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American Contemporary Fiction

"Can I have some?" The girl held her hands out and smiled, shakily up at me.

"Well, of course," I poured some M&M's into her hands.

We were waiting for the bus, in NYC, at the corner of 5th and 22nd streets. The cars and taxicabs sped by, beeping and honking their horns, at the red light.

It was 10 am, me and my mom were bringing me to a job interview, we had to be there by 10:30, and it was way across town.

Pretty soon, the bus arrived, I waved goodbye to the little girl and got on the bus. It was a shuttlebus so hopefully it would have us there on time.

My mom touched my skirt and said, in a huff, "You should've worn your black skirt, pink looks too unprofessional."

"I like it though!", I retorted.

"Hey, you", I heard a voice from the back. What? My daughter's adoptive mother was in town! Maybe Frita was..

"Priscilla!" I yelled back. We met eyes and smiled. She waved. When the bus came to a stop, I excused self from my mother and went into the back to sit near Priscilla.

"So where's Frita", was my first question.

"Yup", said Prissy, "She's around here somewhere", she laughed. "So how are you", she said then poked me.

"Goin' to a job interview." I grinned.

"It's about time!" Priscilla ventured, but I just laughed it off; I was too excited and happy and proud to get offended at a little thing like that.

"Where at, may I ask", and I answered,

"The day care at The Rosebury Heights!"

"Ooh, I hear that's a good place, they have a good reputation for well- behaved kids, "

"Yes and I was actually invited here, by someone who knew my old friend. He said he left my name recommended as a good person to work with children."

"Oh, well, then take the chance and go for it, girl, right?" Came her enthusiastic response.

"Yea, but I hear some of the other workers can be quite saucy. I hope I fit in, and I don't want any arguments,"

"You'll be fine", she reassured me, the pat my back and I returned to my mother.


"Who was that?" She queried, my mother.

I looked at her, incredulously. "Priscilla? She takes care of my daughter?"

I couldn't believe she wasn't making any connection.

"Oh, you have a daughter?" She smiled, teasing.

"Mom!" I complained.

"Ok, our stop!" My mom led me hand-in-hand to the place of potential employment, and then pushed me up, like a boost, and said, "I'll wait out here."

The next hour would change my life forever.

We went in, me and my fear and apprehension, and sat in the lobby.

Soon, the receptionist waved me up, and said through her nose, glasses perched atop, "Can I help yoou?"

"Um, I'm here as activities coordinator, or trying out for that job, thank you," I politely replied.

"Ok, have a seat, we will be right with you shortly," and then she involuntarily snorted.

I had to laugh, to myself, but I sat down.

Two little toddlers waddled in, their mothers close behind. They were going to the snack machine. "I want soda!"

"You're having juice", was the reply.

I looked up, as a beautiful young person entered the area, but the only thing was, it was my estranged first daughter. My jaw dropped, and all I could muster was a weak wave. She continued as if she didn't see me.

"Class?" I could hear her say, as she let herself into a classroom and shut the door.

I looked down at my folded hands in my lap. Could this be my deceased friend trying to reunite me and my daughter?

I looked around, a feeling of love and bliss coming over me.

I had found my home.

The rest was history, I got the job, started work and relocated, to be closer to this dream job.

Working with the kids became my passion, making them, " be all you can be". We went to the park, did tie- dyes, went horseback riding, and acted out plays and did choreography. This is, outside of the daily curriculum.

Soon, me and my coworker, who was really my daughter, were talking and going for tea.

The Rosebury Heights day care was flourishing, and it was due to the fact, that it was divine intervention that brought me there.

Me and Frita were starting then, too, to get together more often.

When the three of us went to the mall on Valentine's day, that year, I had the best time watching my daughters get to know each other, shyly, at first then more rigorously, we were enjoying each other.

My mom would come stop by my apartment a block away from the day care, and bring me lunches sometimes. She would congratulate me that I was getting closer to my daughters, but would always decline any invitation to join us on an outing.

One day, my mom came over while my daughter was in the shower. She placed the regular apples and cinnamon and peanut butter honey sandwich and orange juice container on the table, then started,

"Who's that in the shower?" She demanded.

"What, mom, it's my daughter," She turned and ran out the door and zoomed off.

Stacey came out and got dressed, and said, "Was that your mom? Why does she do that?", kind of laughing.

"I don't know. " I said then started to pick up an apple.


The next day, Stacey introduced me to her friend Walter. He shook my hand, and he said, "So you're the woman who let this happen." Then he chuckled.

"What, you're pregnant?" I stared in shock at Stacey. She smiled and nodded, and held her belly.

The announcement would be made, at work and a baby shower would ensue. It was almost unreal. Frita once asked me what was all the commotion. I told her her sister would be giving birth. She was also shocked at first, but soon we were all jovial again, with best wishes and intentions. Walter said he would walk her down the aisle, if wished, and he said he would be there for the child.

It seemed like a storybook ending, til we got the news, the couple would be moving to Austria. Walter's family had an estate they were inheriting, courtesy of his late dad.

"Aw," me and Frita spent the week lamenting, sorrowful and disillusioned. Didn't know what would cheer us up, til the director at Rosebury Heights offered my second daughter a job as a cook, and we (took it from there.

The End.



December 09, 2024 04:23

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