The Golden Child Read online

  She even asks Charlotte whether she wants to say anything, and when Charlotte explains, for the thousandth time, that she is really sorry about being mean at school and on that stupid ASKfm, but that she didn’t, she truly didn’t, have anything to do with that website, that she didn’t tell Sophie to kill herself, that she would never do anything that awful, Dr Holding just nods and pats her hand. ‘I’m afraid that’s something that you’re never going to be able to prove, Charlotte. And whether or not you did it, many people, including Sophie and a number of your peers, believe it was you. That’s something you’re going to have to live with – or live down. But you’re a strong girl, and a smart girl,’ she gives a small smile, ‘and I’m sure you’ll find a way. Now, off you go – back to class. And you can send Amelia Carrington to see me next. I realise you’re being blamed for this, but I will be talking to the other girls who were involved – and I’ll be saying just what I’ve said to you.’ Dr Holding looks grave. ‘I don’t want any of my girls being bullied – but nor do I want them to be bullies.’

  Charlotte is almost overpowered by relief: she hasn’t been expelled or even suspended. She might have to do some sort of community service, but she hasn’t been given an actual detention. She hasn’t even received a single demerit. And once back in class she has the unexpected pleasure of instilling a degree of terror in the others, Amelia, Harriet and Grace, who have somehow managed to distance themselves from the whole affair.

  By lunchtime each of the girls has seen Dr Holding, but none of them is keen to share what’s been said. It seems as if nothing much has changed, as far as their friendship goes. The gang of four is still intact – Charlotte, Amelia, Harriet and Grace – they’re still pretty tight, and there’s a new girl, Esther, who’s just moved from South Africa, who sits with them at lunch and promises to show them how to make the sweet plaited friendship bracelets she’s wearing beneath her long sleeves.

  All of the other girls are just doing their usual thing – giggling or arguing, eating or not eating, gossiping about who’s in or out, who’s been dumped or who’s a slut, who’s put on weight or lost it. Other than the brief outpouring of emotion that had followed the morning’s announcement, there’s been barely any mention of Sophie. Charlotte had expected the suicide attempt, the bullying, the website, to still be the talk of the school; had assumed she’d be the subject of fevered whispering, the recipient of dirty looks. But apart from the odd cold shoulder and a few pointed comments from Matty Matherson and Bridie Stevenson, who seem to have appointed themselves Sophie’s personal champions, there’s been nothing she can’t handle. And there’s been no obvious change in the year dynamics. With the news of Sophie’s recovery, it’s almost as if the events of last term never happened.

  And right at the end of the day, most bizarrely of all, Charlotte receives what amounts to a public pardon. Dr Holding herself comes to the class to make the announcement: Sophie Pennington is having a thirteenth birthday party and she wants them all to come. A blanket invitation has been issued to the entire class. No exceptions.

  BETH

  THE NIGHT BEFORE SCHOOL IS DUE TO GO BACK, BETH AND Dan sit the two girls down and tell them what’s going on. They explain as simply as they can about the letter from the Penningtons’ lawyer, the article that’s due to come out, the ramifications of the whole thing being made public. They talk to them about what is likely to happen at school. There is no way to shield either of the girls completely – certain things are bound to be said; apparently the journalist has phoned a number of families, teachers, even the college headmistress. As far as they know, nobody’s agreed to speak to her, and there are laws against naming minors, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be some sort of backlash at school. They warn the girls to stay calm. ‘There’s no need,’ Dan tells them, his words chosen carefully, ‘to respond to anything that anyone says. Whatever you do, don’t react. And if it gets even the slightest bit nasty, we’ve spoken to Dr Holding and she says you’re to go straight to her office and she’ll deal with it. And,’ he adds, addressing Charlotte specifically, ‘she’s told me that she’s going to be talking to you first off, in the morning. So be prepared.’

  The girls are surprisingly calm about the whole thing, though Beth has no clue as to what’s going on in Charlotte’s head. She’s become so guarded – in her words, her expressions, her actions – that it’s impossible to know what she’s thinking, how she’s actually feeling.

