Ella's Escapades

By Zoe Drew

Ella had not experienced life like an ordinary child her age, as she had spent the majority of it in Westlee, a home for challenging children. No matter how many times she tried to improve her behaviour, somehow, she always ended up back at Westlee.

This time she thought she really had improved and would finally be free, but her Mum had a different agenda, and had called the office again. Ella did not understand, what had she done wrong? Ella coped with the news the only way she knew how… She ran away again.

Secrets and lies, deceits and surprises were about to be unravelled. Her family life was not what it seemed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jul 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9780244215019

Book preview

Ella's Escapades

Ella’s Escapades

Chapter 1

Come in now Ella, you've had an extra fifteen minutes outside, Mum shouted out of the back door. She was looking stressed out, digging her fingers through her greying hair.

I dragged myself inside. It wouldn’t hurt to let me have more time outside, would it? I replied as I walked into the kitchen and noticed a drawing on the fridge, which looked like a bear. I hadn't noticed it before; Mum must have found some of my old drawings.

I heard a noise so peered out of the window and saw a white car with a W on the side pull up outside the house. I knew exactly what this meant, so I legged it into the bathroom and locked the door.

I’m sorry, Ella, Mum mumbled through the wooden panels.

I didn't answer. I turned the tap on, hoping this would be a distraction, so I could sneak out of the window and make a run for it. However, they were already waiting for me - my two minders. Liz, a tall, thin lady with long black hair tied up in a ponytail, and Nicky, a shorter lady with blonde hair, striking blue eyes and glasses. They were calmly waiting for me in the garden, arms crossed.

Why Mum? What have I done this time? I pleaded.

She replied, It’s for your own good Ella, they can take care of you properly, better than I ever could.

The two women made their way towards me, well-trained, anticipating my every move.

Come on Ella you know the drill, said Liz.

I know, but I really thought this time I had done okay. I looked longingly over towards Mum.

She didn't say a word, her eyes focussing on something in the distance.

I made my way up the garden path and towards the white car. I knew people on the street would be thinking horrible thoughts, but this time it wasn't true. I had been good! I couldn't think of anything I had done wrong.

I asked, I suppose it’s back to Westlee for me then Liz?

Liz sympathised with me, I’m sorry Ella. But on the bright side, you’ve lasted the longest away from Westlee ever, just over five weeks – your personal best!

But… I thought I had really done it this time, I muttered. I had thought I could finally be free from Westlee - and get back to living full-time with Mum, like a normal kid. As usual for me in these kinds of situations, my attitude did a 360. It tended to be hard for people to keep up if they didn’t know me. Liz, can I sit in the passenger seat please? I did my best ‘batting eyelids’ face and clasped both hands together to really ham it up, giving the impression of someone calmly at ease with this depressing situation.

You know that one of us has to sit in the back with you, began Liz before relenting, Oh go on then, but don’t tell Mr Chambers.

You know I won’t, I replied grinning back.

That means I have to sit at the back on my own, said Nicky, in a mock-sad voice. They were trying their best to make it feel okay that my own mother had called time on my stay, but nothing ever could.

It was about forty-five minutes to Westlee from Mum’s house. I sat in silence, pondering over what I possibly could have done this time, why she had given up and was sending me back again.

Chapter 2

When I first came to Westlee, I was so shocked; it had looked like a mansion! It stood in the middle of open countryside, with empty rolling hills on all sides. To me, all that time ago, when I was a scared little girl who knew nothing of the world, it looked like Royalty must live there, or at least visit. First impressions quickly gave way to reality however - it was definitely not a typical mansion. Surrounding it was a huge barbed-wire fence with a security guard protecting the entrance at all times. The idyllic setting in the middle of nowhere was a strategic move to make escaping difficult if not impossible, with no transport available and very clued-up locals.

Westlee was my home, although it seems sad to say it, with two parents alive and well. Even when I was allowed out to live with either of my parents, their homes felt like prisons. I was monitored and managed everywhere I went. The back gardens were sealed off from the neighbours, as they feared I would run away or misbehave.

I didn’t have the best start to my life. When I was five, my parents split up and I was back and forth between each of their houses. This began because they both fought bitterly over custody, but somewhere along the way it changed, I changed I guess, and they each started to palm me off on the other as often as they could. During therapy, I have pinpointed where it all started, and it was way before the split.

We moved house and I lost all my friends, so I was lonely and only had my dog for company. He was a black Labrador called Jupiter, and I loved him with all my heart. One day, we arrived home