change the law. It's working but it needs a greater collaboration between agencies."
"What will happen to the social workers and the agencies involved who have failed so dismally to protect Baby G?"
"Do you know whether we will get a report from the Director of the Children Services for Ashworth?"
"We've heard that there will be a full scale national enquiry into the death of Baby G."
"Do you know who the Minister for Schools and Children will appoint to lead the investigation?" "What we do know is the Minister for Schools and Children will make that announcement shortly today."
"Thank you Hilary for your report. We will now turn to the senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent, John Harts."
"Hello Detective Superintendent John Harts."
"Hello Jacob Smith."
"Can you tell us what went wrong leading up to the death of Baby G?"
"The couple in question attacked a tiny defenceless baby who has now been cruelly robbed of his life and future. His injuries are horrific. My sympathy and that of my team go out to the baby's biological father."
"Sorry to interrupt you, Detective Superintendent John Harts, we have just had a newsflash of a disturbance occurring in Lower Ashworth."
"We can go over to Commander John Lakehurst."
"There is mayhem and rioting on the streets of Lower Ashworth."
The Lower Ashworth Riots was sparked off by the police stopping and searching a young black male on Future Road and they bungled him into the back of a police van. Youths threw rocks and stones at the police, escalating into a full scale riot along Future Road. The post office was robbed and burnt down to the ground. Other shop front windows were smashed by rioters. A large collection of electrical goods were stolen from the shops.
At that point, Naomi switched off the television. Baby G death was now in the public domain. Naomi, the social worker, was soon to be known to the public for the death of a helpless and innocent baby. She was vulnerable and exposed to the whole world and her name would be closely associated with negligence and incompetence.
In Naomi's mind the world had conspired against her. She can't face the public. Shame and condemnation were too much for her to bear. Life was not worth living. The easiest option for her was to end it all. Her dream of protecting young children was in chaos. Everyone will think she is inadequate and a total failure. The BBC news coverage of Baby G death has dealt her a devastating blow. She was completely overwhelmed by the powerful voice of the media. Detective Superintendent John Hart words were ingrained into her thoughts. He said Baby G was left defenceless at the mercy of her attackers.
For Naomi, her personal failure to protect Baby G was unforgiveable. There was no way she could ever forgive herself. She was condemned to become a prisoner of the tragedy. It was the same fate in which her mum had suffered over the ars being trapped in past circumstances. The doctors had told her that her mum's mental illness was heightened by acrophobia and anxiety.
Naomi's mother was married to a well-known pastor who served a four year jail sentence for sexually assaulting three women parishioners. He lived a double life of preaching about the sanctification of marriage and having relationships with other women. They remortgage the house to cover the pastor huge legal fees. Her dad pleaded guilty to sexually harassment and the paying out of compensations to the injured parties cost them their home. The whole episode caused Naomi's mother mental health to descend into clinical depression.
Naomi was the sole carer for her mother. When her mother went into care Naomi had lost her best friend and became cynical about life. She hated her father for destroying her mother's life. She hasn't seen him for years and had never really forgiven him for her mother mental illness and for the public humiliation of the family. The loss of her mother through mental illness lingered freshly in her mind even today. She helped manage her mum's medication until her mum attacked her and now her dad was released from prison as a free man. She heard from other relatives living in Jamaica that her father had returned to the ministry preaching in towns and villages.
The very thought of it made Naomi emotionally and physically sick. He was a sheep in wolf clothing. She blamed him for her mother admission into a care home and Naomi had never forgotten how her mum were hounded day and night by the media. The reliving of the past made Naomi so light headed that she crumbled into the white sofa. Naomi passed out cold.
Seventeen
She was unconscious for hours until awaken by Mantel. He was concerned about Naomi's wellbeing having seen the news on BBC and he was also worried that she wasn't returning his phone calls so he decided to race over to Naomi's flat.
He was alarmed to discover that her keys were stuck inside of the barrel of the front door.
"Hello Naomi," shouted Mantel.
