Page 42 of The New Girl

‘What?’ Ruby peered over Denise’s shoulder. ‘We’re not paying anyone, are we?

Clara took the file from Denise. ‘Let me see. OK, I’m saying, “As mentioned in the phone call, I am enclosing copies of the documents you requested and the date of birth and the location of Mr Karim. I am also including a photo of Mr Karim to help you locate him.”’

‘Locate is a good word, sounds very grown up,’ Denise said.

‘Please find Mr Karim as soon as possible. His family is –’ Clara paused.

‘Devastated,’ Ruby said.

‘Gutted,’ Denise suggested.

‘Devastated without him,’ Clara wrote.

Ruby wanted the people in the Department of Justice to know that Mr Karim was a good man. ‘Also, I think you need to say, “He is a good man and will be a great person to have living in our country. He believes that education is freedom, so he is really smart too.”’

Clara wrote that bit down.

Denise took the file back and waved it. ‘Say this at the end, it sounds really good: “Your immediate attention to this matter will be appreciated. Sincerely ...”’

That did sound good. Ruby’s stomach did a little flip. Maybe this would actually work. Maybe, just maybe, they could help find Mr Karim and bring him home to his family.

Clara finished writing the letter and showed it to them. Her writing was like a grown-up’s, super neat and swirly. It looked very professional. Clara signed her name, then Ruby did and then Denise.

‘They’ll just think we’re lawyers who work here, and I’m putting my mobile number as the contact at the bottom again,’ Clara said.

Denise pulled a big brown envelope from the tray on the secretary’s desk and they carefully put the copies of the documents, the photo, the list of important dates and the letter inside.

Clara wrote the address of the Department of Justice on the front. Ruby took out three stamps. Clara said they probably only needed two, but Ruby was afraid that a big envelope might need three, so she’d bought three. They slipped the envelope into Ruby’s backpack. She was going to post it on her way home.

Clara held out her little finger. They all linked little fingers. ‘Pinky promise not to say a word about this to anyone.’

They pinky promised just as Clara’s mum walked in.

‘Finished the project?’ Annabelle asked.

‘Yes,’ they said grinning at each other.

‘Right, girls, I have half an hour before my next call, so let’s pop down to Café Graffe around the corner.’

‘I thought you only had one call,’ Clara grumbled.

‘I know, love, but unfortunately they want to talk through some more details.’

‘But Mum –’

‘Clara, I’m sorry, but when you run your own company you have to work harder than anyone else.’

‘But why don’t you get someone else to run it and you can just be a normal lawyer?’

‘Because I’m proud of what I have built up. When your dad died, all of the responsibility fell to me. I went back to work and built all this up. I want you to be proud of me. You know, girls’ – Annabelle turned to Ruby and Denise – ‘it’s very important in life to be able to work. You never know what’s going to happen and you have to be able to go out and get a job to support yourself and your children. The world has changed a lot even since I finished university. Did you know that there are now more women than men with college degrees in Ireland? Isn’t that amazing?’

Ruby and Denise nodded while Clara rolled her eyes. She’d obviously heard this speech before. But Ruby thought Clara’s mum was right. It was important for mums to be able to work and earn money.

As they walked down the road to the café, Annabelle asked Ruby how Robbie was getting on.

‘Oh, he’s OK, the same I guess.’

‘I hope you’re helping your mum out. I saw her the other day wheeling Robbie in town and she looked exhausted. It’s important that you and your sister help her out.’

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