I trudge down the stair and into the kitchen, some of the girls are already there or have just gotten home. "So what have we discovered Theresa?" A woman says acrylics taping on her mug of coffee. "Fuck off Steph.." I say as I pour my sweet nectar of the gods into my cup. "Are you having it Irish today?" A short girl says from the window leading into the front room. "Nah, I gotta talk to someone's teacher today," I say, taking a sip before turning to the fridge.

A girl with platinum blond hair slowly and quietly opens the door, "Oh no! Not Theresa cooking someone have the fire department on speed dial!" "Shut it Daliha! Why did you just come home?" I say pointing the frying pan at her. "Uhh... I might have maybe fallen asleep in the room.." "Oh no!" the short girl yells, "Did anything happen? Are you okay? How many times do we have to remind you to leave after?" "Woah Woah, Penny one question at a time," Daliha says taking off her heels before sitting on the couch.

I zone out on my cooking. This is my life cooking eggs and sausage for 15 girls and three hungry 5-year-olds. I might not be the best cook but you best believe I'm not letting anyone go hungry on my watch. They will just have to suffer through my cooking today, after all, it's my turn.

"Mama-!" Lyam says, hugging my leg. "Yes, bubba?" I say ruffling his hair and plating the first patch of food in the other. "Are you excited to go to my school today?! I'm gonna show you and Auntie Tania everything!" He says taking a step back and bouncing on his heels excitedly. "Of course Bubba! I'm super excited to see it and you should show me everything but don't you think Shopie should show Auntie Taina around? Don't give me that lip," I say as he pouts, "Wouldn't you be sad if Sophie showed me around instead?" "Yes, Mama.." "See? You should think about how Sophie might feel, I know this time you just got a little excited. Now go eat then get ready with the other kids okay!" I say handing him his special blue plate. "Okay, Mama!!" He says sprinting out to the front room. "Y'know, I will never understand how you, Tania, and Claire handle all this and the weight of being mothers," Steph says, fumbling in the dishwasher for a plate. "And I will never understand how the dishwasher is full when your job is to empty it," I say, putting the final batch of food on the platter. "Yeah.Yeah.Yeah." She says pouring more bourbon into her coffee cup.

"Come on Lyam!! You have to wear your jacket, it's cold!!" I yell at him. I swear there is no struggle like getting this boy to wear a jacket over his favorite dino-car shirt. "NO! I don't wanna. It's not raining so why should I?!" He says that signature pout back on his face. "Because I-'' Tania puts a hand on my shoulder, having already won the great battle with Sophie and Jackson. "Hey, Lyam? Here's the deal," she says crouching down to be on his level, "You can either wear the jacket or you'll have to stay here and Jackson will show your mom around since Auntie Claire has to stay here," Immediately Lyam's face pails and he rushes over to put on his jacket. "God, I will never understand how you do the 'gentle parenting' thing?!" Claire says messing with the cast on her right arm. "It's all about patience." "Which you have an abundance of Tania," I say zipping up Lyam's jacket for him. 

"Alright, Jacky listen to Auntie Tania and Theresa okay?" Claire says walking towards her sulking son before crouching down in front of him. "Yes, mom..." Claire takes his face gingerly in her good hand "Y'know I would go with but-" "Daddy's hurt so you are hurt too," Jackson says, melting into his mother's touch. "That's right buddy. I love you, okay?" She says pulling him into as much as a hug you can give with one busted arm. "I love you too mom!" "Don't fret too much, Clarie. We'll take good care of him." Tania says, putting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Yeah," Sophie announces joining in on the hugging "Lyam and I will take good care of him at school after Ma and Auntie leave!" Lyam sprints to join in as well, careful of Claire's bad arm. "Mhm! Don't worry Auntie Claire! No one will mess with him when we're around!" Claire sniffles under the pile of tiny arms and tight baby hugs "You guys are the best! My favorite boys and girl!" Clair says before Jackson wipes his crying mother's eyes. 

I grab the keys from the table next to the door. "Alright enough with the tears! Autobots!!!" I yell as I open the door for the kids to run through and To the beat-up van. "ROLL OUT!!" They all happily yell pulling up their hoods. "Haha, I will never understand how those old shows and movies keep them so entertained," Tania laughs as she closes the door behind the chaos. "I don't have the slightest idea but hey whatever works, works," I say opening the van door so the kids can pile in. Rembrandt Elementary is a small school only a few miles from the house and several miles from the district, but it's one of the better ones around here. "Alright kiddos everyone line up on my side of the van! Antie Theresa and I need to talk for a second, adult stuff it's no fun," Tania says as we pull into a spot. The kids pile out and Tania looks over at me before digging through her purse. 

"What is it Tania? Are you alright?" Tania pulls a plaster out of her bag, "Girl you had such bad anxiety that you didn't notice the cut on your cheek." She says giving me the plaster and watching the kids from her side mirror. "Are you kidding me! What is with this soulmate!? I swear, if it's not a new bruise, it's a bunch of cuts! What are they some kind of wrestler!" I say putting on the plaster and rummaging for my foundation to blend it into my skin. "Wrestlers aren't known for getting scratched up. Maybe he's a boxer?" Taina says giggling and getting out of the car. "Yeah Yeah! Whatever they are it's running up my makeup bill!!" I say fumbling to put everything in my purse and get out of the car. 