  The only thing that seems to have remained constant in all this, the only one of them to have come out of the whole thing intact, and in some ways stronger – is Lucy. In those moments when Beth is capable of finding the good in what is happening (there are other things to be glad about, of course: she is still married, Dan has his job, her children are healthy, no one at Dan’s work knows what’s going on, the kitchen installation is due to begin in the next few weeks), she marvels at Lucy’s remarkable resilience. Charlotte is booked in to see a counsellor, and she’s considered making an appointment for Lucy too, imagining all sorts of damage from the trauma that’s been inflicted over the past weeks, but whenever she asks her how she is, and whether she needs to talk to someone, Lucy reassures her. She’s fine. Truly.

  ‘And your friends,’ Beth asks, ‘is everyone being okay to you? There’s not too much gossip? No online nastiness? You haven’t been . . . dumped or anything?’

  Lucy gives her a slightly pitying look. ‘Mum, it’s actually not about me, you know. One or two girls have mentioned it. But I don’t hang with those mean-girl types like Charlie. You know that. The popular girls barely even know I exist.’

  She says this with an odd air of satisfaction. Once upon a time Beth would have tried to draw out of her exactly what she meant by that remark, and whether she was really okay with her status. Once upon a time, Beth would have worried that Lucy was deliberately short-circuiting her own social success: that she wasn’t ambitious enough in her friendships or that she was somehow narrow-minded, or worse, self-satisfied (Margie’s genes); that she might be missing out on other possibilities, friendship-wise. She would have worried that it was a sign of poor self-esteem and tried to do something to compensate. But now she’s happy to accept Lucy’s reassurance at face value, is simply relieved. Despite everything that’s happened, their elder daughter is okay. Lucy – who may not be a Queen Bee, Alpha Female or even one of the school’s Leaders of the Future – is clearly a rock.

  Lucy’s relationship with her younger sister doesn’t seem to have suffered either. In fact, since all this happened, the girls seem to have become closer than ever, closer than they have been for years. With Charlotte’s usually frenetic social life at a virtual standstill, they have had more time to spend together. They cuddle up on the lounge watching movies, or swing together, one each end of the hammock, reading. There are even some half-funny, half-exasperating moments of ganging up against their parents, the girls siding with one another in ways they wouldn’t usually. It’s not that they’ve ever really fought, but for the past few years, as Charlotte has inexorably caught up to her elder sister in so many areas, overtaking her in some, there has been a certain cooling between them.

  Beth has never been able to put her finger on what exactly happened: it’s not as blatant as hostility, but a definite distance had been developing, perhaps connected to the shift in the elder–younger dynamic that had made them almost equals. Now, with all the shit that’s going on, Beth is pleased to see Lucy regain a little of her former primacy. Charlotte is slightly more humble, deferring in small ways, and even seems to find some comfort in being the younger sister again, no longer pushing against some perceived older-sibling authority. She wonders whether advice, or even protection, has been sought and given.

  Despite Dr Holding’s reassurances, Beth stays close to home their first day back, cleaning sporadically, hanging out washing, trying to write a new post for her much neglected blog, worrying that she’s going to be called up to the school, that there’ll be dramas. At half
past nine she gets a call from Drew.

  ‘Have you heard?’

  ‘What? Is it bad news?’ Her first thought is that the article has come out, her second, shamefully, that Sophie has died.

  ‘Oh God, sorry. No, it’s good news. I’ve had a call from Dr Holding. Sophie Pennington regained consciousness over the weekend. She’s still under observation, but it looks like she’s going to make a full recovery, and they expect she’ll be able to go home in a few days.’

  It is good news, of course, but there’s still the twin blades of the article and the legal action hanging over their heads. She tries to articulate her relief, but Drew interrupts, second-guessing her response. ‘It’s great news, but I know it could be better. Apparently Dr Holding spoke to the mother last week; she actually visited the hospital, tried to make her see reason. I’ll make some calls, see what I can find out. Maybe they’ll feel differently now that she’s out of danger. Maybe they’ll pull the pin.’

  ‘Thanks, Drew. I’m really grateful. For everything.’

  ‘I’m just sorry about how this panned out work-wise. I really wish things could have been different. But politics, hey? When this is all over – well, we can take another look at it then.’

