Read Online Where Women are Kings by Christie Watson - Free Book Online
Authors: Christie Watson
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abduction.’
‘Abduction?’ said Daddy. ‘Really? Is that a possibility?’
Nikki nodded. It was true. There were so many possibilities. Abduction by birth families was just one of them. ‘These children aren’t given up, they’re taken from their birth families due to the worst abuse you could imagine. Often families try and trace them; that’s why they like to place children out of borough.’ The words rang through Nikki as she looked at the photographs:
not real name
.
‘Abducted by aliens,’ whispered Jasmin.
‘Or it might mean that they’ve got a ridiculous name,’ said Obi. ‘Look. There’s one here called Lion; I mean, who calls a kid “Lion”? In seriousness?’ He laughed.
‘Lion!’ Imagine a child in Nigeria called Lion,’ said Daddy. ‘Nobody would have him visit their house.’
Chanel laughed so loudly the balloons moved across the ceiling. Jasmin walked towards Daddy and he reached out and pretended to tickle her. He was the only person that Jasminlet treat her like a child, and her face lit up whenever Daddy was nearby.
They turned the next page, and the next. The adverts were all similar, but occasionally Obi would stop at one and read it out.
‘
Lucy is a happy three-year-old girl who attends nursery part time where she is showing some difficulties but progressing well with support. She has some developmental delay, which may be due to her past experiences. Her foster carers describe her as a happy little rainbow who enjoys Peppa Pig and dressing up. Lucy would benefit from one parent being at home full time and no other children in the household
.’ He paused. In the photo was a little girl with blond hair, blue eyes, pale skin. ‘She looks lovely,’ he said. ‘Mind you, they all look lovely.’
‘Aw, Nik, she looks perfect. I can picture her now in that new Rhianna collection they have for kids at River Island. O.M.G. Like clothes for adults, but just miniature. She could totally pull off leopard print.’
Nikki hit Chanel’s arm gently while Obi chuckled and shook his head.
Nikki looked down at the magazine again. She did look lovely to Nikki, but all Nikki could think of were alarm bells. Read between the lines, Ricardo had told them. Support, developmental delay,
cannot live with other children
. What would she do to the other children? thought Nikki. What had happened to her?
‘Too white,’ said Daddy.
Nikki leant forward and shot him a look.
‘Well, she is,’ he said, his eyes laughing.
‘Or, look at these two. Gorgeous.’ Obi pointed to two smiling children, a boy and girl, both mixed race – or ‘dual heritage’ as Ricardo kept correcting them – with beautifulhappy faces. ‘
Talesha and Malika, age four and five, are a brother and sister who need to be adopted together. They have an older sibling who is to be adopted separately. Talesha has recently started reception and is settling well. She enjoys making cakes and flying kites. Talesha is a confident little girl who would benefit from clear boundaries. Malika is a boisterous boy who likes playing outside on his bike. He has shown some signs of attachment difficulties for which he is receiving extra support. Malika is very protective of his younger sister and finds it hard to let others care for her at times, though we anticipate that with time this will improve. Talesha and Malika’s foster carers describe them as a cheerful handful
.’
‘Cool names,’ said Chanel.
‘Nightmare,’ said Nikki.
‘What do you mean? They look lovely.’
‘What kinds of names are those? They don’t sound Nigerian!’ said Daddy.
‘Daddy, we’ve been over this,’ said Obi. ‘The child we adopt probably won’t be Nigerian. At least not Igbo. And it really doesn’t matter to us anyway.’
‘Eh? I hope you’re joking.’ Daddy pretended to fall off the arm of the sofa.
Nikki ignored them and focused on the magazine. ‘They do look lovely, but can you imagine how much work they’ll be, how much
‘Abduction?’ said Daddy. ‘Really? Is that a possibility?’
Nikki nodded. It was true. There were so many possibilities. Abduction by birth families was just one of them. ‘These children aren’t given up, they’re taken from their birth families due to the worst abuse you could imagine. Often families try and trace them; that’s why they like to place children out of borough.’ The words rang through Nikki as she looked at the photographs:
not real name
.
‘Abducted by aliens,’ whispered Jasmin.
‘Or it might mean that they’ve got a ridiculous name,’ said Obi. ‘Look. There’s one here called Lion; I mean, who calls a kid “Lion”? In seriousness?’ He laughed.
‘Lion!’ Imagine a child in Nigeria called Lion,’ said Daddy. ‘Nobody would have him visit their house.’
Chanel laughed so loudly the balloons moved across the ceiling. Jasmin walked towards Daddy and he reached out and pretended to tickle her. He was the only person that Jasminlet treat her like a child, and her face lit up whenever Daddy was nearby.
They turned the next page, and the next. The adverts were all similar, but occasionally Obi would stop at one and read it out.
‘
Lucy is a happy three-year-old girl who attends nursery part time where she is showing some difficulties but progressing well with support. She has some developmental delay, which may be due to her past experiences. Her foster carers describe her as a happy little rainbow who enjoys Peppa Pig and dressing up. Lucy would benefit from one parent being at home full time and no other children in the household
.’ He paused. In the photo was a little girl with blond hair, blue eyes, pale skin. ‘She looks lovely,’ he said. ‘Mind you, they all look lovely.’
‘Aw, Nik, she looks perfect. I can picture her now in that new Rhianna collection they have for kids at River Island. O.M.G. Like clothes for adults, but just miniature. She could totally pull off leopard print.’
Nikki hit Chanel’s arm gently while Obi chuckled and shook his head.
Nikki looked down at the magazine again. She did look lovely to Nikki, but all Nikki could think of were alarm bells. Read between the lines, Ricardo had told them. Support, developmental delay,
cannot live with other children
. What would she do to the other children? thought Nikki. What had happened to her?
‘Too white,’ said Daddy.
Nikki leant forward and shot him a look.
‘Well, she is,’ he said, his eyes laughing.
‘Or, look at these two. Gorgeous.’ Obi pointed to two smiling children, a boy and girl, both mixed race – or ‘dual heritage’ as Ricardo kept correcting them – with beautifulhappy faces. ‘
Talesha and Malika, age four and five, are a brother and sister who need to be adopted together. They have an older sibling who is to be adopted separately. Talesha has recently started reception and is settling well. She enjoys making cakes and flying kites. Talesha is a confident little girl who would benefit from clear boundaries. Malika is a boisterous boy who likes playing outside on his bike. He has shown some signs of attachment difficulties for which he is receiving extra support. Malika is very protective of his younger sister and finds it hard to let others care for her at times, though we anticipate that with time this will improve. Talesha and Malika’s foster carers describe them as a cheerful handful
.’
‘Cool names,’ said Chanel.
‘Nightmare,’ said Nikki.
‘What do you mean? They look lovely.’
‘What kinds of names are those? They don’t sound Nigerian!’ said Daddy.
‘Daddy, we’ve been over this,’ said Obi. ‘The child we adopt probably won’t be Nigerian. At least not Igbo. And it really doesn’t matter to us anyway.’
‘Eh? I hope you’re joking.’ Daddy pretended to fall off the arm of the sofa.
Nikki ignored them and focused on the magazine. ‘They do look lovely, but can you imagine how much work they’ll be, how much
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