After Talking with Our Adopted Daughter, I Realised Not Everything Was As Clear As It Seemed

Hey, let me tell you about this little girl I met the other day while sitting on a park bench in London. She was probably five years old and kept swinging her feet, chatting away about her life, totally open and honest. She said, Ive never seen my dad. He left me and Mum when I was really little. Mum died last year. The grown-ups told me she passed away.

She looked up at me, then carried on, After the funeral, Auntie Janemy mum’s sistercame to live with us. People said she was really noble for not sending me to a foster home. They explained that now Auntie Jane is my guardian, and Ill be staying with her.

She got quiet for a bit, glanced under the bench, then went on, When I moved in, Auntie Jane started tidying up: she gathered all Mum’s things and wanted to throw them out. I started crying, asked her not to, and she let me keep them. Now I sleep in that corner with Mums stuff. At night, I curl up on top of her jumpers and scarves and it feels warm, like shes still here with me.

Every morning, Auntie Jane gives me something to eat. Shes not the best cookMum was much betterbut she asks me to finish everything on my plate. I dont want to upset her, so I eat it all, because I know she made an effort. Its not her fault she cant cook like Mum. After breakfast, she sends me out to play and Im not allowed to come back until the evening, once it’s getting dark. Auntie Jane is very kind, really!

She likes to brag to her friends about me. I dont know these ladies, but they come round a lot for tea. Auntie Jane sits with them, tells funny stories, says nice things about me, and gives us all biscuits and sweets.

Then the girl sighed and continued, I couldnt eat just sweets all the time. Auntie Jane never scolds me for anything, shes always gentle. Once, she gave me a dollits a bit broken though: one leg limps and the eye keeps twitching. Mum never gave me a doll that was poorly.

The little girl hopped off the bench, bouncing on one leg with loads of energy. I have to go now, Auntie Jane said her friends are coming over and before they arrive, I need to dress up nice. She promised me a yummy cake later. Goodbye!

And she went off, rushing to do her errands. I just sat there, thinking about Auntie Jane, this good aunt. I wonderedwhats the point of all that goodness? Why does she want everyone to see her as noble? Is it possible to be so detached that you let a little girl sleep on the floor, wrapped in her late mums clothes…