  She tries to call Dan a couple of times, but he is with clients and doesn’t return her calls. His PA’s voice gives nothing away: even on Beth’s third attempt there are no chinks in her cool politeness. ‘I’m so sorry, Mrs Mahony. Mr Mahony’s still in a meeting. I’ll make sure he gets the messages.’

  When the girls arrive home, the three of them cram into the kitchen nook to eat the afternoon tea Beth has prepared as a special treat – pikelets with jam and cream – and though they both seem slightly subdued, there is no indication that it’s been anything more than an ordinary day. Beth asks, but carefully, trying not to appear too worried, ‘So, was it okay? Did anybody say anything?’ Neither girl answers for a moment, but only, Beth realises, because they are unwilling to interrupt their feasting.

  Charlotte is first to respond. ‘It was fine, Mum.’ She gives a slight roll of her eyes, the dismissive shrug that is fast becoming her signature response. ‘It’s not that big a deal. I mean, everyone’s been worried about poor Sophie, but they told us she’s like totally better, and nobody’s said anything to me. I had to go and see Dr Holding, but so did Amelia and Grace and Harriet. And she says we really have to move on. I mean, it was terrible and obviously the situation got a bit out of control, but she knows that it was really nobody’s fault. Dr H says that everyone makes mistakes and that I have a heap of potential and blah blah blah, so that’s all cool. She said me and Grace and Harriet and Amelia might have to do community service or something. But that’s probably going to be fun, don’t you think?’

  Beth doubts that the school community’s response has been as blasé as Charlotte maintains, and wonders if this is the crux of what Dr Holding said to her daughter, or just the part she’s chosen to remember. Part of her is glad that Charlotte has made her peace with herself so easily, that the events aren’t going to haunt her, scar her somehow, but another part of her is chilled by her daughter’s glib recital, her easy acceptance, her clear lack of remorse. It’s what she wants, what she’s always aimed for – evidence of self-esteem, resilience, emotional maturity. The irony doesn’t escape her.

  When Lucy gives her account of the day, her emphasis is slightly different. ‘It was so amazing when they announced that Sophie was going to be okay. It was like, it was like a miracle.’ But she isn’t quite as complacent about the reactions of the other girls. ‘It wasn’t anything awful, like, nobody actually said anything mean,’ she hurries to reassure her mother, ‘but I’m sure a few of the girls were talking about what happened. And the teachers. Some of them were just . . . funny. You know, you can tell. I thought Miss Foley seemed a bit awkward or something.’

  Charlotte listens to her sister, frowning slightly. ‘You know, Lucy, you’ll just make things harder for both of us if you imagine people are still talking about this. And anyway, it doesn’t really affect you, does it? It isn’t about you.’ She slathers a pikelet with jam and cream and shoves it into her mouth, glaring at them both. She chews slowly, and then her face changes suddenly, her eyes lighting up. ‘Actually, I do have something amazing to tell you. I can’t believe I forgot!’

  Beth’s phone is buzzing – Drew. ‘Hold on a sec.’ She answers it distractedly, her eyes on Charlotte, who’s clearly bursting to share her news.

  Drew doesn’t bother with any niceties. ‘It’s all good, Beth. I spoke with the Penningtons’ solicitor, and apparently they’ve decided to drop the case.’

  ‘Oh, thank God.’

  ‘And, even better, I’ve heard from a contact at the Herald; the story’s been rewritten. There’s nothing that’s even remotely connected to the Pennington girl or you. Right at the last minute, so a bit of high drama, apparently. I think the Penningtons got cold feet. Perhaps the article didn’t go the way they expected, and of course the girl’s recovery changes things. Fortunately for you, good news is no news.’

  Beth lets Charlotte tell her amazing story before imparting Drew’s update, though, child-like, she finds it hard to supress her relief, her joy.

  ‘So, you’ll never guess what, Mum? Not only is Sophie all better, but she’s having a thirteenth birthday party next week. Dr Holding told us last period.’

  She notes her mother’s look of surprise with satisfaction, goes on. ‘But that’s not all. The invitation was to everyone in the class. And Dr Holding came up to me especially to make sure I understood that I was definitely invited, and said that I really should go. She said that it would be an important gesture of . . . reconstruction or something.’

