‘Hiya!’ the girl yelled back.
I pulled away, pleased that I’d believed Joss. She’d come to me with a history of lying, so I found myself doubting everything she told me, which wasn’t good, and not like me. Usually I trusted people and accepted what they said, unless experience proved I should do otherwise. I was so pleased I hadn’t doubted Joss or questioned her further on her trip to the cinema with Chloe, as it could have undermined our already very fragile relationship.
At home, Paula and I watched some television together and then I suggested to Adrian that he left his studies for tonight and relaxed. The examinations he was revising for were important, as he needed good grades to continue to the sixth form, but I was concerned he was overdoing it. Half an hour later he joined us and we had a game of Scrabble before it was time for me to leave to collect Joss.
Although I was ten minutes early, Joss was already waiting outside the cinema with Chloe. They came over and I lowered my window.
‘Can you give Chloe a lift home?’ Joss asked. ‘It’s on the way.’
‘Of course. Get in,’ I said.
Both girls giggled, climbed into the back and giggled some more – possibly from teenage self-consciousness or embarrassment, I didn’t know. Chloe was a largely built girl with jet-black, chin-length hair, heavily made-up eyes and a very short skirt. She looked older than Joss, but then Joss was so petite she looked younger than thirteen. Both girls reeked of cheap perfume, which I assumed was Chloe’s, as Joss hadn’t been wearing any perfume when she’d left. It was so strong I kept my window open a little.
‘Was the film good?’ I asked as I drove.
‘Yeah,’ they said, and giggled again.
‘And you’re in the same class at school?’ I asked after a moment, trying to make conversation.
‘Yeah,’ Joss said, while Chloe remained silent.
‘Where do you live?’ I asked Chloe. ‘I’ll take you to your door.’
‘We pass it,’ she said. ‘I’ll shout when we’re there.’
There was more giggling and then whispering as I drove, and finally Joss yelled, ‘Stop! We’re here!’
I checked in my mirrors and pulled over. We were outside a small parade of shops about five minutes from where I lived. ‘I’ll take you to your door,’ I said to Chloe.
‘You have!’ Joss shouted, laughing. ‘She lives here.’
‘I live over the newsagents,’ Chloe explained. ‘Thanks for the lift.’
‘You’re welcome.’
There was more giggling as Chloe got out, and then before Joss closed the car door she yelled to her, ‘See ya Monday!’
‘Yeah, see ya, you old tart!’ Chloe yelled back.
Joss shut the car door with more force than was necessary and I pulled away. As we passed Chloe walking along the pavement Joss banged on her window. Chloe grinned and put up her middle finger in an obscene gesture. I didn’t comment. Chloe was the only friend of Joss’s I’d met so far and I didn’t want to criticize her, but she was so unlike Lucy’s and Paula’s friends that I had to stop myself making an instant judgement. If I felt Chloe might not be the best choice of friend for Joss, who was drawn to trouble, I didn’t say so, and reminded myself that first impressions can be deceptive.
‘How does Chloe get into her flat?’ I asked out of interest, for there hadn’t been an obvious front door.
‘Round the back of the shops and up the fire escape,’ Joss said.
‘You’ve been to her flat?’
‘Yeah, we hang out there sometimes.’
Now that the smell of perfume was starting to clear – with Chloe’s departure and the window open – I was beginning to catch the smell of something else, which I thought could be dope, but I wasn’t sure. I knew that just as mints are used to mask the smell of alcohol, dope, tobacco, glue and other substances on the breath, so perfume and cologne can be used to try to hide the smell from clothes, skin and hair. I wasn’t going to accuse Joss unjustly, but I wanted her to know I was aware of the possibility that she may have been using again.
‘What’s the perfume?’ I asked.
‘It’s Chloe’s. I don’t know what it’s called.’
‘It’s very strong,’ I said, and I glanced at her pointedly in the mirror.
Joss immediately looked away. ‘I haven’t been smoking, if that’s what you think,’ she said defensively.
‘Good.’
I guessed that Joss would want to go out again on Sunday, as previous carers had complained that she went out as soon as she was dressed and didn’t return until after midnight, and then she was too tired to get up for school on Monday morning. Joss had been out both Friday and Saturday evening, so I thought it was reasonable that she spent Sunday with us. I look upon Sundays as family time, as many others do, and I like us to try to spend most of it together, as a family, which obviously includes the child or children I am fostering. When my children were little I used to arrange an activity on a Sunday, visiting a park or place of interest, or seeing family or friends, but now they were older I accepted that they didn’t always want to be organized every weekend and liked to spend time just chilling. However, we hadn’t been out together the previous two Sundays, so I thought a family outing now would be nice for everyone, including Joss. Doing things together encourages bonding and helps improve family relationships – something Joss was a bit short on. I knew Adrian would want to do some exam revision first, so I would make it for the afternoon only. I racked my brains for an activity that wasn’t too far away, preferable outdoors as the weather was good, and that they’d all enjoy. I came up with the Tree Top Adventure Park. It was an assault course set in the treetops of a forest about half an hour’s drive away. It had zip wires, swing bridges and rope ladders, and was suitable for ages ten and above. I’d taken my children before but not for a while. I mentioned it to Lucy and Paula first, who liked the idea, and then to Adrian, who agreed that taking the afternoon off would be fine.
Then I knocked on Joss’s door.
‘Yeah? Come in!’ she called from inside.
She was propped up on her bed using the headboard for support, earphones in, and flicking through a magazine. I motioned for her to take out an earphone so she could hear me, then I explained about the proposed outing, emphasizing how much fun it would be and that it was suitable for teenagers, girls and boys. ‘You’ll need to wear something a bit looser than those tight jeans,’ I suggested, ‘so you can climb. And trainers rather than sandals.’
‘Nah, it’s OK,’ she said, returning her attention to the magazine. ‘You can go. I’ll stay here.’
‘Joss, I’d like you to come with us, so would the girls and Adrian. While you’re here you’re part of this family and it’s nice to do things together as a family sometimes.’
‘Nah, thanks,’ she said. ‘I’m OK.’
‘I want you to come, Joss,’ I said.
She looked up. ‘If you don’t trust me here alone I can go out and meet up with my mates. That’s what I did when the other carers went out.’
‘But I won’t do that,’ I said more firmly. ‘I would like you to come. It’s just for the afternoon and I’ve chosen an activity you’ll like.’
‘What if I don’t like it?’ Joss said. She challenged me on everything if she had a mind to.
‘Then you’ll put it down to experience and won’t ever go again. But at least you will have tried it.’
‘Nah,’