zoolane
05-26-2010, 08:42 AM
When Ashley moved from one part of the East End of London to another she met a young girl named Laura.
Laura was two years younger then Ashley and her flat was further along the balcony from where Ashley lived. By then Ashley was in the first year of secondary school.
Laura became Ashley best friend but Laura’s own home life was far from perfect. Laura's mum had left her dad when Laura was still in primary school. She did have a long term boyfriend but by this time they had also split up.
Ashley and Laura’s friendship blossomed. They got into mischief, started smoking, had the occasional drink of alcohol and started to mix with kids on the estate.
One night Laura’s mum went out and met a man with ginger hair.
The following day when Ashley went to visit Laura she was surprised to see him sitting watching the football in Laura front room with his friends.
His name was Steve.
Laura didn't seem to mind but Ashley was thinking it was rather strange; and a bit sudden. Ashley used to stay over at Laura’s most weekends but then this Steve with his ginger hair and bald patch started staying there as well.
Eventually he moved in and Ashley felt it all seemed to have happened very quickly. But she thought the same as Laura - if her mum is happy she should be happy for her.
Laura's dad also had a new partner. She seemed nice. He moved out of his flat near to where Ashley lived, so naturally Steve suggested they all move back to his own flat so he could have his son living with him again.
Ashley helped with the move, even though she wasn't supposed to be out because she had been bunking school and doing lots of other things that got her into trouble.
Ashley’s mum only punished her whenever she was having a dry spell from her drinking. But most of the time drink is the only thing that matters to Ashley's mum.
A few years passed. Laura had got in with the wrong crowd. A few times she would have other friends over to stay and some of them started saying Steve was a dirty old man. But Ashley didn't really take any notice. But she did find out that Laura had started to steal from him and she would try to do everything she could so she was not there alone with him in the house.
Ashley did start thinking that something was not quite right. But whenever she tried talking to Laura, Laura would say ‘Everything’s fine’.
Then one night Laura's mum asked Ashley to babysit. Ashley was quite pleased that Laura' mum trusted her to look after Steve's son. It became a regular thing, Ashley always spending the night in Laura’s room.
But in the mornings if Ashley didn't get out of bed early enough Steve used come into the room. He made Ashley feel awkward because he would sit on the bed and his hands would start to wander down her PJ's, touching her in ways that made her skin crawl. He did not seem to care at all; his rough fingers hurting her even more if she tried to pull away. Steve even used to laugh while he was hurting her. All she could do was stare at the ear-ring he wore and hope he would finish what he was doing as quickly as possible. She would never try to cry or fight him off. She lay there as if frozen.
After Steve started touching her she tried to have a chat with Laura about it. She did not tell her every single thing that Steve had been doing to her but Laura already guessed. She begged Ashley not to say anything to anyone. So Ashley continued babysitting for her; putting up with Steve to save Laura from suffering in the same way. Besides, Laura's mum had done so much to help Ashley in past so it was the least she could do.
Then one morning while Ashley was chatting to Steve's son he said something which still haunts Ashley to this day
'Ashley, if you want, next time you are babysitting you can sleep on the bottom bunk in my room'.
At that time he was still under ten years old but he already knew what his dad was like. Ashley was touched by what he said, but also shocked that he knew exactly what his dad was.
Laura got pregnant when she was 15 and Steve moved the family further away from Ashley. But then Ashley became a mum herself soon after. Ashley did try to keep in touch with Laura & her mum but felt that in the long run it would better if she didn't. She had a daughter of her own by then to think about.
Ashley still gets flashbacks from the experience to this day; especially the way Steve laughed, the light shining on his bald patch. And worst of all she still feels guilty; ashamed because she should have spoken out 15 years ago.
Ashley did keep in contact with Laura's older brother to try and warn him about Steve because he has 2 daughters. She also tried to get in touch with Laura again, to get her to speak to her mum or her brother. But she now knows that she won't.
