Girl Alone: Joss came home from school to discover her father’s suicide. Angry and hurting, she’s out of control. Read Online Free Page A

police called. Neither was I agreeing to her going out and spending the afternoon on the streets, with the potential for getting into more trouble. Apart from which, I wanted Joss to come with us as part of the family and have a good time.
    ‘I think you’ll enjoy it,’ I said.
    ‘Nah. I won’t,’ she said.
    I took a breath. It was hard work. ‘OK, Joss, the bottom line is: you come with us, which is what I would like, or I can take you to another foster carer for the afternoon.’ I knew carers who would help me out if necessary, as I would help them, but whether they were available at such short notice on a Sunday, I didn’t know. I was hoping I wouldn’t have to put it to the test.
    ‘I don’t want to go to another carer,’ Joss moaned, her face setting.
    ‘I don’t want you to go either. I want you to come with us.’ I smiled.
    ‘Is it only for the afternoon?’
    ‘Yes. We’ll leave here around twelve-ish and we’ll be back about six.’
    ‘OK. You win. Again,’ she said. ‘But I won’t enjoy myself. I’ll be miserable all afternoon.’
    ‘Joss, I bet you two pounds you do enjoy yourself. If you do, you’ll win; if not, I win.’
    It took her a moment to work this out and then she smiled.
    Despite her appalling behaviour and bravado, I liked Joss. I felt that underneath there was a nice kid trying to get out. I appreciated that losing her father in such tragic circumstances and then not getting on with her stepfather was a bad deal, but I was hoping that coming to live with me would give her the chance to sort her life out.
    Joss did thoroughly enjoy herself at the Tree Top Adventure Park, despite staying in the very tight jeans that pinched her legs when she climbed. She was confident and tackled even the very high walks, wires, swings and ladders fearlessly. So much so that the supervisors stationed throughout the park warned her a few times to take it more steadily or she could fall and injure herself. But then, of course, that was part of Joss’s problem. She had no sense of danger. Paula and Lucy took the course together at a steadier pace, and Adrian met a friend from school and they went off together. I completed one circuit and then sat on a bench in the shade of the trees reading my book and also watching the young people having fun. By six o’clock they were all tired and hot and sitting with me in the shade eating ice creams. Our tickets allowed us to stay until the park closed at eight o’clock, but everyone agreed they were ready to go. As we left, Joss actually asked if we could come again.
    ‘We could,’ I said. ‘But there are other fun places to go on a day out.’
    ‘But I like it here. I’ve had a good time,’ she said.
    ‘Great. You win the bet,’ I said. I handed her the two pounds.
    On the way home we picked up a takeaway, and after we’d eaten Adrian resumed his studies, Lucy and Paula went up to Paula’s room and Joss went to hers. I was just congratulating myself on a successful day when Joss appeared in the living room. I knew straight away from her expression she was in challenge mode. ‘As I did what you wanted me to this afternoon, can I go out now?’ she said.
    ‘No, Joss. Not tonight, love. You were out Friday and Saturday, and you have school tomorrow. It’s already seven-thirty.’
    ‘I’ll be back by ten. Just for a couple of hours.’
    ‘No, not tonight. Two nights out over the weekend is plenty.’
    ‘But that’s not fair.’
    ‘I think it is fair, but you can raise it with your social worker tomorrow if you wish.’
    ‘I fucking will!’ she said, stamping her foot. ‘And you can’t stop my pocket money now, because you’ve already given it to me! Cow!’
    She stormed out of the living room and upstairs into her bedroom, slamming the door behind her. I felt my heart start racing. Another confrontation. It was so stressful. But I reminded myself that at least she was doing what I’d asked and was staying in, which was a huge