He walked into the reception room and found Naomi crashed out on the sofa. He discovered a sachet of Prozac screwed up on the floor next to Naomi. Mantel thought to himself, Naomi had taken an overdose of pills? He became somewhat hysterical when she wasn't responding to her name. It was far too late. Naomi is dead. She had committed suicide. He was not there for her when she needed him most. Mantel was heartbroken and his eyes were filled with tears before he heard her cough. Naomi was now slowly coming around.
Naomi's vision of Mantel was a bit blurry eyed. She thought that he was an intruder.
"Help me! I am being robbed."
"It's me, Mantel."
"You scared the living daylight out of me."
"Sorry Naomi, I meant you no harm. I was worried about you. So I decided to come round to see you."
"How many tablets have you taken, Naomi?"
"Obviously, not enough as I'm still here."
"Give me a straight answer. How many tablets have you taken?"
"The tablets helped me to cope with my mother living in a care home."
"You can't spend the rest of your life living on antidepressants. You need counselling and support."
"You can't discuss the loss of a love one with church members. They don't listen after a while."
"Why don't you join a support group outside of church?"
"Why are you here? Did you see the BBC news at 6?"
"Yes. The youths are rioting on the streets as we speak. It is so shocking. How can they destroy their own community?"
"They are thugs, Mantel."
"They are reacting to a political system that has suppressed them for years, Naomi."
"You are far too soft, Mantel. There aren't any excuses for looting and vandalizing from shopkeepers. They are an angry mob with no morals or honour. They are sheer opportunist criminals pilfering the street of Lower Ashworth. Did you hear about Baby G?"
"Yes. You will be alright."
"Don't be so flippant."
"I am not."
"Why are you here, Mantel?"
"I just wanted to be here for you."
"You haven't come here to make fun of me. Have you?"
"No. I wanted to make sure you are alright."
"I'm alright, now get out of here."
"Are you sure you are okay, Naomi?"
"I've told you before I'm alright," she said loudly.
"You don't sound okay to me."
"I am fine. Now get out of here."
"You weren't answering your phone. I have tried ringing you on your home phone and on your mobile."
"I don't need your help. Please leave me alone."
"Ouch!"
"What's wrong with you, Mantel?"
"I have just cut my finger on your settee. There is a loose pin sticking out of the fabric."
"Sue me. Come here you big softy."
"It's quite painful."
"I'll run cold water over your finger."
Naomi held Mantel index finger under the running water. He enjoyed the intimate touch of her hand on his finger combined with the scent of her perfume playing havoc with his senses. Mantel stared into Naomi eyes for a few seconds. The feeling was mutual between t
hem. He loved Naomi ever since they were children. Naomi adored Mantel because he was always there for her during the sunshine, rain and storms of her life. He had never abandoned her nor had he forsaken her, no matter what.
"Don't get any wrong idea now," teased Naomi.
"What do you mean?"
"Just don't."
"I won't," smiled Mantel.
"Keep your eyes off my breasts."
"I am not looking at them."
"Don't you like them?"
"No. I meant there must be some misunderstanding."
"There is no misunderstanding. I know you like me."
"I don't want to have a sexual relationship with you, Naomi. I would still like to be your friend."
"You don't expect me to believe you. I know you want to be more than a friend."
"Don't flatter yourself, Naomi. I'm only here to support you."
"Are you any different from most men? Most men would take advantage of me. My dad used my mum."
"I'm not that kind of man. I believe in Jesus when he said no greater love than a friend who lay down his life for a friend and I'm willing to sacrifice my life for you, Naomi."
"That is the kindest word someone has ever spoken to me. Thank you, Mantel."
"Ouch!"
"You are such a baby."
"I hate the sight of blood especially when it's my mine own."
"You should thank God that you are not a woman giving birth, Mantel."
"That's why I had chosen to work in social work rather than in the hospital."
"I think the bleeding has stopped, Mantel."
The washbasin was filled with blood and water. Naomi pulled the plug out and sprayed bleach on the white ceramic surface and washed away the blood stains from the wash basin.
"How did you get inside my flat, Mantel?" and "How long have you been waiting here?"
