‘I’ll come with you in the car today, Jasmine. I’d like to see your new school and meet your teacher.’
The child remained mute, staring at Evie as though still unsure who she was or why she was here.
‘Mem no need go. Benny take Jasmine.’ Aunty Mimi moved towards Jasmine and took the girl by the hand. ‘School expecting her. Tuan he allainge it.’
‘Thank you, but I intend to go all the same. At least today. I want to meet Jasmine’s teacher and find out where the school is.’ Her heart was thumping. Why did the woman intimidate her so much? If Evie didn’t assert herself now, at the beginning, it would be too late.
Aunty Mimi scowled, but raised no further objection.
6
Evie climbed into the motor car behind Benny. Jasmine sat beside her, maintaining a wide gap so that she was closer to the door than to Evie, sitting back in the seat, her skinny legs stretched in front of her. The child remained silent, pressing herself into her corner like a frightened little mouse.
The streets of George Town were crowded with bicycles and rickshaws and Benny seized any opportunity to blast the horn.
Evie racked her brain, searching for something to say to Jasmine that might coax a response from her. Putting a hand lightly on the girl’s arm she said, ‘I expect you’re feeling quite nervous, aren’t you, going to a new school for the first time.’
The little girl turned her head and fixed her eyes on Evie.
Determined to follow through this minor breakthrough, Evie went on, ‘I remember when I was a little girl, I was so terrified the first time I went to school, I wet my knickers.’
Jasmine’s eyes grew bigger and a little giggle escaped from her. At last, a reaction.
‘But once I got to school I realised there was no need to be afraid.’
‘Why?’
Only one word, but Evie felt a thrill of triumph.
‘Because I soon discovered everyone else was scared too.’ She ventured a smile. ‘And I wasn’t the only one who wet her knickers.’
Jasmine snorted in disgust. ‘I won’t wet my knickers. Only babies do that.’
‘Of course you won’t. You’re far too grown up.’ Keen to keep this tentative conversation flowing, she added, ‘But even grown-ups can get scared sometimes.’
‘Do you get scared?’
‘A bit.’
‘What of?’
‘Oh, lots of things. Coming to live here in a new country. Meeting new people. Being so far away from home and everyone I know.’
‘Where’s your mummy and daddy?’
Evie bit her lip. ‘My mummy lives far away in America and Daddy’s in heaven.’
‘That’s where Mummy is. She went to live there with the angels when I was a baby. Maybe she knows your daddy.’
‘I’m sure she does.’
The little girl’s face was solemn. ‘I suppose you’ll go and live there too, won’t you? And Daddy. I’ll be all on my own with just Aunty Mimi and Benny and Cookie.’
In the driver’s mirror Evie could see that Benny was smiling. She felt a rush of affection for the child that took her by surprise. ‘No, Jasmine, I have no intention of going to live in heaven. At least not until I’m very, very old, and that’s a long time away. And your daddy. He’s not going to leave you.’
‘So, why did my mummy go? Didn’t she like me?’
Evie laid her hand gently on the seven-year-old’s arm. ‘I’m sure your mummy loved you very much.’
‘Why didn’t she take me with her to heaven?’
‘Your mummy only went to heaven because she got sick. You’re not going to get sick. Your mummy would want you to have a long and happy life, until one day in many, many years when you’re a very old lady you’ll meet her again when you go to heaven.’
‘How old?’
‘Very, very old. Maybe eighty or ninety.’
‘Or a hundred?’
Evie smiled. ‘Yes, probably a hundred.’
‘My mummy used to cry all the time. She didn’t want to play with me. She was mean.’ Jasmine’s lips were trembling and her eyes threatened tears.
Pulling the little girl against her chest, Evie said, ‘I promise I won’t be like that. I’d love to play with you and I promise not to be mean.’ She hesitated, circumspection battling with honesty, then decided honesty should prevail. ‘My mummy was often mean to me too, so I know how horrid that is. And I don’t have any friends here in Penang, so I’d be really pleased if you’d be my friend.’
Jasmine considered for a moment, before saying, ‘But I don’t want to call you mummy.’
‘Then why don’t you call me Aunty Evie?’ She held out her hand.
The child put out her own small one and they shook. As they sealed their new friendship, the car glided to a stop in front of a large white building surrounded by palm trees. Benny walked round and opened the door. Evie got out, offering her hand to help Jasmine. ‘Come on,’ she said, ‘Let’s go and see what this place is like. Please wait for me, Benny. I’m going to talk to Jasmine’s teacher.’
Jasmine’s new teacher was a smiling redhead with a freckled face and warm eyes. She bent her knees and squatted in front of the little girl. ‘Pleased to meet you, Jasmine. I’m Miss Helston.’ Standing up, she addressed Evie. ‘And pleased to meet you too, Mrs Barrington.’ They shook hands, then the teacher called to a girl around Jasmine’s age. ‘Penny, this is your new classmate, Jasmine. Please take her and show her the playground. Don’t forget to introduce her to the other children before Assembly.’ Penny took Jasmine’s hand and the two small girls slipped away. Miss Helston sighed. ‘Children are so accepting of each other at that age. Don’t worry about your little girl, she’s in good hands here. Do you have a few minutes?’
‘As long as you need. That’s why I’m here.’
The woman looked relieved. ‘I’m so glad you came. Mr Barrington told the head that Jasmine would be brought here by your syce, but I so much prefer to meet
