Chapter 2

"Hey babes. There's something you should know. I'm dirt poor and won't be able to enter into the college with you this year like we agreed. "I pause then shake my head at my reflection in Mr Desmond's beat up truck just beside our house. I do this almost every day as I stroll home from school. I debate about telling Dawn the truth about me. Would she accept that we are from different social class?

I've been lying to her for the past five years we've known each other. Plus no one deserves a dirt poor bastard child, I screw my face at my reflection as self loathe begin to make my skin crawl.

I'm poor, I'm a bastard, my mom doesn't do anything other than drink and feel sorry for herself. I hate my life, I want to be able to make things better for Dawn and mother...

"You are going to mess up my mirror kid," Mr Desmond's deep voice brought me out of my deep thoughts and I quickly backed off from his car with my hands held up.

"Sorry sir, was just wiping some bird poop", I mumble.

No one messes with Mr Desmond's car in this neighborhood, he heads the deadliest gang in this area and just annoying him could mean dying in your own hands..

I watched him with bated breath as he eye me up and down. "You know what kid?" he asks.. "I like you, you know your place and looks like you could make things happen for yourself".

He continues when I didn't answer the rhetorical question.

"Can I leave?" I was tempted ask that but I just nodded like a dummy. Mr Desmond having an interest in a boy of my age is never a good news.

"Here," he push some cash into my palm as he walked towards his car to enter it. I was about to turn down his cash when he starts the car.

"It's for wiping the shit off my truck, call me if you need anything", he said before driving off.

"What just happened?.. I should call him for help?.. so he will involve me in something illegal? No I must avoid Mr Desmond at all costs".

I was tempted to throw the cash away "but it will come in handy one day", I said to myself.

"Mom, I'm back", I called out as I push our wooden door open.

It's doesn't take long to get my shoes off before i hurried towards the kitchen, I'm famished.

The house is eerily quiet as I move through the living room to the kitchen. I met only plates in the sink. All the pots are empty, my stomach growls in protest.

This isn't the first time am meeting such but I still feel like ripping someone's head off every time, that someone being my shitty dad.

"Mom, there's no food in the kitchen," I said quietly when I heard something behind me.

I heard her mutter and clutching a bottle of wine hard, so I turned to look at her, her eyes are bloodshot and she looks pale.

"I see you didn't forget to get your drink though", I spoke to her.

"Am sorry son, you don't deserve a mother like me, I just feel so bad you know?, after that witch came over yesterday and tore your application form, I just stood there helpless, I just felt like I needed this drink badly" mom said.

"But mom is this drink suppose to make you feel helpful?" I mutter.

"Do you know I called your father this morning, he couldn't pick up, am sure if I talk to him, he will give you the scholarship, I am very sure that the witch he married is diverting my calls", She said without answering my previous question.

"Mom, dad doesn't want to speak to you, he could have been here with us if actually he really cares about us", I tried to grab the bottle from her but she pushed me away from her.

"Don't say that"!! she screamed as she throw the bottle against the kitchen wall. The sudden sound of glass hitting the wall beside me was followed by her sobbing.

"He loves me , he'll come if I talk to him", she sobs.

I know the drill, when she gets like this, all I can do is agree with her.

"You're right mom, maybe he'll come tomorrow so why don't you sleep now so you can look pretty for him tomorrow", I told her and she smiled.

"You're right I should sleep, he'll be here when I wake up tomorrow you'll see", she said as she walk out of the kitchen.

I waited for her to be out of earshot before I let the sob hanging in my throat out. I clench my hand on the wooden table behind me as I quieten my sobs.

I can't let her hear me, she will be fine when she wakes up, I told myself but I know vividly that my mom needs help.

"I'll be your rock mother, father has abandoned you but I promise I will take care of you," I made this silent promise as I wipe my face of tears. With my resolve toughened, I grabbed two stale of slices bread from the last night's dinner and ate them. I move to my room to change and prepare for my night shift at the supermarket that I work as a part timer.

On getting there, I started my work as the cashier," Thank God am still early, I muttered. As I was attending to customers I saw Dickson my childhood friend.

"Smallie what's up" I rolled my eyes as Dickson holler at me from the supermarket's entrance.

I hid my smile as I help a customer bag her purchases.

"Thanks for shopping with us ma'am," I said as I handed her purchases to her. She gave me a polite nod as she walks out of the supermarket...

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