Floods and Tears

Chapter 3 - Stoneybridge

Taz didn't like Stoneybridge. It looked different, smelt different, felt different. She couldn't put her finger on what was actually different to Ashdene Ridge. It just was.

Ryan sat down on his camp bed and felt it sag beneath his weight. It quite literally was a collapsible camping bed, the kind you might take glamping, certainly not something he expected to see in a care home but as May-li had stressed over and over again, space was limited, reallocating everyone a logistical nightmare and temporary arrangements had to be made. More of the dg kids had been sent to Stoneybridge than there were spaces available and Ryan seemed to have drawn the shortest straw possible. Ending up in a box room on a camp bed.

Jay was not happy about being split up from Bird. They had never ever been split up before. Usually Jay was the confident one and Bird the quieter, shyer one that went along with whatever Jay suggested. Jay had always felt like he was the strong one and that bird relied on him, especially after Bird's diabetes diagnosis. But now Bird was gone Jay suddenly felt very small and alone and insignificant. His usual bolshiness and confidence had dissipated and left behind the frightened child that was normally hidden by his tough exterior. He sat on the bed and hugged his rucksack looking around at his new surroundings. Moving care homes was nothing new to Jay. He had been in ten different care homes before the DG but he had never felt this scared before. He slid his hand into the front pocket of his rucksack and pulled out a superhero action figure. Felix Fortis. It seemed silly really to have a toy when he was almost 13 but it was the one thing he had had since before he went into care.

Candi -Rose found herself sharing a room with three rather unpleasant girls. There was Stacy and Sian, both aged 14, and Stacy's younger sister Sky, aged 11. 

Whats your name? asked Sky

Candi-Rose

Are you sure you dont mean Candy floss? sniggered Sian

No, Candi-Rose

An easy mistake to make, you are so pinky and fluffy, you look like you've fallen in a candy floss machine geered Stacy

Hey, the only Floss round her is me interjected Floss who had appeared at the bedroom door. She's Candi-Rose. I'm Floss. Got it?

Yeah whatever. replied Stacy and Sian, rolling their eyes at the newcomer and returning to their magazines.

Floss left Candi-Rose to settle in to her new room and headed a long the corridor to the room she was sharing with a young girl called Alia. She was very quiet and barely said a word. This was made up for by her friend Ellie who didn't stop talking. Ellie's room was next door to Alia's and much to Floss's dismay Ellie seemed to spend most of her free time hanging out in Alia's room. Ellie also had a rather annoying twin brother Barney, who was just as talkative and liked running around the corridors in various fancy dress outfits.

Dinner was a silent affair. The Stoneybridge kids sat facing the DG kids and they ignored each other.

Stacy and Sian and Sky were eyeballing Candi-Rose and Floss. Alia and Ellie and Taz were sitting opposite each other in silence. Meanwhile Jay and Ryan were opposite the two older boys and next to Barney and his room mate David.

May-li tried in vain to start up a conversation but no-one attempted to join in not even Bev the Stoneybridge head careworker.

Just leave them to it. They'll soon get along.

Well I was just trying to break the ice.

Having to share their rooms will soon break the ice

Or just make the atmosphere even icier muttered May-li