curiousity killed the cat
“BOBBI I SWEAR TO GOD IF YOU TOUCH ANY OF MY DWARFS I WILL SNAP YOUR WRIST”
Leo screeched down the hall while he got him and Jemma something to eat. Daisy was watching some animal documentary that was on TV in the living room.
"Hey Daisy do you want anything while I'm making something because Mom and Dad won't be home for another hour. You can show on my iPad if it makes it easier."
Daisy excitedly scurried over to the counter and pulled open the new app they had got for Daisy on all the iPad. There were lots of tiles that had pictures of different foods and things to do. It made life a lot easier for Daisy to express herself without feeling the pressure and anxiety of trying to speak.
Daisy double tapped on cookies.
"Oh come on you know I'm not meant to give you cookies before dinner." Jemma giggled at Daisy pulling puppy dog eyes at Leo.
"Okay okay fine don't tell Mom." Leo handed her a double chocolate cookie
Jemma was curious about Daisy since she wanted to be a Doctor or work in paediatrics. Leo had explained about how Daisy doesn't talk and how they aren't really sure why, but the iPad app and the signs she was learning defiantly proves that she wants to communicate but somethings stopping her.
She took a seat on the couch next to Daisy who was happily humming while munching on her cookie.
"So Daisy do you like watching animal TV shows ?" Daisy nodded slightly feeling a little nervous.
"Me too, my favourite animal is the tigers, I think they are so beautiful. Did you know tigers are the national animals for Bangladesh, India, Korea and Malaysia."
"Jem you are rambling again come on lets leave Daisy to it. We've only got a few more weeks left on this project." Leo cut her off before she could throw more tiger facts at Daisy.
As the walked down the hall back to what Leo calls his 'Lab' but in reality it was the basement.
"I think she has autism." Jemma blurted out before she could think it through.
"Really Jem! She's only four we don't want to start diagnosing her with crap before she's even had a chance to settle here. Mom wants to give a few weeks before we start really worrying."
"I know I know Leo but like you said she's never spoken. Why would she start now ?"
Leo could feel anger rising in him, he loved Jemma but sometimes she didn't understand what it's like to live in foster care and how unsettled it is. He really did believe that Daisy would talk when she was ready.
"Jem just leave it alone I don't want to hear anymore of you theories about Daisy she's a human being not a puzzle to be solved."
He huffed and the Lab fell it a silence while they worked.
/
Dinner was quiet that night Leo's anger still ever present in the room. Phil had asked Jemma to stay for dinner and had try to refuse knowing the tension between her and Leo was not good for making Daisy feel less anxious which seemed to be a common goal in the house at the moment. However, Phil had insisted she stayed and he was making his famous ratatouille.
"Leo lighten up I'm sorry okay" Jemma had whispered to him at the table.
"Oh piss off Jemma this all your fault this argument if you had just kept your mouth shut about all that shit."
"Leopold language!" May gasped
"You know what Leo you're just like your father. Always taking everything to far."
And that was the final straw. Leo couldn't hold his anger or do any of those stupid techniques that the therapist had taught him.
He began to shout and throw his plate, Bobbi had tried to stop Leo from hitting Melinda; when Daisy stood on her chair and screamed with all her might.
With that she walked up the stairs and slammed her door.
The memories were coming back to her. She screamed more she wanted the voices to stop
MUTE FREAK NUTCASE
She couldn't make it stop. The sobs that escaped had wanted to come out for months.
'Eleanor please move the child out of the living room. I can't stand to look at her. Is she deaf or something she just stares, doesn't play with the toys you bought.'
He leaned in close to her face, his breathe hot on her face that smelt funny.
'Do something freak' giving her hard poke to the chest.
Daisy just looked back into him and he could see anger in his eyes.
Instead of hitting her or letting out the rage he felt towards to her. He just roughly grabbed her thin arm and dragged her to the closet in her room.
'When we send you to school next week I want you to fucking speak do you hear me you deaf bitch?'
With a hard shove she fell backwards into the closet.
"Daisy we are sorry please come out baby." The door had been barricaded since dinner May had resorted to sitting against the door trying to talk the girl out her room.
Leo had calmed down after only 2 plates being broken, him and Jem had managed to work through the argument and Phil had taken Jemma home.
What hurt most is that Melinda could here Daisy's muffled sobs through the door.
Melinda needed to do what is right.