clare, lovey, I don’t think you’d like it very much in an orphanage. They do their best and they’re very kind, but you really need people of yer own who know all about ye and all about your dear Mummy and Daddy. I’m sorry I’ve been so busy and Uncle Jimmy had to go to see his father. Did you get lonely? Ronnie’ll be so glad to see you whin he comes home. Would ye not give it a wee bit longer?’
    Clare looked up and found to her surprise that her aunt was near to tears. She was such a very kind aunt but that wasn’t the problem. She didn’t know what the problem was, but she felt as if she was shut up inside a box and couldn’t get out. If it wasn’t for Auntie Polly she’d just run away into the forest and live with the animals until someone came and found her and she could live happily ever after.
    ‘Clare dear, are you worried about goin’ to school on Monday? Is that it?’
    Clare shook her head and looked down at her fingers. That was only a little bit of it.
    ‘Has anyone said anythin’ to upset you?’
    ‘Oh no,’ she replied promptly. ‘Davy’s alwaysout and Eddie never says anything at all. Uncle Jimmy has always been quiet, hasn’t he?’
    ‘Yes, love, he has, but he’s even quieter since he lost his job.’
    ‘Mummy says pain is very wearing and Uncle Jimmy must get very tired.’
    The thought of Ellie talking to her child and explaining Jimmy’s problem was too much for Polly. She