Too Scared to Tell: Part 1 of 3. Cathy Glass
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Certain details in this story, including names, places and dates, have been changed to protect the family’s privacy.
HarperElement
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London SE1 9GF
First published by HarperElement 2020
FIRST EDITION
Text © Cathy Glass 2020
Cover layout design © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2020
Cover photograph © Johner Images/Getty Images (posed by a model)
A catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library
Cathy Glass asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work
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Source ISBN: 9780008380380
Ebook Edition © February 2020 ISBN: 9780008380410
Version: 2019-12-18
A big thank-you to my family; my editors, Carolyn and Holly; my literary agent, Andrew; my UK publishers HarperCollins, and my overseas publishers, who are now too numerous to list by name. Last, but definitely not least, a big thank-you to my readers for your unfailing support and kind words. They are much appreciated.
A third of children who have
been sexually abused never tell.
Contents
1 Cover
2 Title Page
3 Copyright
4 Acknowledgements
5 Epigraph
6 Contents
7 Chapter One: Being Watched
8 Chapter Two: Anxious
9 Chapter Three: Protecting Oskar
10 Chapter Four: Stressed and Tense
11 Chapter Five: You Know Those Men?
12 Chapter Six: Wary
13 Chapter Seven: Very Concerned
14 Chapter Eight: Preoccupied
15 Chapter Nine: A Strange Reunion
17 About the Publisher
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Chapter One
‘I feel dreadful,’ the young teacher wept. ‘His uncle is angry with me, Oskar is sobbing, and now he has to live with a strange family.’
‘It might not be for long,’ I said. ‘Just until his mother gets back. And we’re not that strange,’ I added, trying to lighten her mood.
‘No, I didn’t mean that,’ she said, forcing a small smile through her tears. ‘I’m sure you’re very nice, but it’s not Oskar’s home, is it?’
‘I’ll do my best to make it home while he is with me,’ I said, touching her arm reassuringly. Erica Jordan, Oskar’s teacher, was blaming herself for Oskar coming into foster care. ‘It wasn’t your decision to bring Oskar into care,’ I pointed out.
‘No, but I logged everything he told me and reported it to my Headmistress.’
‘Which was right,’ I said. ‘That was the