Damaged

I took the trolley back, then got into the front seat.

‘Give me the sweets,’ she growled. ‘Want them now.’

‘When you’ve calmed down and apologized, Jodie. I’m not having that behaviour in public.’

‘Give me them, or I’ll poo on your back seat,’ she threatened.

‘I beg your pardon? You most certainly will not!’ So, I thought, she was prepared to soil herself if I didn’t give her exactly what she wanted. Is that what had happened on the first day? Was this her trying to exert her will, rather than anxiety or poor bowel control? And much as I didn’t want her to make a mess on the back seat, I wasn’t prepared to give in to this kind of blackmail.

‘Jodie, if you mess on the back seat deliberately you won’t get any sweets all day. You can’t just make a fuss and get everything you want. I’m sure you didn’t at your previous carers.’

‘Did. Everything. I made them.’

I started the car and pulled towards the exit. I didn’t doubt that what she was saying was true. Given Jodie’s appalling behaviour, it was no wonder her previous carers had given in to her demands, just to keep her quiet. Presumably, this was how she’d acquired the piles of clothes and toys that she’d arrived with. I glanced in the rear-view mirror. She stuck out her tongue, then started kicking the back of my seat.

‘Jodie, I know it’s a hard lesson, pet, but being naughty won’t get you what you want. Just the opposite, in fact.’

‘I had everything I wanted at home,’ she said, suddenly more coherent.

‘Really,’ I replied, unimpressed.

‘I made them, or I’d tell.’

I hesitated. ‘Tell what, Jodie?’

There was a long silence. ‘Nothing. Can I have my sweets now, Cathy? I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.’

‘OK, just as soon as we get home.’

As we pulled into the driveway, the sour smell coming from the back seat made me realize that she had made good on her threat. It would be another unwelcome date with the shower for us as soon as we got through the front door.

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