The Call That Changed Everything
Emily stood by the window, staring into the dark outline of the garden.
“Again, the lights are out. It’s already ten, and Sophie still isn’t home. If only she knew how worried I am. Shes only fourteen. Yet she manipulates her father like an adult, and he believes every word she says, handing her money on demand.”
The gate slammed, and familiar footsteps echoed under the archway. “Sophie,” Emily whispered, stepping back from the windowGod forbid her daughter saw her watching, or thered be another row.
“Mum, I’m home!” Sophie shouted from the doorway. “Got anything to eat?”
“Arent you going to say hello first?” Emily moved to kiss her daughters cheek, but Sophie dodged, darting into her room.
“Not now, Im starving! Ive got no time!”
“And where exactly are you rushing off to at this hour? Its ten oclock!” Emilys nerves tightened, sensing another argument brewing.
“Here we go again,” Sophie muttered under her breath, just loud enough to be heard. “Im almost fifteen, Im not a child!”
She began tossing clothes from her dresser, searching for the right outfit. Emily watched helplessly.
*Where do I find the right words? How do I stop her?*
“Why are you just standing there like a statue?” Sophie snapped. “Im going clubbing with the girls tonight. Its Halloweeneveryones celebrating! Why shouldnt I?”
She pulled out a dressshort, backless, trimmed with red ruffles.
“Sophie, where did you get that? Its vulgar. Do you know what kind of girls wear things like that?”
“I dont care! Got it on sale, special for Halloween. Dad gave me the money.”
Sophie tugged out a pair of red stilettos. “Perfect, right? Jamies going to lose his mind when he sees me.” She strutted past her mother, swaying her hips.
“Youre not going,” Emily said quietly.
“What?!” Sophie spun around.
“I said no.”
“Since when do I need your permission? Look at youutter failure. Dad left you, and no ones bothered picking you up since!”
“Failure,” she repeated, savouring the cruelty.
Emily snapped, slapping her daughter hard across the face before storming out. Behind the slammed door, Sophie screamed like a wounded animal.
“You witch! I hate you! Youll regret this!”
Emily retreated to the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face. Staring into the mirror, she grimaced. *Failure. Ive got a job I love, a cosy flat, Im not bad-looking. But with Sophie ever since she turned twelve, its like she became a stranger. Backtalk, smokingeverything I say, she fights. The vicar said its pride. Maybe hes right. The therapist gave advice, but none of it helps. Every day, we drift further apart. As if Im her enemy, not her mother. If only she knew how much I love her. Now Ive hit herwhat do I do?*
She cracked the door openSophie was on the phone, excited. *”Jamies going to be there I promised him”*
*Jamie. I remember him in primary schoola scrawny little thing. Now hes handsome, and every girl fancies him. Of course Sophies smitten. Not that I blame hershes beautiful.*
With a sigh, Emily locked the front door and hid the key. *No way shes going clubbing. Jamie will survive. Halloweens just trouble anywayall that nonsense about spirits.*
She tiptoed toward her room, but Sophie heard, bursting into the hall.
“Ill never forgive you! Ill sue you!” Her face twisted with hate. “Ill jump out the window if I have to! You dont understand lovehes waiting for me!”
“If Jamie really loves you, hell wait as long as it takes,” Emily murmured, gazing at her daughter with sorrow. *My poor girlhow do I help you?*
“Stop staring, you cow!” Sophie shrieked. “Ill call Dadhell drive me himself!”
“Go ahead,” Emily said. “But youre not leaving tonight.”
Sophie suddenly went still. “Fine. Youll pay for this.”
Emily listened as her daughter kicked off her shoes, then resumed whispering into the phone. Sinister laughter drifted out.
*No need to go anywhere. Halloweens come to us.*
She wiped her tears, swallowed a sleeping pill, and closed her eyes. *Maybe tomorrow will be better.*
***
The alarm blared. Shaking off sleep, Emily washed up and prepared breakfast. Prolonged grudges werent her styleSophie usually cooled off by morning.
But not this time. Sophie marched past the table, stone-faced, grabbing her birth certificate on the way out.
All day, Emily pushed thoughts of their fight asideuntil leaving work, when nothing else filled her mind. *How is Sophie? Has she forgiven me? Should I apologise for hitting her? Or would that make it worse? If only she knew how her words cut. The cardiogram wasnt great Ill get home, well have tea, make up. Just hold on a little longer.*
Relieved, she stopped at the bakery for Sophies favourite éclairs.
“Love! I got your treatslets make up!” she called from the door.
Silence.
Strange. The kitchen was emptySophie hadnt touched her breakfast.
*Better a bad quarrel than a good fight,* she thought, dialling her daughters number.
An unfamiliar ringtone interrupted.
“Mrs. Emily Whitmore?” A cold, metallic voice. “Valerie Carter, Social Services. Your daughter filed a complaint regarding abuse. Weve removed her from school for her safety.”
“What?!” Emily froze.
“Shes now in temporary care pending court proceedings.”
“Court?!”
“For termination of your parental rights.”
“On what grounds?!”
“You struck your child. Or have you forgotten?”
“How dare you!” Emily gasped.
“We dare. The law protects children from mothers like you. See you in court.”
“Where is she?!” Emily screamedbut the line went dead.
***
After the call, Valerie drove to the care home. Knocking on Sophies door, she entered to find the girl sprawled on the bed, binge-watching dramas.
“Brought you something,” Valerie said, setting down a Snickers. “Compensation for emotional distress. Dont worryshell pay.”
“Whatll happen to her?”
“Termination of rights.”
“Good! No one hits kids!” Sophie jutted her chin. “She wouldnt let me go clubbingJamie was waiting! Called my dress trash. Shes a failurethats why Dad left!”
Valerie said nothing. Her own husband had leftfor a woman who could give him children.
“Can I call my friends?” Sophie asked.
“Go aheadbut use my phone, supervised.”
Valerie stepped out, leaving the door ajar.
“Jamie! Guess what? Social Services took me! Yeah, Mum hit mejust a slap. I called the helplinethey whisked me here! Wrote a statement and everything!”
A pause. Then Sophies voice turned shrill.
“What dyou mean, *traitor*?! I didnt betray her to Nazis! Ive rights!”
She hung up, dialling another number.
“Lizzie! Its me. Place is lushTV, clothes, no rules! Dunno when Ill be back. Later!”
She hesitatedthen Valerie returned.
“Need anything from home? Clothes, schoolbooks?”
“Home? You mean that abusive woman?” Valerie scoffed. “The state provides now. Any neighbours whod testify against her?”
Sophie brightened. “Mrs. Harris downstairs hates her. Flooded her flat oncenever paid for repairs.”
Valerie scribbled in her notepad and left.
***
Emily begged friends for legal advice. One recommended a solicitorhis voice weary, resigned.
“If witnesses back your daughters claims, youll lose.”
“What do I do?”
“Fight. But Im expensive.”
Desperate, she called Sophies father.
After a silence, he said, “You shouldnt have hit her. Shouldve let her goJamie wouldve looked after her.”
“Clubs serve alcohol! And shes underage!”
“Please. They let anyone in with cash*my* cash.”
“Then help me pay the solicitor!”
“Why? Youre a terrible mother. Once you lose rights, Margot and I will take her.”
“Margots barely older than Sophie!”
“She wont slap her. Goodbye.”
Heart hammering, Emily fumbled for valium. At dawn, she remembered a loan offer.
