I’m Your GranddaughterShe stepped into the kitchen, eyes sparkling, and placed the cherished family recipe she’d rescued from a dusty attic onto the table.

Your mum’s here, get ready.

Everyone says an orphanage kid lives for those words, but Emma flinched as if someone had slapped her.

Come on, stop standing there, get moving!

Mrs. Margaret Turner stared at her, baffled that the girl didnt look a bit brighter. Life in an orphanage isnt a picnic, and plenty of kids bolt for the streets. Yet here Emma was being sent back to her own house, and she wasnt happy about it.

I dont want to, she muttered, turning toward the window. Her mate Katie gave her a sidelong glance but said nothing; she couldnt fathom Emmas reaction either. Katie wouldve rushed home with joy if she could, but nobody seemed to need her there.

Emma, whats up? asked Margaret. Mums waiting for you.

I dont want to see her. I dont want to go back.

The other girls listened, and Margaret decided this wasnt a conversation for strangers.

Come with me.

The matron led Emma into a quiet office and gave her a sympathetic look.

Your mum has made a lot of mistakes, but shes trying to turn things around. They didnt let her keep you without a reason.

You think this is the first time? Emma snorted, shaking her head. Ive been in an orphanage before. The first time they took me, Mum pretended to change. She hid the bottles, tidied the flat, bought some groceries, even got a job. When the council came for a check, everything looked tidy. Then they sent me back, and Mum relaxed again. Im only good to her for the benefits.

Emma, I cant control that, but home is probably better, Margaret kept pleading.

Better? Do you know what its like to go hungry? To walk to school in thin, ripped shoes when its minus twenty outside? To lock yourself in your room and pray the neighbours dont hear the drunken ragers at the door? Why dont they just strip her of parental rights?

Tears welled up in Emmas eyes. She didnt love the orphanage, but at least they fed her, clothed her, and she felt relatively safe. Home was a different story.

I cant help you, sighed Margaret. She felt genuine pity for Emma a feisty, clever girl, rare in an orphanage. Perhaps her mother had once been an interesting person before the bottle took over. Even after seven years at the home, Margaret had never faced a child who didnt want to go home.

Can I just live on my own? Emma asked. I could get a job and rent a room.

Only when youre eighteen, Margaret shook her head.

Im almost sixteen! Im an adult!

Margaret thought Emma was unusually mature for her age, but there was nothing she could do.

You have to stay under an adults guardianship. Maybe theres someone who could take you in and apply for your mums parental rights to be revoked?

Ive got no one else When my grandma was alive things were tolerable, but now its unbearable.

What about your dad?

He died. He was an alcoholic.

Emma said it as if it were a normal fact.

No relatives on his side?

Emma thought for a moment.

He had a mum, but Ive never met her. She never spoke to him. I get why I wouldnt either.

Lets do this, Margaret said, leaning forward. Youll try staying with your mum a bit longer, and Ill investigate your grandma. Deal?

Emma nodded. What else could she do?

Sure enough, Emmas mum put on a fullon drama. She burst into the home, sobbing, begging for forgiveness, hugging her daughter. Emma stayed stonecold. She knew that if they went back, her mum would fall back into the same old pattern.

And thats exactly what happened. The first day mum seemed to hold on, but by the second she was back from the offlicence with a bottle.

Things went back to the nightmare. Mum kept drinking, lost her job, and Emma was back in a living hell.

A few months later a drunken bloke stumbled into Emmas room at night. She managed to kick him out with great effort and realised shed had enough.

Luckily Margaret slipped her her own phone number. Emma rang her, saying she either wanted to end up on the streets or return to the orphanage.

Ive found your grandmother, Margaret told her. Shes still alive, her healths decent, and if she agrees she can become your guardian.

Emma begged to go with her. Even though shed never met the woman, she hoped she wouldnt be turned away. She just needed a couple of years to survive, then shed be free.

The door opened to a woman in her sixties, tall and tidylooking.

What do you need? she asked.

Are you Eleanor James? Margaret clarified.

Yes, thats me.

Youre my grandmother, Emma blurted. So why all the fuss?

What?

Im your sons daughter.

Right. And how can I help? Eleanor kept her cool.

Can we talk? Margaret prompted, stopping Emma from blurting out anything else.

Fine, but not long. Ive got to get ready for work.

