Just responding to some of my reviews here… I know the pairing I have chosen for my story isn't what anyone else would expect, but I explained already that it is how we did it in a roleplay, and it also has never been done. Don't bash my creativity. Please and thank you.
Chapter 3:
She pushed the memory of what happened that night to the back of her mind. She didn't want to think about it. She knew that she didn't need him. The man wasn't her type anyway. Plus she was drunk. The only good thing about it was Ricky, and that is all she cared about.
The next morning, Ricky woke up and smiled brightly at his mother. "Morning, Mommy!" he said, as happy as can be.
"Good morning my sweet boy," she said back, smiling. She loved mornings like this. Just being with her son.
"I didn't have another bad dream, Mommy! You protected me from them!"
"I'm so glad, baby," she said. She thought for a moment. "How about we go shopping today? We will get some food other than pasta for you to eat for once."
He got really excited. "Can we get pancakes with the chocolate in them?"
She smiled a little. "We'll see…"
The two of them walked to the store. Ricky stayed by his mother's side the entire time. Sheila grabbed everything they needed, and realized she didn't have enough money to buy Ricky's pancakes…She grabbed a box and stuffed it in her purse when no one was looking.
Once they were finished shopping, they went to the check out. She acted completely natural the whole time. After she paid for what she could, they walked to the exit. Of course, as soon as they got to the door, the security alarms went off.
Ricky was completely frightened by the sound of the alarms. Sheila panicked and picked up her son before bolting out the door. She ran as fast as she could and as far as she could, but someone was chasing after them, and she wasn't as fast as she used to be.
The man eventually caught up to them and stopped them. He held out a badge…of course he was a cop. That was just her luck.
"I'm sorry…officer. The alarms scared my son and I had to get him home as soon as possible." It was believable, right?
"What's in the bag, miss?"
"…excuse me?"
"Please don't question me. Show me what's in your bag." She sighed and handed him the bag. He looked through it and found the box. "Ma'am, are you well aware that you did not pay for this box of pancakes?"
She had to think quickly. "Did that cashier not ring them up? I knew there was something up with her…"
He did not look convinced. "Yeah…Why don't you tell that to the judge." He started taking her away.
"Wait!...sir….I need to take care of my son!" she yelled as he pushed her and Ricky both into his car.
"This won't take long, miss," he said as he started the car, with the sirens blaring.
Ricky looked terrified. "Mommy?"
"Its okay, Ricky." She held him close the entire ride there. He felt a little more comforted.
Once they make it to the courthouse, the officer leads them inside. She did not let Ricky go. She held him tightly and refused to let him go, even when they told her she wasn't allowed to take the child into court.
She sat with Ricky on her lap. He held on tightly to her and said, "I'm scared." She rubbed his back, and he buried his face in her shoulder and cried.
The court session started, and Sheila was immediately found guilty. That really irritated her. The judge sentenced her to two years in prison, and told her that her son would be placed in foster care.
She wasn't going to have that. She knew she had to fight.
"No! You can't do this! He needs me!" They tried taking him from her, but she would not let him go.
Ricky was completely terrified. He held on to his mother very tightly. "No! NO! MOMMY! What's happening?" he yelled, as they tried getting him away.
"It was just a box of pancakes! Can't you give me a break! The poor kid was starving!" She actually had tears in her eyes and held her son tightly.
The judge glared at her. "Well it certainly doesn't hold up to your record Miss Go! Not to mention that you've escaped from prison hundreds of times already! Take the boy away!"
Ricky reached his little arms out towards his mother as cops pulled her away in handcuffs.
Sheila wasn't giving up. She kept fighting. "Isn't there some other way! I swear I've changed! I just don't have any money to take care of myself or my son. I was stealing for a good reason. I promise I've changed! Give me another chance!"
"And why should we, Miss Go? Besides...don't you still have money from the many other times you've stolen?"
"I don't. I have spent every cent I have on my son...to keep him healthy and alive. I can prove I've changed," she cried.
Everyone in the jury looked rather suspicious…as did the judge. "How?" he asked.
"Having Ricky has made me want to be better. I would give my LIFE to protect him. Haven't you noticed I haven't been in trouble in almost 5 years! This is the first thing and it was stealing food for my baby..."
Almost all of the jury believed her and some even started to cry at her words, though the judge still was not convinced. "Uh huh...and yet, why would you manage to steal pancake mix when you certainly couldn't afford it? And if you ask me, pancakes aren't exactly the healthiest one can feed their child..."
She sighed. "It's what he wanted for breakfast...he's barely eaten in two days. Dinner last night was all he's had. I didn't eat any so that I knew he had enough...I've honestly tried getting a job. I don't want my old job...and no one will hire me."
The judge thought long and hard about what she said. Eventually he nodded to the cops who released her. "You are free to go. We are giving you one last chance Miss Go...and try not to mess it up again… To think you used to do so much good with your brothers..."
She was extremely relieved. "You won't regret this. I promise."
The other two cops let Ricky go, and he ran as fast as he could into his mother's arms. She held him very tightly. She was so scared that she almost lost him for good. "I am so sorry, baby. Mommy will never do anything to let them take you away again!" She kissed his face many times.
He hugged her back just as tightly. "Does the bad guy want our pancakes Mommy? Is that why he stealed us away?"
"Yes, baby. I am so sorry. I was only trying to get you what you wanted."
Ricky looked over to the judge. "You can have our pancakes…" He looked back at his mother. "I don't want pancakes, anymore, Mommy. I want you!"
She teared up a little when he said that. "I love you so much, Ricky." She hugged him tighter.
"I love you too, Mommy. Can we go home now?" he asked.
She looked at the judge. "Is there any way we could get a ride home? It's a little cold out and I don't want to make him walk that far."
The judge nodded. "Absolutely." He looked at the cop next to him, who agreed to take them. Then he took the box of pancakes and handed him to Ricky. "Here, my boy. You can't make pancakes without these, now can you?"
Sheila was shocked. "But I thought—"
He smiled. "I've got it covered." Then he looked serious. "But be warned…for if this were ever to happen again…"
"It won't. I swear. I can't risk losing him. I will find a way to make money..." she said.
"Make sure you do."
The cop took them home. When they walked through the door they unpacked their groceries, and started making the pancakes. Ricky helped her with everything he could. Once they were all prepared the two of them sat down together to eat. Sheila even had some for herself. It felt good to finally have some food in her stomach.
Ricky sighed after finishing his plate. "Mommy, my tummy is full."
Hearing him say that brought tears to her eyes. "That makes me really happy, baby."
"Then why are you crying?" he asked her, confused.
"They are happy tears," she said as she wiped the syrup and chocolate from his face.
"You're crying because you are happy?" He still wasn't sure he understood.
"Yes…I am." She kissed his face.
