Adopted By Polly Gray

Chapter 3: Campbell

TW: Talks of violence and injuries

It was another day for Starlene, her mother went to church to light candles for those who lost their lives in the war, the boys went away to the fair, and she was where she spends most of time when she's not at home, at school. She went to the school to help tutor some of the kids in her class or kids younger than her who were struggling in their lessons. Academically, she was incredibly bright for her age to where her teacher started giving her advanced work in class to challenge her so she wouldn't be bored with the others were being taught.

She had been at school for a while and just finished up helping out her fellow classmate, Tara.

"Thank you again, Starlene for helping me with the writing homework. My Pa would've had me head if I failed another assistant."

"Anytime. I enjoy helping you, plus it gets me away from my troublesome cousins which is a bonus." She smiled at the red haired girl as she packed her back up.

"You really don't like your family, do ya?"

Starlene threw strap of her bag over her shoulder. "I do love my family, I adore all of them. Really, I do. It's just I wish they wouldn't be so much trouble sometimes. I see my poor mother trying to keep control over everything and it's hard, that's all."

Tara watched the brunette as she zoned out seemingly lost in thought over her family and thought of something to cheer the girl up.

"Starlene, I know we don't talk much during school, let alone outside of school, but would you like to come over to my house today for a bit? Me Ma won't minda bit, she's been wanting me to get more friends. What ya say?"

Starlene snapped out of her day dream to see the red head with a hopeful smile on her face. It would be nice to have a friend to hang out with but it was almost the time her mother would be back from church and expecting her home. Not to mention she has to do the chores Finn once again didn't do. Plus, with the boys gone for the day maybe she and her mum could finally have that pictures date Polly told her about a few weeks ago.

"I'd love to Tara, I really would, but I was really hoping on spending time with my mum today since the boys are out of town. I hope you understand."

Tara nodded, "I understand. I know how much ya mum means to ya. Maybe another day, whenever you're free. I'm always around." She smiled.

"Thank you for understanding. I best be going. I'll see you tomorrow!"

"See ya!" Tara called out as she walked out of the school.

Starlene made sure she had everything and that everything else that was the school's was organized back to how it originally was before heading out.

Leaving the school she walked down the alleyway to the normally quiet streets but today, however, there was an unsettling amount of commotion. Police were everywhere, some on horses others running in the streets. Women and children were crying while men where fighting back. The young girl watched in horror as a copper grabbed a young boy roughly the age of 6 and threw him to the ground. She couldn't understand what was going on, let alone why the police were being so cruel. These people did nothing wrong, from what she knew anyway. Then it hit her, her mum was alone today. What if someone hurt her mum, or arrested her for some reason. Panic began to sink in, she had to get home, but how? This was the way she always took home. It is the safest way back, well at least it was until today. As she was planning out away to get back home without being caught in the commotion, she was ripped out of her thoughts by someone grabbing her and pinning her to the wall.

"Ah, what do we have here, aye? Peaky Blinder, scum." He spat.

Starlene was too afraid to say anything. She tried to wriggle herself free but the man only pushed her up against the bricks harder.