  ‘Goodness!’ Beth is stunned. ‘This is . . . miraculous! I’ve just had a call from Drew saying that the Penningtons have decided that they’re not going to sue. And apparently the article doesn’t say anything about . . . this.’ Just like that, the nightmare has ended – and now it’s to be as if nothing ever happened.

  ‘Wow. It’s all a bit mad, isn’t it?’ Charlotte is looking almost smug. ‘I guess it would’ve been different if Sophie had died, but.’ She says the words almost indifferently, scooping cream onto another pikelet. ‘And someone told me it’s going to be a crazy party – unicorn themed or something. She’s going to have all those little kid games, like Mummies and Pin the Tail on the Donkey. I’m not sure what we’re meant to wear, though. Are we meant to dress up or just wear ordinary clothes? Do you know, Luce?’

  But her sister is beyond answering. She is weeping silently, her head bowed, her hands covering her face. Beth, shocked, moves to her side. ‘Lucy. Lucy, honey. What’s wrong? Has something happened?’

  ‘I’m sure you’re invited too, if that’s the problem. I mean, you know Sophie likes you much more than—’

  Lucy interrupts her sister. ‘There’s nothing wrong.’ A shaky smile breaks through her tears. ‘It’s just that I’ve been so scared. I’ve been so worried about everything. That something bad was going to happen . . . That Sophie would die, and Charlotte, that Charlotte would be in trouble . . . It was so awful. It’s just . . . I’m just so happy. I almost can’t believe it’s all over. And now the invitation. It’s . . . amazing.’

  Beth takes her elder daughter in her arms, holds her as hard as she can. ‘It’s just too amazing. I know. I’m with you there, honey.’ She feels the answering tears well in her own eyes. ‘I’m with you there.’

  WWW.GOLDENCHILD.COM

  RANDOM FACT No 2

  HOW TO INDUCE VOMITING

  The internet suggests a heap of ways to do it. We all know about fingers down throats and jiggling that wobbly bit, but this can be difficult to pull off in public. And then there’s mustard and warm water – but that might be a bit awkward too. I mean, mustard, it’s bound to bring everything up, but . . . erk. Then there’s something called Ipecac – but where the fuck would you get that shit?

  So, it looks like the simpl
est, and most easy to disguise, is the saltwater method. Just add a few teaspoons of salt to water (or even juice, or lemonade), shake vigorously and voilà!

  Or do I mean blargh!

  COMMENTS

  @DrPat says:

  Hi, Golden Child. Vomiting is definitely not the answer to any body image problems you might be experiencing. Do you have any caring adults or older friends who can help? If not, please feel free to reach out: [email protected]

  SOPHIE

  SHE DOESN’T PLAN ANY OF IT. IN FACT, THE INVITATION IS made genuinely in the spirit, as Dr Holding puts it, of reconciliation. Sophie wakes from her long dream completely and utterly tranquil, as if the unicorns and rainbows have magically cancelled out all the bad memories. She wants to draw a thick black texta line beneath the past, dividing it from the now. And she wants everyone to see it. She wants to go back to school – because when she thinks about it there are so many aspects of HLC that she loves – and go on as if nothing has happened.

  But as the time for the party (which is to be slightly smaller than Sophie’s original grand conception) draws closer, she begins to worry a little about the weirdness of the situation. She wonders whether it will be completely weird. How will she greet Charlotte? What will she say to her? And what if Charlotte says something about what happened; what if she wants to apologise? The prospect is just too horrible to contemplate. Her mother and father, she knows, are worried too – she’s overheard them discussing it. And it isn’t the awkwardness, it isn’t even Sophie’s well-being they’re concerned about. They aren’t sure they’ll be able to disguise their rage, behave civilly. They actually come very close to contacting the Mahonys and un-inviting Charlotte on the eve of the party, but Sophie’s paternal grandfather, visiting for the occasion, somewhat surprisingly intervenes. ‘It’s important that you let the girl come,’ he says. ‘It’s a public show of Sophie’s strength of character. If she’s brave enough to face up to her worst enemy, and big enough to want to forgive her, then you should support her. Whatever the cost to your pride.’