"I have been sitting there since 8 pm. Your keys were stuck inside of the front door so I thought that you must have forgotten them. I suppose that you have so many things going on in your mind."
"You must have been bored sitting there for such a long time."
"Yes."
"You weren't drooling over me?"
"Off course I wasn't."
"Don't you think I have a good womanly physique?"
"You have a naughty sense of humour and you looked more stunning nowadays."
"Carefully, I thought you were a man of God."
"I am. I just got carried away. I am not a piece of wood without feelings. I have said enough. It is time for me to leave. Coming to see you was not a good idea."
"Don't leave me, Mantel. You've started something and I'm going to finish it and I know you won't take advantage of me when I'm at my lowest. It is good to talk. It takes my mind off the way I'm feeling. Keep on talking to me and don't you ever stop giving up on me. I'm not the easiest person to get along with."
"You can say that again."
"Don't be so cheeky."
"Do you recall the time we first met in the college canteen?" said Naomi.
"I can," and "Yes, you gave me all of your Cornish pastry and I ate it in one go."
"We were two young people from the Caribbean community dreaming many dreams."
"Dreams can be achieved was our motto at college."
"We mapped out our future on the canteen paper towel."
"The dinner lady looked at us with disgust and she was not impressed with the screwed up paper towel."
"Yet, we both smiled at her nervously and agreed that each of the utensils represented our children. The knife and fork symbolized a girl and a boy respectively."
"We approached the end of our studies believing everyone had an equal chance in the job market."
"In reality the job market favoured the elite."
"We didn't care. We were young and naive and were challenging the system and championing our motto to everyone we met that dreams can be achieved."
"At the other end of the canteen, the dinner lady was waving her arms frantically towards us as if she was directing the air traffic."
"She was interrupting the flow of our conversation so we ignored her deliberately."
"We saw other pupils departing from the canteen at a brisk pace. They were heading towards the library like a herd of deer's rushing to streams of water."
"We didn't want to follow the crowd but the canteen lady let us know without any shadow of doubt when she shouted to us to leave the canteen."
"In a twinkle of an eye she switched off the light. It was curtains out. We decided to continue our discussion inside of the library."
"Can't you see Naomi, we wanted to be together. What went wrong, Naomi?"
"We lost contact with each other because you went to America to be with your family and I stayed in England to continue my education."
"I know that. But, I wrote to you once a week."
"I didn't get your letters. Daddy wanted me to marry James Heath."
"James Heath?"
"Yes, James Heath."
"James Heath dad was my dad's best friend. James had a crush on me. I didn't feel the same as he did."
"May I interject?"
"Go on then."
"James was slightly on the far end of the eccentric spectrum. Don't you think?
"In plain English he was weird."
"He was definitely not your type."
"So who do you think is my type, Mantel?"
"I have an idea?"
"Don't be shy and tell me."
"Well."
"I am waiting."
"I am thinking."
"And don't you stare at me with your bright mischievous smile. I have warned you that I am not all sugar but sometimes I am spice."
"I love spice."
"Don't change the subject, Mantel. What type of man would be my perfect match?"
"He must be sophisticatedly handsome and have a charming personality."
"Not bad for you, Mantel, but you missed out on a number of basic necessities which are essential for most women."
"And what may they be?"
"He must be working or have money as I am broke."
"I knew about your rendezvous with James, Naomi. I thought I meant something to you."
"I don't want to talk about him."
"Was James wealthy?"
"I'm not prepared to talk you about him."
"I was prepared to wait for you, Naomi."
"I didn't love you, Mantel. You have always been a good friend to me."
"Did you love James?"
"No."
Mantel was extremely upset. He set his heart on Naomi.
"If you weren't in love with James why didn't you answer my letters?"
"Are you hungry?"
"No. I ate my dinner before I came here."
"What did you eat?"
"Will you stop avoiding the question?"
"I just wanted to know what you eaten and not be crossed examined."
"Please can you give me a straight answer?"
"What question are you talking me about?"
"Why didn't you answer my letters?"
"Okay. No pressure."
