The Silver Lining by Pixie Mary-Jade
Chapter One: Hope You're Invited
Alice sat at the desk waiting impatiently for the customer to finish. The annoying woman had entered the store babbling about God knows what. Alice politely nodded to the woman's tales but in her mind all Alice could think about was her troubles.
Alice Mary Brandon, at seventeen years old, was a budding fashion designer and night after night had dreamed about the celebrity clients she would have. She had carelessly spent all her money on the now struggling clothes store, Trends. Hoping to place a man into her perfectly planned future Alice became involved with James. In spite of her friend's warnings of James and his player ways Alice still continued her relationship with the drop em and leave em guy.
Now as a single twenty three year old mother, Alice struggles to meet her daily needs as well as the needs of her five year old daughter Mary-Kate.
"Oh, my husband Stan would just love me in this dress!" The woman squealed. She showed Alice a skin tight leopard print dress and shook it in Alice's face. Alice annoyingly rolled her eyes and reminded the woman that they were five minutes to closing time.
"If you want you can come back tomorrow." Alice offered.
She quickly declined. "Oh no! Haven't you been listening dear?" Alice quietly muttered a no as the woman droned on. "I don't live here. Besides Stan would just hate it if we had to stay one more day in this God forsaken town. Really dear I don't know how you stand it here in Forks. Since the day I arrived I haven't seen one single ray of sunshine. Not one! Anyway you can go ahead and cash those two shirts and this dress please."
As soon as the woman left, Alice gathered her things, locked up the store and headed down the streets towards her apartment two blocks away. As she turned down her street Alice silently thanked God for another day of health for both her and her daughter and even though Alice was a bit down now she still knew they were many persons a lot worse.
Alice rapped on her apartment door and immediately Mary-Kate rapped her arms around her mother. Alice smiled ad picked up the light of her world.
"How are you today sweet heart?" she asked as she sat down on the solitary couch.
"I'm fine. What did you do?"
"The same thing I do everyday Mary-Kate."
"Why? Isn't that boring? You should try doing something else."
Alice smiled, looked at her daughter and answered, "If only I could." Changing the topic Alice told Mary-Kate to call Mrs. Mabel, her babysitter and also another tenant in the building. No doubt the woman was baking another one of her famous chocolate cakes.
Mary-Kate ran to the kitchen and screamed, "Mrs. Mabel, Mommy's home." But there was no need because there stood Mrs. Mabel holding a tray with three plates with three slices of chocolate cake and tagging behind her was Mary-Kate, back from the kitchen, with a tray of what looked like warm milk.
Just staring at the food made Alice's tummy grumble.
"Hey there young un'. You look tired as hell! Come eat this." The kind woman placed the plate on Alice's lap.
Mary-Kate fitted herself between the two adults and asked, "Can I have mine too? I'm starvin'." They laughed and Mrs. Mabel fixed Mary-Kate properly on the chair before handing her the plate.
"So, how was your day?" Mrs. Mabel asked as she sipped her milk.
Alice sighed and said, "Same as usual. I don't know Mrs. Mabel I think I should-"
Mrs. Mabel hushed Alice and pointed a finger at Mary-Kate. Getting the message Alice took the little girl to the dining room.
"But why do I have to go there? And alone?" Mary-Kate asked.
Mrs. Mabel quickly intervened and said, "Cuz ya have to now git in there quick before I give ya a spankin' fer questionin' yer elders."
Mary-Kate pouted her lip and walked quietly out of the room.
Alice smiled and said, "That line works well. I've got to try it more often."
Alice again sat down and began to eat her cake. "Works every time." Mrs. Mabel replied. "Now what were you about to say sweet ums?"
Alice's eyes watered as she related her problems to the woman. "I-I just don't know what to do Mrs. Mabel. I'm running out of ideas. And Mary-Kate's starting school next year. That's another expense. But I don't have the heart to keep her back. One way or another I've got to get some money."
"What up with the store?"
"It's not doing as well as I thought it would have. To tell the truth Mrs. Mabel nothing went according to plan. I'm twenty-three years old. Right now I pictured myself with the love of my life on the brink of getting married. Not struggling in a run-down apartment, barely able to pay a babysitter."
"Speaking of that girl. Since John died I've been havin' some struggles of my own and….."
Alice didn't need to hear the rest. She already knew what Mrs. Mabel would want. Exactly what the other babysitters had demanded for. More money. Something that Alice just couldn't offer.
"That's ok Mrs. Mabel. I understand what you mean."
"Look Alice girl, I like ya and yer kid but I just can't make ends meet with what yer givin' me." Mrs. Mabel stood and before she walked through the door said, "I truly am sorry Alice bit I can't work here no more."
Mrs. Mabel really did have genuine remorse for the young mom but how would she pay her bills if she stayed? She felt sorry for Alice but she should have stuck to what Mrs. Mable calls, every woman's should be golden rule. 'Keep yer puss in yer pants till he says I do. After that ya can fuck round how much ya want. He's still gonna be minin' them babies.'
Back in the apartment building the tears that had threatened to flow were streaming down her face. Alice quickly wiped them from her eyes as Mary-Kate skipped into the room. Her face filled with chocolate and milk.
"Hi mommy, wat's wong?" Mary-Kate asked as she walked over to her mom. Alice sat Mary-Kate on her lap and said, "Nothing dear. Come let's get you cleaned up and into bed."
When Mary-Kate was tucked into bed and sound asleep Alice sat in the darkness and looked at her daughter wondering how she would be able to stare into her daughter's blue eyes and ever say those words again.