by Mel Sherratt
‘The other thing I need to tell you is that both flats are on the top of the estate.’
‘You mean on the ‘hell’? Jesus Christ! It gets fucking worse!’ Kelly kicked the table leg in temper. Emily jumped but with a quick, reassuring smile from her mum, continued to draw.
‘It’s only just off Davy Road,’ explained Josie. ‘Much better than being right at the top. And watch your language, please.’
Kelly could feel herself breaking. The Mitchell Estate was mostly made up of rented accommodation, some properties owned by the local authority and the majority of the remainder belonged to Mitchell Housing Association. It was split down the middle by a main road. Everyone knew that the top of the estate was the worst place in the city to live. ‘Living on the hell’, it was known as: the bottom of the estate, The Mitch, wasn’t much better, but was definitely the lesser evil of the two.
As Kelly’s head fell into her hands, Josie’s heart went out to her. The application form told her that she was twenty-four and Emily was four. From her appearance, Josie could see that Kelly was capable of looking after herself. She could spot no obvious indications of self-neglect; no dark bags under her eyes, no sallow, spotty skin, so she wasn’t doing drugs – always a good sign. Kelly’s dark brown hair was cut in a short and spiky style, and her iconic elfin face wore just the right amount of make-up to make Josie feel fifty-seven instead of thirty-seven. She wore stylish clothes, all clean and pressed, and her daughter was spotless.
‘Both flats need decorating,’ Josie forged ahead, regardless of Kelly’s silence. ‘Which we will give you an allowance for, but it probably won’t cover the cost of all you’ll need. I take it from your earlier comment that you’ll be claiming benefits?’
Kelly slapped her hand down hard on the table top. ‘Don’t you look down your nose at me, you snotty cow, with your high and mighty attitude! Just because you work here doesn’t mean that you’re better than me. I used to have a job before I had Emily, but Scott wanted me to stay at home with her when she was little. What’s wrong with that? Don’t you think bringing up a kid is worthy of a job title?’
‘You need to calm down, Kelly.’
‘If you must know, I hate living off handouts. It makes me feel like crap.’ She looked up again with a glare. ‘Don’t you think I wish I could get a job again? But it’s been too long – who’d take me on? I’ve got no one to look after Emily. And if I did, I’d get a pittance that won’t be worth getting out of bed for.’
‘Don’t knock yourself too much. You have as much chance as anyone.’
‘But what can I do?’
‘Lots, if you put your mind to it.’
Kelly stared at Josie, ready to protest again, but realised that she wasn’t patronising her.
Josie pointed to the last empty box. ‘You need to sign here as well. I also need to do a property inspection.’
‘But I don’t want to move out!’
‘You don’t have to move out straightaway, but you will be evicted and then I won’t be able to help you.’
Kelly’s shoulders drooped even further. ‘I don’t have a choice, do I?’
‘Yes,’ nodded Josie. ‘You could always try and find yourself another property to rent. But you need to decide soon what is right for you – and Emily. I can’t hold the flats for too long. There are other people on the waiting list.’
‘Mummy, can we go now?’ Emily asked. ‘I want to see Nanny.’
Kelly smiled at her. ‘Sure we can, poppet. You get your coat on, I won’t be a minute.’
Josie sighed. Underneath the hard exterior, she could see a frightened young woman. Yes, she lived on a rough estate and mixed with a few violent characters, but she wasn’t one to make rash decisions and jump to conclusions. Already, she could feel herself warming to Kelly’s plight as she watched her fasten up Emily’s coat. She knew she could help her. It would be hard work trying to pierce Kelly’s durable shell, but persistence was her middle name.
‘I can help you through this,’ she offered.
‘I don’t need anyone’s help,’ Kelly replied curtly. ‘I can manage on my own.’
Hmm, thought Josie, maybe not!
Click here for Behind a Closed Door