Ashley often still has dreams about it and always gets a haunted feeling as soon as she wakes up.
Laura was two years younger then Ashley and her flat was further along the balcony from where Ashley lived. By then Ashley was in the first year of secondary school.
Laura became Ashley best friend but Laura’s own home life was far from perfect. Laura's mum had left her dad when Laura was still in primary school. She did have a long term boyfriend but by this time they had also split up.
Ashley and Laura’s friendship blossomed. They got into mischief, started smoking, had the occasional drink of alcohol and started to mix with kids on the estate.
One night Laura’s mum went out and met a man with ginger hair.
The following day when Ashley went to visit Laura she was surprised to see him sitting watching the football in Laura front room with his friends.
His name was Steve.
Laura didn't seem to mind but Ashley was thinking it was rather strange; and a bit sudden. Ashley used to stay over at Laura’s most weekends but then this Steve with his ginger hair and bald patch started staying there as well.
Eventually he moved in and Ashley felt it all seemed to have happened very quickly. But she thought the same as Laura - if her mum is happy she should be happy for her.
Laura's dad also had a new partner. She seemed nice. He moved out of his flat near to where Ashley lived, so naturally Steve suggested they all move back to his own flat so he could have his son living with him again.
Ashley helped with the move, even though she wasn't supposed to be out because she had been bunking school and doing lots of other things that got her into trouble.
Ashley’s mum only punished her whenever she was having a dry spell from her drinking. But most of the time drink is the only thing that matters to Ashley's mum.
A few years passed. Laura had got in with the wrong crowd. A few times she would have other friends over to stay and some of them started saying Steve was a dirty old man. But Ashley didn't really take any notice. But she did find out that Laura had started to steal from him and she would try to do everything she could so she was not there alone with him in the house.
Ashley did start thinking that something was not quite right. But whenever she tried talking to Laura, Laura would say ‘Everything’s fine’.
Then one night Laura's mum asked Ashley to babysit. Ashley was quite pleased that Laura' mum trusted her to look after Steve's son. It became a regular thing, Ashley always spending the night in Laura’s room.
But in the mornings if Ashley didn't get out of bed early enough Steve used come into the room. He made Ashley feel awkward because he would sit on the bed and his hands would start to wander down her PJ's, touching her in ways that made her skin crawl. He did not seem to care at all; his rough fingers hurting her even more if she tried to pull away. Steve even used to laugh while he was hurting her. All she could do was stare at the ear-ring he wore and hope he would finish what he was doing as quickly as possible. She would never try to cry or fight him off. She lay there as if frozen.
After Steve started touching her she tried to have a chat with Laura about it. She did not tell her every single thing that Steve had been doing to her but Laura already guessed. She begged Ashley not to say anything to anyone. So Ashley continued babysitting for her; putting up with Steve to save Laura from suffering in the same way. Besides, Laura's mum had done so much to help Ashley in past so it was the least she could do.
Then one morning while Ashley was chatting to Steve's son he said something which still haunts Ashley to this day
'Ashley, if you want, next time you are babysitting you can sleep on the bottom bunk in my room'.
At that time he was still under ten years old but he already knew what his dad was like. Ashley was touched by what he said, but also shocked that he knew exactly what his dad was.
Laura got pregnant when she was 15 and Steve moved the family further away from Ashley. But then Ashley became a mum herself soon after. Ashley did try to keep in touch with Laura & her mum but felt that in the long run it would better if she didn't. She had a daughter of her own by then to think about.
Ashley still gets flashbacks from the experience to this day; especially the way Steve laughed, the light shining on his bald patch. And worst of all she still feels guilty; ashamed because she should have spoken out 15 years ago.
Ashley did keep in contact with Laura's older brother to try and warn him about Steve because he has 2 daughters. She also tried to get in touch with Laura again, to get her to speak to her mum or her brother. But she now knows that she won't.
Ashley often still has dreams about it and always gets a haunted feeling as soon as she wakes up.