Part Four Chapter II

IIParminder was not supposed to be functional the next aurora, yet she had a coming upon in Yarvil. Once the children had go away for school she moved methodically around the house, make sure that she had everything she needed, but when the telephone rang, she jumped so much that she dropped her bag.Yes? she yelped, sounding almost frightened. Tessa, on the separate end of the line, was taken a acantha.Minda, its me are you all right?Yes yes the phone do me jump, state Parminder, flavor at the kitchen floor now littered with keys, papers, openhanded change and tampons. What is it?nothing really, tell Tessa. Just calling for a chat. go through how you are.The subject of the anonymous post hung between them like more or less parody monster, dangling from the line. Parminder had barely allowed Tessa to talk about it during yesterdays call. She had shouted, Its a lie, a skanky lie, and dont tell me Howard Mollison didnt do itTessa had not dared pursue the subject.I ga get talk, express Parminder. Ive got a showdown in Yarvil. A case review for a gnomish boy on the at-risk register.Oh, right. Sorry. Maybe later?Yes, said Parminder. Great. Goodbye.She scooped up the content of her bag and go from the house, running seat from the garden gate to consider that she had closed the drift door proper(ip)ly.Every so often, as she drove, she completed that she had no recollection of travelling the closing mile, and told herself fiercely to concentrate. unbosom the spiteful words of the anonymous post kept coming back to her. She already k impudent them by heart.Parish Councillor Dr Parminder Jawanda, who pretends to be so keen on aspect after the poor and needy of the area, has always had a secret motive. Until I died, she was in cut with me, which she could barely hide whenever she laid eyes on me, and she would vote however I told her to, whenever there was a council meeting. Now that I am gone, she will be useless as a councillor, becau se she has addled her brain.She had first assistn it the previous morning, when she opened up the council website to check the minutes of the last meeting. The shock had been almost physical her breathing had be deduct very dissipated and shallow, as it had been during the most excruciating parts of childbirth, when she had tried to lift herself everywhere the pain, to disengage from the agonizing present.Everyone would know by now. There was nowhere to hide.The oddest thoughts kept coming to her. For instance, what her grandmother would have said if she had known that Parminder had been accused of love another wo servicemans husband, and a gora to boot, in a public forum. She could almost see bebe covering her face with a fold of her sari, shaking her head, rocking backwards and forrad as she had always done when a harsh blow had mop up the family.Some husbands, Vikram had said to her late last night, with a strange new twist to his sardonic smile, might want to know whether it was confessedly.Of score it isnt true Parminder had said, with her own shaking hand over her mouth. How can you ask me that? Of course it isnt You knew him He was my friend just a friendShe was already liberation the Bellchapel Addiction Clinic. How had she travelled so far, without realizing it? She was becoming a dangerous driver. She was not paying attention.She remembered the evening that she and Vikram had gone to the restaurant, cuddlely twenty years ago, the night they had hold to marry. She had told him about all the fuss the family had made when she had walked station with Stephen Hoyle, and he had agreed how silly it was. He had understood whence. But he did not understand when it was Howard Mollison who accused her instead of her own hidebound relatives. Apparently he did not realise that goras could be narrow, and untruthful, and full of malice She had missed the good turn. She must concentrate. She must pay attention.Am I late? she called, as she hurried a t last across the car park towards Kay Bawden. She had met the social proletarian once before, when she had come on in for a renewal of her prescription for the pill.Not at all, said Kay. I thought Id show you up to the saturnineice, because its a rabbit warren in here Kay led her down a shabby, deserted institutional corridor into a meeting room. Three more women were already academic term there they greeted Parminder with smiles.This is Nina, who works with Robbies mother at Bellchapel, said Kay, sitting down with her back to the venetian-blinded windows. And this is my supervisor Gillian, and this is Louise Harper, who oversees the Anchor Road Nursery. Dr Parminder Jawanda, Robbies GP, Kay added.Parminder accepted c move outee. The other four women began talking, without involving her.(Parish Councillor Dr Parminder Jawanda, who pretends to be so keen on looking after the poor and needy of the area Who pretends to be so keen. You bastard, Howard Mollison. But he had always se en her as a hypocrite Barry had said so.He thinks that because I came from the Fields, I want Pagford overrun by Yarvillians. But youre proper professional class, so he doesnt think youve got any right to be on the side of the Fields. He thinks youre a hypocrite or making trouble for fun.) understand why the familys registered with a GP in Pagford? said one of the three unfamiliar social workers, whose names Parminder had already forgotten. some(prenominal) families in the Fields are registered with us, said Parminder at once. But wasnt there some trouble with the Weedons and their previous ?Yeah, the Cantermill practice threw them out, said Kay, in front of whom sat a pile of notes thicker than either of her colleagues. Terri assaulted a nurse there. So theyve been registered with you, how long?Nearly five years, said Parminder, who had looked up all the expound at the surgery.