Leah, an office worker

Leah worked in the admin department of a large, successful company in the city centre. She would admit to herself at times that she had been “sort of” lucky to get the job. Leag was a pretty 21 year old girl of black heritage, who freely admitted she had messed around at school, not getting many qualifications. She dropped out from ccollegedue to much partying and going with boys. Answering a job ad ,she had landed this admin job as she “fitted their requirements”. Leah was a little bit insulted by this as they clearly meant they hadnt had enough non whites working there. However, she was glad she got the job. That had been two years ago though and she hadn’t moved on, she had no career path. What Leah had still failed to realise though was it was her own lack of hardwork and ambition rather than anyone elses fault.

Then there was Jennifer. If ever there was a direct opposite to Leah that was Jennifer. Blonde, blue-eyed, pleasant, hardworking 23 year old could-be model. Achieving excellent grades at school and college, avoiding the boys and the parties, now engaged to a lovely guy who himself had a promising career in the culinary world . Jennifer was taking a year out to get experience before going to University, but the company had been fast tracking her within and she may just take study leave and stay on. Leah despised her. Jennifer, on the other hand, never had a bad word about Leah or anyone.

Leah fumed all day and thats why she found herself on the cross city train to a poorer part of town, she was going to see her grandmother. Leah's gran was an original immigrant from the West Africa back in the 50’s, she still knew a lot of the ‘old ways’. Leah knew that many people asked her grandmother for various actions that were not commendable. Leah wanted her Jennifer problem to ‘get better’.

They had already spoke on the phone but Leah went over it again. Gran seemed to understand and went to a cupboard bringing back a lifesize baby doll. It had a tuft of blonde hair and blue eyes. Leah had been asked to bring something personal belonging to Jennifer so handed over a ring that Sharon had from her mother and had ‘lost’ at work. Gran sticked the ring around the doll and started chanting over it and blowing smoke over it. Finally rubbing some small drops of blood over it. “There its done ma darlin” Gran said,“Whatever you write on this doll will write itself into the mind and memory of Jennifer. She will become whatever you write”. Sharom thanked and hugged her Gran and started home. She knew exactly what she was going to write.