My day was always so much brighter when Alesha and Lilly called past. They were sisters and were hilarious. They were a little younger than me, but we got on like we had been friends for years. They had asked me out a few times to nightclubs or coffee, but I always had to decline. For a few reasons it would never be an option for me. Firstly, the kids. I struggled to get them looked after and, the truth be known, I didn’t like to leave them.
The second was my budget, which would never allow me a night out on the town. I didn't have the wardrobe to blend in with the girls, either. They were stunning and high-class, although they acted as down to earth as me. They even offered to have the kids looked after by their Mom once when she was in town as she travelled a lot with their Dad, but I declined. I didn’t know their mother and, although I was sure she would be fantastic just like them, I didn’t feel comfortable with it. One of my worst traits was not being able to trust people. Life had turned me that way, but it had saved me too many times to ignore the instinct.
“Hi Em, how is your day going today with the wicked witch?” Lilly whispered in a low voice as she leaned over the counter. Alesha giggled out loud while I shook my head and laughed.
“Same old, same old, Lilly. Got the death stare this morning, but I made it by one minute, so she couldn’t say anything. She already told me last week I was on my last warning. I ran so fast from the school, I was sweating by the time I got here. Lucky, she wasn’t standing near me, she would probably fire me because I didn’t smell good. I waited until she went to the tea room to get her coffee and quickly sprayed the nearest perfume all over me to hide the smell. That is twice today my body was not smelling pleasant from the kids!”
“Did Sammy wet the bed again?” Alesha gave me sad eyes as she looked up from the eyeshadow pallets.
“Yep. It is nearly every night, but it sucks when it’s in my bed and I end up covered in his pee. That is not the ideal way to wake up in the morning.” I mean, don’t get me wrong. What I wouldn’t give to wake up with a male in my bed in the morning, but definitely not my son!
“I wish there was something we could do to help you all, Em. How about on the weekend we all go to the park, cheer up the kids and get ice-cream when we are finished? Would the kids like that and meeting us? Because we would love to finally meet them!” Lilly was almost begging me to say yes.
“Why would two young party girls want to hang out at the park with two seven-year old’s and their old spinster mother? Don’t get me wrong, they would love it and I would like the company. I just don’t want to take up your time and bore you with a play date.” My mind was feeling a little excited that maybe, after all these years of being in the city, I was finally making a couple of close friends. I was trying not to get my hopes up and was offering them an out so that they could change their minds after just being polite.
“Are you for real?” they echoed at the same time. “Of course, we want to meet them and spend time with you all. We can’t get you to come out with us, so the next best thing is to go on a play date.” Lilly stared so hard into my soul with her forceful eyes that I didn’t dare say no. I lightly nodded and they both gave a little squeal of joy. I held my breath and wondered what I had gotten myself into. We exchanged phone numbers, so we could organize it during the week.
While we were chatting, a call got put through to my counter. “Can you girls just hang on two seconds while I take this?” They smiled while I lifted the receiver.
“Hi Emily, sorry. It’s Patricia from the office at the school. We have Sophia in the sick bay because she feels like she is going to be sick and has pains in her tummy. She was crying a little and asked us to ring you. Samuel is with her because he wouldn’t let her be on her own. He said it was his job to look after her. Can you please come and pick them up? We have a virus going around the school and don’t have room in sick bay for them to stay there.” Shit, shit, shit. How was I going to get bitch face to let me go early to pick them up? This was going to be a disaster.
“Okay, thanks Patricia. Tell them I will be there as soon as I can.”
“What’s wrong, Emily, you look like you just got bad news? Are you ok?”
“Oh girls, I don’t think I can take much more of this. That was the school. Sophia is sick, and I need to pick them up. Samuel is being the protective big brother.” They both knew what this meant.
“Alesha, you stay here with Emily and I will go and butter up the devil a bit, get her in a good mood. Buzz her phone in two minutes to come over. Let’s see if we can pull this off!” Lilly marched over to the cashier’s counter with her eyeshadow and I could see her chatting to my manager, laughing that fake laugh while she threw compliments at her.
I looked at Alesha and said, “Wish me luck,” then picked up the phone to buzz the cashier desk.
As her eyes meet mine, the wicked witch told me she would be here in a minute. My heart pounded as I saw her round the counter and start towards me with Lilly in tow.
“What is it, Emily? What is so important?”
“I’m really sorry, but I just got a call from the school and I have to leave. The kids are sick, and I have to pick them up.” My knees shook as I watched the redness crawl up her face and her eyes get wider.
“I am sorry, Emily, but you can’t leave. That is not a good enough reason.”
What the hell was she talking about - not a good enough reason? Who the hell did she think she was? My blood pressure started roaring up so high that I could hear it pulsing through my ears.
“Pardon me, what did you just say? Did you just say my children who are sick are not important enough for me to take time off and go to them?” Alesha placed her hand on my back to help me stay calm and show her support, but it wasn’t working.
“How dare you.” My voice was now raising up a few octaves because nobody ever makes a remark about my children. It just resulted in me coming out of my corner swinging.
“I suggest you lower your voice, Emily, and listen to what I tell you. If you want to keep your job, you will call the school and tell them that you will be there at the normal time to pick up the children. They will let you know if they get any worse.” She stood there with her arms crossed, exerting her power in her body language.
“I will not lower my voice. As I said, my children are unwell, and I will be leaving now to go pick them up and take them home. I will let you know if they are well enough for me to return to work tomorrow.” I ground my teeth together, trying to keep a lid on the aggression which was just about to let loose. I turned to head towards the locker room to get my bag.
“Stop right there, Emily. If you leave work today, you will not be required for work tomorrow or any other day. You have been issued several warnings and this is your last. By taking time off today, you will be dismissed without any notice.”
I stopped but didn’t bother to turn and face her. “I will clear out my locker and leave in five minutes. I will be writing to your boss to explain why you felt the need to relieve me of my job, as well as the union and the media. Nobody tells me to put anything before my children. They are my world.” I stomped off without even looking around.
I threw open the door to the locker room and it hit the wall with a loud bang. I slumped down on the stool and put my head in my hands.