"Alright, kids! You've got a little over 15 minutes to show us around before the bell rings." Tania says looking at her watch. "Yes!!" And the kids go off sprinting, surprisingly fast on those baby legs. "Aw! Come on kids!! You know Auntie Tania hates running!!" She yells at them as we start ruining after the three troublemakers. "Hahaha! How would we ever stay in shape without them!" The kids are little balls of laughter and giggles as we chase after them. "Oh, I can think of a few hundred ways!!" 

After 15 minutes of the kiddos running around like chickens with their heads cut off, the school bell finally rings so Tania and I make our way to the front office. "How can I help you two?" One of the front office attendants asks from behind a desk. "Hi! I was called yesterday and told I had to come in for some paperwork. My name is Theresa Redmond and my son is Lyam, spelled L-Y-A-M, same last name." Her nails clack against a phone next to her. "Any you?" she asks looking through the tops of her glasses. "Oh! I'm Tania LePratt, my daughters Sophie. We carpool so Im not here for anything, more for moral support." Tania says sitting down on, what must be the most uncomfortable, chairs lining the wall. "Tch okay," the lady scoffs, making Tania glare at her. "Hi Mr. Parennin, I have Theresa Redmond out here for you. She says she was asked to come in for paperwork." The lady says into the phone before hanging up. "You'll have to wait a bit till Mr. Parennin is ready for you." "Alright, can I have an eta for when hell be ready?" I ask walking to sit next to Tania. "I don't know! Maybe 15 minutes is that good enough for you?" She snaps.

"God!" Tania whispers to me "Have you ever met someone who screams ' I haven't been dicked down in a long time' more in your entire time in the district?!" I have to stifle my laugh. "If anything I think the people in the district get 'dicked down' too often?!?! I've defiantly met men who need pussy that much before," Tania barks out a laugh. The desk worker glares and obnoxiously clears her throat. "Sorry!" Tania says before quieting down, "Do you think this 'meeting' is about the same thing that I got called in for?" I slouch into the, definitely, uncomfortable seats. "Probably... I hoped it would just fly under the radar for a few more years..." "Yea... Too bad at least when it's Claire's turn we'll have this down to a science!" Tania jokes trying to lighten the mood. "Yeah, I guess it was bound to happen with no other parent to be seen." "Mrs. Redmond? Principal Parennin is ready to see you. Sorry I kept you waiting for so long" A much nicer woman, probably the vice principal, says. "Of it perfectly fine. Wish me luck!" I say following the woman to Principle Parennin's office.

The kind woman opens the door and I walk in. "Thank you for coming, Mrs. Redmond," Principal Parennin says standing up to shake my hand. "Of course Mr. Parennin! Hopefully, we can fix whatever mistakes were made without much complication." I say as I shake his hand and sit down in front of his desk in a, much more comfortable, chair. "That's the goal my dear and Please just call me Charles." He takes his seat pulling out some papers from a drawer. "Sure thang Charles," I say putting my purse on the floor I really should have left it with Tania but oh well. "Now, Lyam's a great kid. Good grades, is helpful in class, plays well with all the other kids, and not a single complaint from any teachers. He's even come in on a rainy day during his dresses to help out!" 

"That's my boy! I really do my best to raise that little man. I'm glad to see he acts that way even when I'm not around to see it! He's my pride and joy!" Charles stifles a laugh, "It's good to see a mother take such pride in her child. Lyam really is an exemplary student Mrs. Redmond." He leans forward in his chair, hands folded up under his chin and the kind smile wiped off his face like it was never there in the first place. Instead, a cruel smile like a hunter facing its prey head-on. "It must be tiring raising him and working in the places you do? And with no soulmate or family in sight.."

"Thank you Mrs Redmond! I'm glad we Could work this little filing mistake, out!" Charles says as he opens the door for me to leave. "Of course use! Anytime, let me know if anything else needs to be corrected." I say walking to Taina. "Mhm! Hopefully, this is the last time!" He says going back into his office. Tania looks at me worried. "Come on Tania! That office can barely work without us!" I say signaling her that we need to leave right now. "Sure! Am I driving this time?" "Yes, please!" I say as we walk out of the office's entrance. "What happened?! I thought you just had to explain the whole 'no soulmate but this is still my kid' thing!"Tania says as we speed walk our asses back to the van.

I throw open the passenger side door before throwing myself in. "He fucking found out, Tania!!"I yell as her face pales and the van studders to life. "What!! How!! Which! Is it gonna affect Lyam?" She asks her voice going soft. "His friends bachelor party was Saturday... He saw me at the club.. Tania h-he.. I had too! He was gonna have Lyam expelled!" I start to fall apart in the car as we pull out on to the freeway. "Hold on T.. We'll talk about it at home.. I know you did what you had too... No one's gonna think anything less of you for it." The car ride back to the red light district was frighteningly quite.