Siblings The Tracy Beaker Survival Files - Tales from the Dumping Ground

My Name is Tracy Beaker and these are my Survival Files.

Your guide to the ups and downs of growing up.

Tracy!

Tracy!!

Life in the Dumping Ground has taught me about "stuff."

Tracy Beaker!

Scary stuff.

SCREAMING

Complicated stuff.

Stuff that can make you want to scream.

If you can cope with stuff that goes down in this place,

you can cope with anything. I've spent most of my life here.

First when I was a kid, and now it's where I work.

I've learned a lot about friends.

About enemies.

About what life can throw at you.

It's not always been pretty.

But it's made me who I am today.

And now I'm passing on my wisdom to you guys in a video blog.

I've lived through all this so you don't have to.

This time...brothers and sisters.

The friendships and the fall outs. Getting jealous and getting even.

It's a minefield.

They can be the best of friends.

-Roxy!

-Chantal!

-Rio...

ALL: Wellard!

Also the deadliest of rivals.

Game on, bro!

But they are always looking out for each other...

Brothers and sisters are all of these things.

Family ties can be complicated.

Having a brother or sister is a connection

different to anything else.

And being in care can make that bond even stronger...

because you've got nobody else. Take Lol and Bouncer.

"I just can't get you out of my head, boy your loving..."

What a double act!

It was a laugh a minute with that pair.

Oh, hit me with your handbag! Aagh!

They were inseparable. One without the other

would be like tea without six sugars,

or tuna pizza without the raspberries. Seriously,

you should try it.

That was good, Bounce.

Then one day, the bubble of brotherly love burst.

And civil war broke out.

It was not pretty.

You're not sitting with Lol, then?

Mind your own!

-Not made up with Bouncer yet?

-No!

Not until he tells what's going on with Sid!

I know how you feel. Roxy never tells me anything.

Not how brothers should treat each other.

-No, it's not.

-If you've got something to say, say it!

-Don't let him get to you.

-Keep out!

-Don't take it out on her!

-Or what?!

-Oi! That's enough!

They normally got on so well.

-What are you doing?

-Go away!

-Tetchy!

How come it all had gone so wrong?

-So what's going on?

-Well, Bouncer's in there with Sid.

That's the third time this week.

-He says it's about his birthday. He's lying.

-How d'you know?

Cos when he lies he does this weird flapping thing with his arms.

Thanks, Sid, I'll think it over. Were you listening?

-No! Why, got something to hide?

-No.

-What were you talking about, then?

-Just...my birthday and stuff.

-What sort of stuff?

-Stuff! I don't have to explain myself to you.

When you're close, then one starts thinking the other

is keeping stuff from him, it's a disaster.

Game on, bro!

They started falling out over everything.

Even a table football game became a matter of life and death.

MUSIC: "Carnaval de Paris" by Dario G.

-Yes, champion!

-I wasn't ready.

-What? No way.

-So you're a cheat as well as a liar?

-Come on!

-Come on, then!

Come on, you boys have to sort this out.

The truth is, brothers do get competitive.

Even ones that get on well. It's sibling rivalry

and it's all part of growing up, apparently.

But this time, it was out of hand.

I realised that I had to sort them out,

before their fighting tore the Dumping Ground apart.

We needed a cunning plan.

-I made cakes and lemonade.

-For my birthday?

-Mmm-hmm.

-Cor, thanks!

-A subtle, delicate lie...

-In here, yeah?

..and...a great big shove!

-Let us out!

-Not until you two have sorted things out!

-I'll kill you, Tracy!

-Not from in there!

-This isn't funny.

-Shout all you like, it won't help!

Finally, the boys were talking.

-You want to know what it's about?

-The truth was out there.

I might be leaving. You happy now?

And it just kept coming.

You know how I'm 16? Sid said I have to think about moving

-to a halfway house.

-Why didn't you say?

-Cos I was scared.

-Of what?

-Of hurting you.

We've always been together. I don't know

if you can hack it without me. What if I can't hack it without you?

So, you're going to go?

I don't know. I've got to grow up sometime, haven't I?

I'm 16, and I'm sitting in a Wendy house.

You should have said something.

Look, whatever you decide to do, I'll be right behind you.

Thanks, bruv.

You know I let you win at football.

-So you think you can take me on.

-When I'm un-blindfolded.

-Rematch!

Phew! One minute Lol and Bouncer were worst enemies.

The next they were best mates.

That's the way it goes with siblings. It's a rollercoaster.

That's especially true when it comes to Johnny and Tee.

They are so close,

but their relationship isn't without its ups and downs.

I hate you! You're weird. I hate that you're my brother!

Tee, what's it like having a big brother?

Great. There's someone looking out for you,

making sure you're OK, checking up on you...

It's a big responsibility, constantly looking out for her.

Making sure she doesn't get into trouble.