(She had seen Howard in church, at Barrys funeral, pretending to pray, with his big fat men clasped in front of him, and the Fawleys kneeling beside him. Parminder knew what Christians were supposed to believe in. Love thy inhabit as thyself if Howard had been more honest, he would have turned sideways and prayed to Aubrey Until I died, she was in love with me, which she could barely hide whenever she laid eyes on me Had she really not been able to hide it?) last seen him, Parminder? asked Kay.When his child brought him in for antibiotics for an ear infection, said Parminder. About eight weeks ago.And how was his physical condition then? asked one of the other women.Well, hes not failing to thrive, said Parminder, withdrawing a abridge sheaf of photocopied notes from her handbag. I checked him quite thoroughly, because well, I know the family hi paper. Hes a good weight, although I doubt his diets anything to write home about. No lice or nits or anything of that description. His bottom was a bit sore, and I remember his sister said that he still wets himself some whiles.They kee p putting him back in nappies, said Kay.But you wouldnt, asked the woman who had first questioned Parminder, have any major concerns health-wise?There was no sign of abuse, said Parminder. I remember, I took off his vest to check, and there were no bruises or other injuries.Theres no man in the house, interjected Kay.And this ear infection? her supervisor prompted Parminder.You said it was the sister who brought him in, not the mother? Are you Terris doctor, too?I dont think weve seen Terri for five years, said Parminder, and the supervisor turned to Nina instead.Hows she doing on methadone?(Until I died, she was in love with me Parminder thought, Perhaps its Shirley, or Maureen, whos the ghost, not Howard they would be much more credibly to watch her when she was with Barry, hoping to see something with their dirty old-womanish minds ) longest shes lasted on the create by mental act so far, said Nina. Shes mentioned the case review quite a lot. I get the feeling she knows that this is it, that shes running out of chances. She doesnt want to lose Robbie. Shes said that a few times. Id have to say youve got through to her, Kay. I really do see her taking some responsibility for the situation, for the first time since Ive known her.Thank you, but Im not going to get over-excited. The situations still pretty precarious. Kays dampening words were at odds with her tiny indocile smile of satisfaction. How are things going at nursery, Louise?Well, hes back again, said the quarter social worker. Hes been in full attendance for the past(a) three weeks, which is a dramatic change. The teenage sister brings him. His clothes are too delicate and usually dirty, but he talks about bath and repast times at home.And behaviourally?Hes developmentally delayed. His language skills are very poor. He doesnt like men coming into the nursery. When fathers turn up, he wont go near them he hangs around the nursery workers and becomes very anxious. And once or twice, she said, turning a page in her notes, hes mimicked what are clearly sexual acts on or near little girls.I dont think, whatever we decide, there can be any question of taking him off the at-risk register, said Kay, to a murmur of agreement.It sounds like everything hinges on Terri staying on your programme, said the supervisor to Nina, and staying off the game.Thats key, certainly, Kay agreed, but Im concerned that even when shes heroin-free, she doesnt provide much mothering to Robbie. Krystal seems to be lift him, and shes sixteen and got plenty of her own issues (Parminder remembered what she had said to Sukhvinder a couple of nights previously.Krystal Weedon That dolt girl Is that what being in a team with Krystal Weedon taught you to sink to her train?Barry had liked Krystal. He had seen things in her that were invisible to other peoples eyes.Once, long ago, Parminder had told Barry the story of Bhai Kanhaiya, the Sikh hero who had administered to the needs of those wounded in comba t, whether friend or foe. When asked why he gave aid indiscriminately, Bhai Kanhaiya had replied that the light of God shone from every soul, and that he had been unable to distinguish between them.The light of God shone from every soul.She had called Krystal Weedon nonsensical and implied that she was low.Barry would never have said it.She was ashamed.) when there was a great-grandmother who seemed to provide some back-up in care, but She died, said Parminder, rushing to say it before anyone else could. emphysema and stroke.Yeah, said Kay, still looking at her notes. So we go back to Terri. She came out of care herself. Has she ever attended parenting classes?We offer them, but shes never been in a fit state to attend, said the woman from the nursery.If she agreed to take them and actually turned up, it would be a massive shade forward, said Kay.If they close us down, sighed Nina from Bellchapel, addressing Parminder, I suppose shell have to come to you for her methadone.Im con cerned that she wouldnt, said Kay, before Parminder could answer.What do you mean? asked Parminder angrily.The other women stared at her.Just that catching buses and remembering appointments isnt Terris forte, said Kay. She only has to walk up the road to Bellchapel.Oh, said Parminder, mortified. Yes. Sorry. Yes, youre probably right.(She had thought that Kay was making a honorable mention to the complaint about Catherine Weedons death that she did not think Terri Weedon would trust her. bring down on what theyre saying. Whats wrong with you?)So, big picture, said the supervisor, looking down at her notes. Weve got neglectful parenting interspersed with some adequate care. She sighed, but there was more indignation than sadness in the sound. The immediate crisis is over shes stopped using Robbies back in nursery, where we can keep a proper eye on him and theres no immediate concern for his safety. As Kay says, he stays on the at-risk register I certainly think well need anothe r meeting in four weeks It was another forty minutes before the meeting broke up. Kay walked Parminder back down to the car park.It was very good of you to come in person most GPs send through a report.It was my morning off, said Parminder. She meant it as an explanation for her attendance, because she hated sitting at home alone with nothing to do, but Kay seemed to think that she was asking for more plaudit and gave it.At Parminders car, Kay said, Youre the parish councillor, arent you? Did Colin pass you the figures on Bellchapel I gave him?Yes, he did, said Parminder. It would be good to have a talk about that some time. Its on the agenda for the next meeting.But when Kay had given her her number, and left, with renewed thanks, Parminders thoughts reverted to Barry, the Ghost and the Mollisons. She was whimsical through the Fields when the simple thought that she had tried to bury, to drown out, slipped past her lowered defences at last.Perhaps I did love him.