An every day saga of life at Bluebrick Childrens Home

“OK. We’ve done the routine business of the staff meeting, and I think it’s a tribute to your professionalism that we’ve stayed focused despite what’s been at the back of all our minds. Our visitors will be arriving shortly, so let’s identify the points we might want to raise”, said a deceptively calm Sarah.

“Yer- what the bloody hell do they think they are playing at?” snarled Justin.

There was a burst of applause and shouts of “Too right” and “We’ll show ‘em”.

“Yes. OK; that’s how we feel, but that’s not really going to cut much ice with Councillor Sharp”.

“Well, I think he should know how we feel”, insisted Justin.

“Of course he should”, agreed Sarah, “but we have also got to get over some rational arguments now at this stage and not allow our feelings to take total control of the issue”.

“So what do you suggest, Sarah?” asked Vinney, knowing Sarah had identified a number of points in their meeting earlier.

“Well, I really wanted to hear your ideas first, but if it helps, I will give you my points and you can comment on or add to them.”

There was a murmur of agreement.

“Well, the way I see it, there are seven main issues and these are :

• The appalling way the news has come out.
• What are we going to tell the young people?
• The reasons for the decision to close us.
• The possibility of our being able to change their minds.
• What will happen to the young people if we can’t get them to change their, the Council’s, minds?
• What will happen to staff if we can’t get them to change their minds?
• What is the time scale for all this?”

“That’s just what I was going to say,” joked Leroy, trying to lessen the tension.
There was a ripple of nervous laughter.

“That’s a lot of issues Sarah. Don’t get me wrong, I think they are all spot on, but do you really think we will get clear enough answers today to all those points?” observed Claudia.

“Yer, I think Claudia right. They’ll just try to blind us with science,” said Justin.

“There is that danger”, agreed Vinney, “so why don’t we do two things? First, agree what our top two concerns are and second suggest a liaison, or some such title, group to work with the Department and include a couple of staff reps in addition to Sarah our manager?”

“What about the Union?” shouted Karin, the thought suddenly dawning on her.

“Hang on a minute, Karin, can we come back to that point?” replied Vinney.

“It’s a good point, though; let’s get them in”, urged Justin.

“I agree with Vinney’s suggestion,” said Sarah, trying to keep some structure to the meeting, “and I think our priorities must be, one, what to tell the young people and, two, setting up a working a party to look at some of the other issues I raised and…”

“What about the Union?” insisted Justin.

“I was coming to that, Justin, if you’ll let me finish. I think that if we adopt Vinney’s idea of two staff reps to join me, as well as being on the liaison group we can also meet the Union officials and talk to them about the issues and tactics and report back to the full staff meeting.”

“I’m going to see my Union guy in any case,” said Justin.

“Well, that’s your right, Justin, and anybody else’s,” said Sarah.

“I think we must stop talking about ourselves for a minute and think what are we going to say to those poor kids,” said Fran forcefully.

“We’ve got to tell them the truth,” said Justin, though as he said it, he realised his frequent interventions were now provoking some irritated looks.

“And what’s that then, Mr. Clever Clogs?” quipped Janice.

“Let me try to answer that,” interrupted Sarah.

“The young people may have seen, or been told, what is in the paper and if they have, they will think we have been holding out on them. So I think we begin from there. We tell them about the newspaper reports and make clear that it was as much news to us as it was to them”.

“That’s not quite true Sarah” said Justin, trying to be less forceful but by now being totally committed to his self-appointed role as the people’s advocate.

“Oh, I shall admit that I had been told a few days ago, but also point out that we were all going to find out only today and discuss the next steps”.

“But how are we going to hold their anger and anxiety? We can hardly manage our own at the moment,” asked Karin.

“You’re right, Karin, but we have gone to make some kind of strength out of our common anger and dismay. We’ve got to show the young people that we are all victims and that we all have our all part to play in dealing with this awful plan,” urged Vinney.

“Stand by for boarding,” called Justin, “our esteemed visitors are coming up the drive.”

There was a tap on the lounge door and then in walked Richard and a tall stout man with a bristly moustache and a bald head, Councillor Neville Sharp.

“OK, everybody, you all know our External Manager, Richard. Richard, can I ask you to introduce our other visitor and say something about why you are both here?” said Sarah to a stony silent room.

“Yes. OK. Thanks, Sarah. Can I introduce to you Councillor Sharp, who is Vice Chair of the Social Services Committee.”

“Where’s the Chair then, in Barbados?” called out Justin.

“Thank you, Justin”, said Richard calmly, “ I don’t expect to be welcomed here today, but I do expect a bit of civility. We have not come to duck issues, so I ask you to hear us out and I promise you we will answer any questions as fully as we can.”

“Thank you, Richard. I too can understand the anger and anxiety around, but I hope when you know some of the background to this matter, you will be better able to deal with things”.

“It had better be good,” murmured Vinney.

“In answer to our young friend’s question about the whereabouts of the Chair, Councillor Liptonson, she is at Windy Oaks meeting the staff there and discussing the Council’s plans with them. I’m sure she would rather be in Barbados.”

No one laughed.

“Well, last year, as you will know if you are a Council tax payer, we had to put them up by 35%. This year there is no way we are going to be able to do that, so we have been forced to take a radical look at our services.”

“So that’s it. We are going to go to save your bacon,” snapped Justin.
“Hear me out please”.

“We have had had a report giving us a number of options and - yes - closing some homes, including Bluebrick is one of them. But let me emphasise that no final decisions have been made yet.”

“That’s not what the paper said,” said Vinney.

“The paper? Yes, well, let me tell you that that report was not given to them by us. It must have been leaked by some of the Opposition and we are issuing a statement today, making it clear that these are not final decisions but options for a hard-pressed Council”.

Just then there was the sound of shattering glass in the window in the dining room at the front of the house.

“Sounds like the kids are home and they’ve heard the news,”observed Justin.

Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker were having one of their little father and son chats... light sabers drawn and sparks flying. Vader pinned Luke against a bulkhead and glared into his face, "I know what you're getting for Christmas, Luke," he said, "Ohhh, yes! I know!" Luke fought himself free and jumped to a higher platfrom just out of Vader's reach, "How do you know!?" Luke yelled at him, "How do you know what I'm getting for Christmas!?" Darth Vader shot Luke an icy glare, "The force is with me... I felt your presents."