But Johnny thinks he knows best.

If she doesn't do what she's told, that can be a wind-up...

If he's stressed, it does your head in.

Tee could do with listening more.

And if he's bossy, it totally does your head in!

I wouldn't change her.

I wouldn't want him to change though...much.

So, Johnny can be a bit controlling. But it comes from a good place.

He wants the best for his sister, even if he ends up hurt.

Like when he persuaded her to be fostered by the Watsons without him.

-No way.

-Think about it.

Ponies, ballet lessons, cable TV...

-And a family.

-You are my family. Johnny, I'm not leaving without you.

But you've got to! Go on, tell her.

What about Hannah? She's your best friend, isn't she?

Johnny's my brother.

Exactly. Don't you want me to get fostered?

-Of course I do.

-Then use your brain!

Why d'you think I've been stuck here? That stupid rule about

-brothers and sisters.

-It's not stupid!

Course it is! Nobody wants to take on two kids.

If you go, I might stand a chance.

-Otherwise we'll be stuck here for the rest of our lives.

-I don't care.

Well, maybe I do!

All right.

It was a hard decision. But Johnny was sure it was

the right thing to do.

I didn't want her to go. Of course I didn't.

But Child Services don't normally split up siblings.

And...I was holding Tee back. And I wanted her to have a chance.

We thought we'd see each other all the time, anyway.

-You are going to visit?

-All the time, like Lulu does with her sisters.

-You'll call every day?

-Of course.

But once Tee got to the Watsons', things didn't work out

the way Johnny had hoped.

-Tee!

-Hi.

-How are you?

-Yeah, I'm OK.

-I've been to get my new school uniform.

-You're moving schools?

-You never told me.

-It'd be best if I went to the same school as Hannah.

And then Mr Watson dropped the bombshell.

-Hey, Johnny. How are you doing?

-All right.

-Good. Listen, Johnny,

I wonder if you can do me a little favour.

I've noticed that Tee spends a lot of time on the phone.

-Yeah?

-I'm just wondering if that's the right thing for her.

-I promised I'd call every day.

-Hey, of course!

Look, you're a good brother.

You're the one who really understands where Tee's coming from.

I know your life together's been unsettled. Things have changed.

Tee needs to feel secure.

-She deserves a chance to settle down, don't you think?

-Course.

So, if you could just help me out here. Johnny?

Maybe try cutting down on the calls, eh? Just for the first...few weeks.

OK.

OK? Is that cool?

Yeah.

-Everything OK?

-Yeah, fine!

That wasn't right. He shouldn't make me promise that.

Why didn't you say something to us?

Tee seemed to have got her life sorted out.

With the big house and the ponies and that.

I couldn't mess that up, cos the Watsons seemed to really like her.

-So I kept quiet.

-How did that feel?

I don't know. I felt...alone.

Johnny was trying to do what he thought was best for his sister,

though it wasn't best for him. He was trying to be a good brother.

But he wasn't the only one feeling abandoned.

PHONE RINGS

-Hello, Elm Tree House?

-Hi, Tracy.

-Tee! How's it going?

I'm great. We've been ice-skating, swimming,

-and tonight we're going bowling.

-Aw, sounds good.

-Yeah.

-So, how's Johnny?

-OK...he misses you.

-Why doesn't he answer his phone?

-Doesn't he?

-I've been calling and he won't pick up.

-Really?

This didn't sound right.

-Hey, Johnny. What are you doing?

-Game.

-I've got a better one.

We're going bowling tonight.

-Can I just stay here?

-No you can't.

-Er, give me that back!

29 missed calls from Tee? What's going on?

I'm just giving her some space.

-Well, I don't think she wants space.

-Well, maybe I do.

-Johnny, you've got to stop punishing yourself.

-I'm not.

-Then why don't you call Tee?

-Because...Mr Watson asked me not to.

-He did what?!

-And he's right! She's better off without me.

I had to get Johnny and Tee talking, but Johnny refused to speak to Tee.

If only they could bump into each other.

Say, at a bowling alley? We needed a coincidence.

So I arranged one.

Come on, this is our lane!

..two fingers left over for balance.

-Tracy! Did you know about this?

-Coincidence.

-Tee!

-Tee! Hi, honey! You all right?

-I don't believe this!

-What are you doing here?

Just go and talk to her.

I told you. She's better off without me.

Come on! Let's get bowling!

-Wait. Where's Johnny?

-I don't know! He was here a minute ago.

-Where are you going?

-To find Johnny.

-Can't you just forget about him?

-No, he's my brother.

-He isn't acting like it.

-Hannah.

-It's true! Tell them about last night.

-It was nothing.

-Nothing? You cried all night.

-Tee, why?

-Cos Johnny didn't call her.

-Yeah? And why's that?

-Cos he doesn't care about you. Not like I do.

