Her cousin

“Where’s Lauren? Is she around?” her landlady asked. “I’m Mrs Stodd, you can call me Jenna, I look after this place around here”

“I’m…. Liz” Lauren answered, thinking quickly. “ I….. I’m staying with my cousin Lauren. She’s……gone for a …..she had an urgent work call…er….. last night, said she might not be back till late. Told me to look after myself till she got back”

“Why Lauren, that irresponsible little…. I’ll give her a ears a beating when I see her. Just what was she thinking? She can’t just run off like that leaving a little girl all alone to fend for herself. Probably been going clubbing or partying all night, her work excuse is just a lie, she never seems to be doing any work, spending all her time faking it and going about town stealing other peoples’ men”

Lauren felt very insulted, but in her present situation, she was not in a position to refute the claims or defend herself. Lauren felt a bit ashamed having her living habits expsoed, even though jenna wasn’t directing them at the pretend Liz.

Trying to get out of her predicament and wanting to keep her naked body from being seen further, she tried persuading her guests to leave.

“Look. Thanks, everyone for helping. Can you all just please leave? I’ll..I think I’m okay….” Lauren explained as she tried to get up, but the pain from her leg brought her falling back down on the ground.

“Clearly,” Jenna said looking down at Lauren’s leg “you’re not okay. You’ll have to go see a doctor about that leg of yours, it could be serious….tut tut tut” she looked down dissaprovingly.

“I can go by myself later…..er…. with Lauren when she comes back” Lauren protested, trying to get her to leave.

“Shush” Jenna stopped her. “Lauren’s not here, and even if she were, she’s clearly unable to look after you. I mean look at this mess all around. She can’t even take care of her own home, let alone someone else’s child. You’re under my roof. That means I have a duty of care over you. I’ll take care of you till Lauren returns. Don’t you worry”

“Great” Lauren thought, “Just what I need, this crabby old hag latched on to me all day”

“I mean look at this place, it’s a mess” Janna continued her rant, “Doesn’t that Lauren do any cleaning up around here? She’s a terrible tenant, trashing the place, constantly making noise, and that nasty attitude of hers too! I can’t believe I rented out my lovely place out to her. She’s going to get it!”

Lauren kept quiet, knowing that all of Jenna’s words berating Lauren were mostly true. The neighbours all muttered in disapproval. Lauren was glad though, to see they were slowly filing out of her apartment, content to leave the matters in Jenna’s capable hands. At least she wouldn’t have so many eyes on her. Or so she thought.