Eleanor poured them tea. Sometimes she looked at Emma as if she were an alien, but said nothing. Margaret filled her in on the whole mess.

You see, your granddaughter will probably be taken back to an orphanage, but you could apply for guardianship.

Why would I do that? Eleanor asked.

Well Margaret fumbled. Shes your granddaughter, after all.

I dont know her. Honestly, Im not keen on getting involved. My son gave me enough trouble. Id rather forget him.

Think of it this way, Emma lives in terrible conditions, and you could

Emma cut her off.

Eleanor James, you dont know me, I dont know you. And to be honest, Id rather forget my own parents than think about them. Youll think Im crazy, but Id love to forget them like a bad dream, yet the law wont let me. Im still a minor. Im only asking for a couple of papers and a place to stay until Im eighteen. Im finishing Year 9, then Ill get a job, maybe go to college. I just need money now. Ill buy my own food. The guardianship allowance youll get will just be a little extra to your pension Im not after it. I just need the bureaucracy sorted. If I had other relatives I wouldnt be asking you.

Margaret gave Emma a quick reassuring fist bump. Eleanor seemed oddly moved.

Some people say the children of drinkers are different. But youre not that. So youll live with me for two years and then leave?

I promise, Emma said.

Alright, Ill take you in. But there are a few rules: dont call me grandma, dont touch my things, and dont bring friends over. Clear?

Got it.

Margaret did the paperwork, and the council sent a case worker to Emmas mum with a notice to strip her parental rights. Eleanor filled out the forms and became Emmas legal guardian.

Even though Emma was thrilled, she was still scared. She had two months left at school, no money, and wondered if Eleanor would actually feed her.

The first evening Eleanor invited Emma to the kitchen. It was the first time Emmad tasted proper homecooked food something her mum never managed, and Emma barely knew how to make herself.

The next day Eleanor, glancing at Emmas threadbare trainers, sighed.

After school today Ill take you shopping for decent shoes and clothes.

I have no money, Emma muttered.

Ill pay. Its easier for me to spend than to watch you feel embarrassed.

Emma nodded. She didnt mind.

Eleanor bought Emma a whole lot of new stuff. Emma felt a bit selfconscious, but Eleanor even asked for her opinion, something Emma hadnt expected.

A week later Eleanor called Emma over.

Hows school going?

Its fine, Emma shrugged.

Show me your planner.

Its all digital now, Emma said, forcing a smile.

Right, we dont have a paper shortage here Show me the app.

Emma proudly displayed her grades. She was doing well, and shed realised early that nobody was going to foot her tuition shed have to earn it herself.

Good job, Eleanor praised, a little embarrassed herself. Emma blushed. With marks like that you should be in Year 10 and thinking about university.

That assumes you have parents to support you, Emma replied. My situations different.

So, youll go to Year 10, live with me, and stay here until university, understand?

Understood.

Emma could barely believe her luck. She wanted to keep studying, but the opportunity had never seemed possible before.

Gradually the wall between them fell. Eleanor grew more interested in Emmas life, even asking about her father now and then, though she was clearly embarrassed to admit she wanted to know.

Emma finished school, got into a university. Eleanor hired a couple of tutors, and in the two years before college Emma pulled her grades up nicely.

In the summer before starting university Emma found a parttime job. Shed been given a dormitory, but the agreement with Eleanor was that once she finished school shed move out.

In late August Eleanor suffered a heart attack and ended up in hospital. Emma rushed in and found her unconscious on the floor, terrified that shed lost her.

Fortunately she pulled through. When she was allowed to visit, Emma bolted to the ward.

Grandma, are you alright? she blurted, then softened.

Sorry Eleanor, how are you feeling?

The woman smiled, ran a hand through Emmas hair.

Call me Grandma. It feels nice, actually. Im okay, just going to be on the mend for a while.

Ill look after you! Ill stay with you until youre fully recovered.

I dont want to be a burden, Eleanor whispered.

I was your burden for two years, dropped on your doorstep. You gave me more than my own mother ever did. Ill take care of you, whether you like it or not.

Eleanor took a deep breath, holding back tears.

Fine, but one condition.

What? Emma grinned.

Youre not going to any student hall. Those places are a nightmare! You stay with me.

Deal, Emma agreed, then hugged her grandmother tightly. Shed wanted to do that for ages but never found the courage.