Yes, he does. Tell them!

Andrew, tell Tee the truth.

Tee. Johnny didn't call you because...

I told him not to.

Why would you do that?

Because we care about you very much.

And we wanted you to settle down with us.

We just thought you needed some stability.

Everybody thinks they know what I need!

-Why does no-one ever ask me?

-Tee!

Splitting up Johnny and Tee was a rubbish idea.

Sure, they got on each other's nerves and squabble.

But nobody comes between them, and nobody keeps them apart.

Not for long.

So what have we learnt so far about brothers and sisters

to put into my Survival Files?

If YOU'VE got brothers and sisters you'll know that,

like it or not, brothers and sisters aren't like friends.

The connection is a special one.

And because brothers and sisters know each other so well,

things can get complicated.

Whether it's World War Three on the table football pitch

between Lol and Bouncer,

or Tee and Johnny trying to do what's best.

One minute, brothers and sisters can be inseparable buddies.

Next, they're at each other's throats.

Then before you know it, they're mates again.

Sometimes it's hard to keep up.

Bouncer and Lol. Tee and Johnny. We've seen major sibling shockwaves.

But one family fall-out shook the Dumping Ground to its foundations.

Nobody saw it coming.

I remember the day the three Wellard kids arrived.

Chantal, Rio and Roxy were scarily close.

Well, they were scary in every way.

If you take on my sister, you take on me too.

-And me.

-We're a team.

-That's the way it's always been.

But then one day cracks started to appear between the terrible trio.

It all started with a delivery.

-There's a parcel for Chantal.

-Who rules?

-Roxy rules.

-Who'd send a Wellard a present?

-Bog off, Beaker.

So, who had sent a present to Chantal?

Roxy was desperate to find out.

Open me! Open me!

With the Wellards, the brother-sister thing was so strong

that there wasn't room for anyone else in their world.

"Dear Chantal, Have a lovely birthday. See you soon. Love, Dad."

Not even for parents.

And Roxy wanted to make sure it stayed that way.

So she hid the package.

But nothing stays secret in the Dumping Ground for long.

What was in your parcel? The Cheats Annual? The Bumper Book of Cheats?

-What parcel?

-It came in the post for you. I gave it to Roxy.

There is one golden rule of being a Wellard.

Wellards look after Wellards, no matter who gets hurt,

as long as it isn't a Wellard.

Wellards do not do the dirty on each other.

They don't nick other Wellards' stuff.

-Why did you steal the present my dad sent me?

-I...

Is this why you gave me a hard time?

-You're the one planning to meet your dad without telling us.

-No, I'm not!

"See you soon. Lots of love, Dad."

I thought we could trust each other. I was wrong.

You're wrong if you think I'm ever going to speak to you again.

You don't say anything to her either!

You shouldn't have done it, Roxy.

Who'd have thought it?

The three-headed monster turned out to be human.

Three separate humans, in fact.

But it wouldn't last. The Wellards had no time for fighting.

They were busy trying to achieve world domination.

You know you've got it all wrong. Just cos my dad sends me a present

-doesn't mean I'm interested in him.

-Honest?

-Honest.

I gave him the boot, just like your dad.

And just like I would with my dad. If I knew who he was.

-I'm sorry.

-Me, too.

-Me, three.

The problem was Roxy's jealousy.

That can happen with brothers and sisters.

If one gets the idea someone else is favourite...

watch out.

Once, Justine Littlewood had a bad case of sisterly jealousy.

She never was good at sharing, but this was spectacular even for her.

We, your dad and me... we're going to have a baby.

Yep. She managed to become jealous before her brother was even born.

Typical Justine, eh!

She's having a baby of her own! She won't want me in the way.

-Your dad?

-He'll do what Carrie wants. She doesn't want me.

-You don't know that.

-Don't I? What happened to Tracy Beaker

when her foster parents found out they were having a baby?

She got dumped back in the Dumping Ground!

Sorry. I didn't mean it. I was just...

No, you're right. Babies suck.

I knew what she was going through. I'd been there.

Being dumped for a new baby hurts.

Nobody deserves that. Not even Justine Littlewood.

BURP!

Go away. I don't want to hear your stupid excuses.

I just wanted to show you something.

This isn't any old baby.

It's Justine Littlewood's little brother or sister.

This baby connects us all.

You, your dad, me. It makes us a family.

And as soon as we get things properly organised, we want you to come home

and stay with us for good.

That's what I really came to tell you.

Aww, how sweet. Of course, it didn't last.

Justine's dad and step-mum kept going on about the baby,

and it wasn't long before Justine was totally sick of it again.

-D'you want the baby to be a boy or a girl?

-Who cares?

You can't call a tiny little baby George! Tell him, Justine!

Whatever!

Did you know that one baby can create more washing than 10 adults?

Stop talking about the stupid baby! I'm sick of baby, baby, baby!

