Page 117 of Child's Play

‘So, you probably know some of the kids and the parents?’ Kim asked.

‘The ones that pay for my time, yes.’

‘Like Damien Crouch?’ she asked, not yet ready to let go of a perfect fit for her suspect profile.

‘Damien pays me to play with his daughter for a couple of hours so he can keep up with work. No learning, just playing,’ she said, almost smiling. ‘She’s a pretty special kid but he won’t push her.’

‘How do these parents even know their child is a genius?’ Kim asked.

‘They don’t. They normally look to Mensa for clarification, and they have seventeen signs or behaviours that gifted children may display.’

Kim’s eyes widened.

‘Including unusual memory, hobbies, intolerance of other children, passing intellectual milestones early, setting themselves high standards, liking to be in control… to name a few but genius is rarely maintained into adulthood.’

‘But how can that be?’ Kim asked.

‘Kids can eventually fall behind due to lack of effort, such as when success comes at an early age with little to no effort. Some kids then believe they can succeed without effort in the future.

‘It’s understood that genius kids have five special needs. Firstly, they struggle to pay attention in class – many have originally been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD. They lack the motivation to complete certain tasks. Often, they become perfectionists and struggle to achieve their own expectations and finally they can struggle with speaking; may hesitate or stutter as they try to translate complex ideas from their heads into language that a similar age can understand.’

‘Surely the parenting can affect how they’ll develop in later life?’

‘Now you’re getting into child psychology territory that is way beyond my knowledge base but I can speak from what I’ve seen. The authoritative approach is child centred. Kids are taught to regulate their feelings. It’s warm and nurturing. Positive encouragement but with punishments that are measured and consistent. Normally produces independent, self-reliant kids.’

‘Sounds ideal,’ Kim said, wondering if that method of parenting had made it to the Hollytree Estate.

‘Then you have authoritarian which would cover most tiger parents. Children are given instruction without explanation. It’s punishment-heavy with spanking and shouting. The goal is to teach the child to behave, survive and thrive in a harsh world. These kids often experience abuse.’

Kim instantly thought of Belinda.

‘And finally, indulgent style which is pretty much do what you like when you like without fear of consequence. Of course the danger here is that the child never learns to avoid behaviours which will annoy other people and will expect to always get its own way.’

Her mind turned to Veronica. ‘How does this whole thing affect other kids in the family?’ Kim asked.

‘Again, that’s not my area of expertise.’

‘Yeah but you’ve spent more time around kids than I have.’

‘Okay, in my experience, other kids in the family don’t do so well at all.’

Eighty-Six

Penn felt himself bounce up and down as he tried to speed over the potholes gouged into the dirt track that was no longer used.

He reached the gate that screamed ‘No Entry’ and got out of the car. The chain tying the two sides of the gate together had been cut.

He pushed the left side of the gate open and walked through. Whatever was happening here would not be helped by him running in all guns blazing even though that was exactly what he wanted to do.

In front of him was the main building of the abandoned go-kart facility. It had closed three years ago following the death of a child who had fallen into the ravine, a seventy-foot drop on to a bed of rocks.

The main building held a couple of back offices, a reception area, toilets and a small café. Beyond that, out of sight, was the go-karting track and a shack for hiring out the safety helmets.

He moved closer to the main building and edged along it, ducking and moving below the windows.

He listened keenly for any sound from his brother. He heard nothing but the distant rumble of traffic on the road he’d just left.

He took two more steps towards the edge of the building. Once he reached the corner and turned he would be in full view of the track and the smaller building.