"I just needed to know why you didn't answer my letters."
"You deserved an explanation from me."
"I am so sorry for causing you distress. I'll leave."
Eighteen
"I couldn't answer your letters because dad hid them from me. I had only discovered them in his wardrobe when we were clearing out his old clothes from the house."
"So that was the reason why you haven't been returning my letters and I thought it was my aftershave."
"Well, you weren't wearing cologne."
"Guess not."
"It's been a long time since we've talked about the past, Mantel. We have always avoided talking about the good old days."
"It's good to talk about the past but let us not stay in the past. I'm not the same young man you used to know. I have grown up since then."
"
Thank God for that. I'm not the same girl too. "You can't live in the past, Naomi. You must have a positive vision for your future."
"It's has been hard coping with life challenges but I'm still trying. Why are you here, Mantel?"
"I want to be here to support you."
"Can you offer me work?"
"No."
"You can't help me. I have too many bills to pay."
"I can buy your the weekly shopping."
"That's very kind of you. I'm not getting at you Mantel. I just need a job."
"You are going through a difficult patch. It will get better. You'll see."
"Why haven't you settled down with a nice Christian woman?"
"You once gave your life to Christ, Naomi."
"Look at me now. I'm messed up. My career is over and I am about to lose my flat in Upper Ashworth."
"Don't you be silly? You'll be okay."
"How do you know that?"
"I know that you will be alright."
"You're mad."
"Now get yourself something to eat and freshen up. We've going to the home group."
"No way, I'm not going to a home group and I am not being forced to wear a hat."
"You'll love it. God is not finish with you yet."
"I can't face meeting people."
"You can't lock yourself away in your apartment forever. No one will harm you or judge you at the home group."
"If anyone dare make a comment about me or my parents I'll be out of the house faster than Usain Bolt."
"Let us pray for a safe journey to the home group. Please close your eyes."
"Hurry up or I'll fall asleep."
"Father God, please can you protect us on our journey to the home group. God bless the home group leaders and God save our queen in King Jesus name, amen."
"That is how I like to prayer short and straight to the point."
"Where are we going, Mantel?"
"We are going to Phil and Margaret's house in Upper Ashworth."
"I once knew someone called Phil and he was a bit of a womaniser."
"I don't think this is the same Phil. He's been married to Margaret for at least 20 or more years."
"How do you know he is faithful to his wife?"
"Phil is a strong man of God. He's been a Christian for most of his life."
"My mum used to say that about my dad."
"Phil is not like that."
"You can be so naïve and gullible, Mantel."
"That's a bit below the belt, Naomi."
"In the Bible, Delilah had seduced Samson who was a mighty man of God and men are not immune from flirtatious women. Men are the weaker sex."
"Phil is different and he is much wiser than most men."
"Solomon was the wisest man on the planet earth but even he succumbed to a beautiful woman called Bathsheba."
"You made your point loud and clear, Naomi. It's time for us to go to the Home group."
"I don't want to stay there too long."
"We won't."
"Promise me."
"I promise you we will go as soon as the meeting is over."
"What do Phil look like?"
"He is tall with dark brown skin" and "He resembles Denzil Washington."
"Oh crumbs."
Naomi heart skipped a beat or two and the palm of her hands was unusually moist. Deep down inside of her Naomi was furious with Jill. Had she spoken to Mantel? Did Mantel know more than what he was letting out to her? Or was Mantel stringing her along? Naomi mind was playing havoc. It must be a coincidence. She didn't believe in coincidences. It must be planned by Jill and Mantel. It can't be planned. Mantel and Jill were not deceitful people. It was definitely a coincidence and she had to face her fears.
"What's wrong Naomi?"
"I have left my handbag behind in the bedroom."
"You are holding it in your hand."
"You know what we girls are like. We want to match our handbags with our outfits. I won't be too long."
She entered into the bedroom and picked up her black leather handbag which goes well with most of her clothes. The very thought of seeing Phil with his wife playing happy family made her feel physically sick. She whispered to herself repeatedly, I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthen me.
"I'm ready