Page 38 of Behind Closed Doors
‘No, you don’t, you don’t like George Clooney at all.’
‘He bad, he push me down the stairs.’
‘Yes, he did. But you don’t have to tell people that. You mustn’t tell people that George Clooney pushed you down the stairs. That’s a secret, like Rosie. But you must tell people that you like Jack. That’s not a secret. And you must tell Jack that you like him. Do you understand?’
‘I understand.’ She nodded. ‘Must tell Jack like him.’
‘Yes.’
‘I tell him I not like Jorj Koony?’
‘Yes, you can tell him that too.’
She leant in closer to me. ‘But Jack Jorj Koony, Jorj Koony Jack,’ she whispered.
‘Yes, Millie, Jack is George Clooney but only we know that,’ I whispered back. ‘Do you see what I mean? It’s a secret, our secret, like Rosie.’
‘Jack bad man, Grace.’
‘Yes, Jack bad man. But that’s our secret too. You mustn’t tell anyone.’
‘I not live with him. I scared.’
‘I know.’
‘So what you do?’
‘I’m not sure yet, but I’ll find a solution.’
‘Promise?’
‘Promise.’
She looked closely at me. ‘Grace sad.’
‘Yes, Grace sad.’
‘Don’t worry, Millie here. Millie help Grace.’
‘Thank you,’ I said, hugging her. ‘Remember, Millie, you like Jack.’
‘I not forget.’
‘And you mustn’t say you don’t want to live with him.’
‘Won’t.’
‘Good, Millie.’
Outside, we found Jack waiting impatiently for us.
‘Why were you so long?’ he asked, giving me a long look.
‘I have period,’ said Millie importantly. ‘Need long time for period.’
‘Shall we go for a walk before we go back?’
‘Yes, I like walk.’