Hmmm. Difficult to tell which one the baby was in that family,

when "big sister" is throwing her toys out of the pram like that!

But, in the end she went to live with them.

I wonder how it's working out.

Imagine having Justine Littlewood as your big sister.

They're probably fine. I bet they share dummies and everything.

The truth is, being a big sister isn't easy,

even for someone like me.

I don't actually have a brother or a sister of my own.

But when Lily moved in, I got a ready made sister overnight.

Problem was, Lily had practice at being a sister.

And I had to learn it all as I went along.

It was great at first. But then it started to dawn on me

that sisters have to share.

Bathrooms, TV remotes and parents.

I know you're really bored, love. Let's do something special today.

Maybe I could go into the Dumping Ground with Tracy?

-Good idea.

-What? Now? I've got to leave five minutes ago!

Moving in with you and Cam has been the best thing in years.

We thought you deserved a break.

Thing is, it was going really well,

and then you just started going really frosty.

I know. I'm sorry.

It was like you were punishing me. But I didn't know what for.

Yeah. I know.

OK, here's the thing. As an adult, I'm mature, sensible

and sorted in pretty much every way.

But when I had to share with Lily, I began to forget how to be grown up.

You're never too old for sisterly jealousy!

Hi, Tracy!

Hi, Tracy!

Hi, Tracy.

Is that my new top?

-Yeah, Cam said you wouldn't mind.

-Not a problem, is it?

No, just don't get paint on it, OK?

One new top. One reluctant lender. One girl in a wheelchair.

One pot of pink paint.

-Hiya.

-Hiya.

-Oh, nice top!

-What you doing?

-I'll leave you to it.

You'll never guess what happened next.

What? Don't you like it?

It's not that, it's just...this is Poppy and Rosie's room.

-Not any more.

-Yeah, but you can't just paint us all out, Carmen.

They don't live here and neither do you!

Yeah, but it still feels like home.

Lily, it was your choice to leave so don't have a go at me!

-Look what you did!

-Oops.

-It's Tracy's, it's brand new!

-It'll come out.

-You stupid mare!

I thought my luck had changed. I thought I had this new start.

And then it started going horribly wrong.

You was being off with me. And then, Carmen wrecks your new top.

I had to put things right.

-Are you sure it'll work?

-100 per cent!

Maybe use a bit more water. Oh, nightmare!

-Why's it done that?

-Don't do it again!

-She's so going to kill me!

-Nah, she'll probably laugh.

-You're joking!

-It's only Tracy.

Yeah, but she's been acting weird with me, lately.

-Oh?

-I'm not sure she likes me being at Cam's.

-Why?

-I don't know. I really don't.

It's like...she hasn't got time for me.

You made things so much worse! Why didn't you just tell me?

You was in a mood with me. You'd go ballistic

if you found out I'd wrecked your top! I had to try and cover it up!

Is that my top?!

-You just go into my room and help yourself?

-Yeah.

-And then trashed it?!

-It was an accident!

-We were washing it.

-I don't want to hear it!

Don't have a go! She's moved into your flat and you're never there.

She's all on her own, and you just want to go to work

so you can buy new clothes.

Carmen was right. So I thought about what she said,

and took a good look at myself and my behaviour.

Being a big sister turned out to be difficult.

So I decided to try a bit harder.

Look, Lily, I have been keeping out of your way.

-Why?

-Because...this is going to sound so stupid,

but there's no other way.

-I was jealous. It's always been just me and Cam here.

-Oh, come here!

-Sorry.

-Sorry about your top, too.

Don't worry about it. I know you didn't mean anything bad by it.

I kind of did, though.

I thought if you were angry you might notice me.

Well, you got that right! Trouble is,

I've had no practice at being a sister.

But I think I'm getting the hang of it.

So, I messed up my first chance to be a big sister.

But I learned from my mistakes.

If you can do the same, things will usually work out OK in the end.

So what's the low-down on brothers and sisters

to upload into my Survival Files?

Sometimes siblings can be annoying, sometimes they can be brilliant.

They can be both at the same time. Ask Johnny and Tee.

Love them or hate them,

there's no denying it's a relationship like no other.

The way the Wellards look out for each other is proof of that.

When brothers and sisters fall out, it can be massive,

like with Bouncer and Lol. That sort of thing happens pretty often.

Because when brothers and sisters are close, they can be competitive.

In fact, it happens so often it has its own name...sibling rivalry.

But your siblings are there for the long run,

so it's worth making up.

It's great to have someone who really knows you,

and who'll always be there for you,

especially in a place like the Dumping Ground.

So that's the Beaker guide to brothers and sisters

safely uploaded to the Tracy Beaker Survival Files.

More gems of wisdom next time.

Another session of unmissable advice from big sister Tracy.

Remember, I've been through this so you don't have to.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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