Never fall in love with a young thug (Age aint nothing but a number)

Because of you

I sighed loudly as I unpacked my clothes from the suitcase and put them into the dresser drawers.

"So are you going to tell me what happened?" My mother asked.

I hadn't really looked at my mother when I got in her car but now that she was sitting on the same bed as me I stared at her face. Her hair used to be long, black, and shiny but now it was short, gray, and brittle. Her once youthful glowing face was now a glum, wrinkly face. I also noticed that she put on alot of weight. But nevertheless she looked like me.

She smiled uncomfortably. "You've been staring at me for about five minutes. I know I look old,".

"I'm sorry, it's just that you still look just like me," I said.

"So you gon tell me or not?".

I glanced at Zarina lying on the bed, She was sprawled out with a small smile plastered across her face as she slept peacefully. I wondered how she could sleep peacefully after what she saw tonight, then I briefly looked at the clock hanging on the wall. It read 2:35 A.M.

"Mom can we just talk tommorow, I'm tired," I responded.

She stood up from the couch and walked away. "You need a ride somewhere in the morning?".

"Um actually I do, um I need a ride to work," I replied.

"Where you work?" She asked inquisitively.

"Uhh um I uh work at um at um hooters," I said quickly hoping she didn't hear me.

"Hooters? Lord help her," She shook her head in disapproval. I rolled my eyes and got comfortable in the bed. She flicked the light switch off and left the room.

***

It was 7:30 A.M. My mother had to be at work at 8:30. It still felt weird to call her my mother. She talked my ears off the whole way about her being dissapointed in my choice of a job. I basically jumped out of her car when she stopped at Hooters.

"I know you ain't taking her in there?" Mom asked.

"No mom I'm taking her to the daycare next to it," I answered.

"Alright what time you get off?".

"8," I responded as I walked towards the daycare center. She nodded her head and drove off. I put Zarina down and grabbed her little hand. She looked at me.

"Where's Aunty Ali? Where are we?".

"Aunty Ali is busy so you're gonna stay at this daycare. It's really fun you're going to make so many new friends," I replied with a smile. "Come on let's check it out,".

I walked in and Zarina walked in too. A Caucasian woman with blonde and red hair and black lipstick jogged over to where me and Zarina stood.

"Hi, how may I help you?" She asked with a smile on her face.

Zarina gripped my hand tighter.

"Hi, my name is Eva and this is my daughter Zarina, is this a daycare?" I asked skeptically.

"Oh yeah, how old is she?" The woman asked as she smiled brightly at Zarina. I guess she noticed the scared look Zarina was giving her. "You don't have to be scared of me,".

"She's five, how much is it?" I asked. I felt Zarina squeeze my hand even tighter. I pulled my hand from her grip.

"Well it's only $180 a week and she will be with the group of kids from age five to age seven," She said.

"Okay, I get off of work at 8 so I'll just pick her up then?" I asked.

"Yeah sure," the woman nodded.