Gracie Rose | tracy beaker returns {on hiatus}

12

A letter had come through the door this morning along with many others. It read:

Guardian of Gracie Reynolds
ElmTree House
23 Victoria Street
Pottiswood
PW10 4JH

The letter looked extremely formal, but because it was for my guardian, I handed it over to Mike with the rest of the post.

"Thanks, Gracieboo!" He said.

"Mike, there's a letter to do with me but it's for you," I said. He took a look at the letter and thought about it for a moment before opening it up. I took a seat so I could find out what it was, because it obviously concerned me.

"Oh," Mike started.

"What?" I asked.

"It's the council," he said. "They're trying to get us to get you therapy sessions to help you."

"I'm fine the way I am, I don't need them," I said with a worried tone in my voice.

"I know, I don't think it's best to get it anyway. I know people who have had therapy through the council before, and it's just made everything worse, to be quite honest," Mike explained. There was a phone number to call to speak to the council at the bottom of the page, so Mike thought it would be best to call them and explain that we wouldn't be having it.

"This is Mike Milligan, head care worker at ElmTree House. I am calling to let you know that we have decided against therapy sessions for Gracie Reynolds...we just don't feel like she needs it right now...why does she have to have it?...this is ridiculous. We are not going to waste time on sessions that will not help Gracie...whatever you try to do, this will not work...fine, one session. If she doesn't like it, we give up." Mike slammed the phone down.

"I'm sorry, Gracie. But they've scheduled one session to see how you go. If you don't like it that's fine, you don't have to go back, but they had to schedule at least one session." Mike said. I lost control in the moment and ran out of the office and upstairs to my room. I passed both Gina and Tracy as I ran, as Gina had just walked through the door, and Tracy was coming this way from the living room. I saw them both run to the office to speak to Mike as I was running upstairs.

TRACY'S POV

"What on earth just happened?" Gina asked. Mike looked angry, but I was certain that Gracie wouldn't have made Mike angry. He showed us a letter from the council, explaining that Gracie needed to have therapy. He explained that he had called them, but they insisted that she have one session to see what it's like.

"I've known a number of people who've had therapy through the council, and it's just made everything worse! I'm not putting Gracie through that." Mike said.

"So, you told her she had to have one session and she ran away?" Gina asked. Mike nodded his head.

"She was probably just scared," I said. The only thing I could do was support her, and I really wanted to make sure the poor girl was okay.

"Tracy, you're close to her. When you talk to her, try and persuade her to do it please. It's okay if it doesn't work, but just give it a go." Mike said.

"I'm no good at persuasion!" I moaned.

"Yes you are! You're good at everything!" Mike replied. I gave him a sarcastic smile and headed upstairs.

"Tracy!" I heard Johnny shout.

"What now?" I replied.

"Liam and Sapph are arguing!" He said.

"Can you get Mike and Gina to help? I have to talk to Gracie." I said. "They're in the office."

"What's wrong with Gracie?" Johnny asked.