Chapter One
I sneak into the lecture theatre, this is where I should be. I sit down in a seat close to the back so I can slip out unnoticed if I need to but no-one ever notices me. I don't go to college, I don't do much of anything except work and look after my sisters Alison who is at school and Kira, who is currently asleep in her carrier on the floor. No-one really notices her and if they do, they just think that its nice she is asleep. It wasn't meant to be like this, I was meant to go to uni and become something but instead I work two jobs just trying to make enough to keep a roof over my head and my 2 other sisters and things for Kira. Mother left us 4 months ago, not long after Kira was born, she went out to get some stuff for Kira and never came back. I should have known something was up, Mum would never do something if she could get me to do. I pretty much did everything, the cleaning, the cooking, the laundry and work so we can live. Mum contributes a bit but she hasn't worked in a while. This wasn't the first time she had left, I was 9, I think, when she first left. She came back after a week or so. It was okay, I mean you know, once I got over the fact that I was alone but I had some food in the house and nobody came to question where my mother was and I was smart, I could take care of myself without anyone's assistance. I basically raised myself as it was. She came back and acted like nothing had happened. Mum was around pretty much all the time after Alison was born except a few days or a week or so at a time. Mum hadn't left for a while before she was pregnant with Kira and Alison and I thought that things had changed but she went more and more frequently for about month, was gone for a few days then a few months later, Mum told us about how she was having another baby and things were going to change this time and she would be stuck home. Nope. She seemed to love the idea of this new baby or at least she was for the first week or two, she did seem to love her and took care of her.
It was harder when Alison was little and I was still in high school but I would call up and say I was sick and have however long it took mum to come home off. I never fell behind, I was pretty much always ahead of the class anyway in most subjects. Alison is in school now so I don't have to worry about her during the day and she does drama class after school or stays back at the library trying to get her grades up a bit so that takes care of her until 5 when I finish work. Kira pretty much just sleeps and eats, I see a look in her eyes and I think that she knows whats going on and is trying to help out anyway she can. I have an hour between my two jobs everyday, I always come to this lecture theatre because it is the science hall and I can't think of a better way to spend my free hour then to listen in on a lecture on anything to do with science. The people bustle in and take their seats. My phone buzzes in my pocket and I pull it out. Its the school ringing me. I slip my bag on my back, pick up the capsule and rush outside as I answer the phone.
"Hello?" I can hear sobbing faintly in the background
"Miss Niehaus, this is Principle Leekie. I'm sorry but we need you to come down to the school. There has been a problem with Alison and we can't seem to get Alison to calm down."
"Okay, I will be there as fast as I can."
"Thank you Miss Niehaus. We are in the office, if you can meet us there."
I rush to my Camry, the best car that I afford, clip Kira's capsule into the car and off we go to Alison's school that is 20 mins away.
We arrive pretty quickly but I have only 15 minutes left of my break between jobs. I grabbed Kira out of the car and race to the office to see my little sister. I open the door to the office and see Alison curled up on one of the chairs in the office with the legs up and arms wrapped around her legs securing them in place. I bend down to Alison's level so that I can look into her red-rimmed eyes with tears threatening to spill at any second.
"Hey, what's going on?" I whisper softly
"It's Mother's day and everyone's mothers came in to have a day of craft and stuff. The other kids kept asking where my mum was and why she wasn't here today." She whispers back to me in an equally soft voice that crackles slightly as she speaks.
"I didn't see anything about it. No notes were sent home." I gaze at her questioningly.
"I took it out of my bag so you wouldn't see. I thought I could handle it."
"It is okay, you don't have to be okay with everything. It's okay to be sad sometimes."
I wrap her in my arms and kiss her hair, Alison snuggles into the cuddle like she always does. Kira makes a disgruntled noise and I realise she is probably feeling a little annoyed at being in her capsule when she isn't asleep or having any attention and she knows she can get out. Kira is remarkably smart for a little baby, she knows things and I think she understands so much more than I realise. I get Kira out of her capsule and settle her in my arms before turning to the principal.
"How much longer of today is Mother's day?" I say as I cradle Kira in my arms.
"The whole day is designated for having the mothers and children today." I mentally curse and frustratedly sigh.
"I have to go to work." I say almost defeatedly to no-one in particular. I can't take the day off work its enough that I take Kira but I can't leave Alison here if she is getting so upset. I don't know what I should do. I don't have long before I have to leave for work if I want to get there, somewhat on time. The door bursts open when a curly blonde haired woman, who is way too good looking, breezes through the doorway.
"Ms Cormier!" Alison instantly perks up and its like nothing has happened and the world is right.
"Bonjour, Alison. How are you? I heard you were a bit upset and wanted to come see if you were alright." She says with a thick french accent. French. Alison looks down and says to her shoes.
"I'm fine." The principal now turned back to me, ignoring the new person in the room.
"Well, Miss Niehaus we are happy for Alison to stay for the day but if she is like this again, I will have to call you to collect her. Is there no way for you to take her?" He said almost condescendingly at me.
"Look, I'm trying the best I can. I have to go to work. She says that she is fine now. I can take her if you want but I would prefer she didn't miss school even though this day is ridiculous." I say defensively to the principal. Kira picking up on my distress, decides to make her presence known as she starts to cry. Alison wraps herself around me and I look at the clock with tears in my eyes now as I try to comfort both my sisters and failing. The principal leaves us with a flippant "Let us know what you decide."I sink down into one of the chairs with both children wrapped around me. Kira slows her crying to a soft little sob/hiccough every few seconds, Alison stands to look at me.
"I know you need to work, I will go back to class." My heart breaks a little for my little sister who has to be bigger than she is. Ms Cormier tentatively walks closer to the three of us huddled together and she speaks softly.
"Désolé but I could help overhearing that you have a bit of a situation. I am the science teacher and since it is Mother's Day, I have no classes to teach and I have finished my paperwork so Alison could stay with me instead of going home."
"Are you sure? I could probably take her with me to work for today." I say looking up at the taller woman who smiles back at me.
"Oui, I am most sure. We will have a good rest of the day and you can go to work as normal."
"Thank you, That is an amazing help, Obvs. Um, Ali are you okay with this?" I turn to Alison and ask.
"Yeah, I like Ms Cormier. It will be fun." She smiles and looks at Ms Cormier who smiles back at her. I adjust Kira who is getting a bit too heavy and rethink me holding her and put her back into her capsule. She goes into her capsule well and I make a mental note to feed her before work. Shit! Work. I totally forgot about work. Crap. I pick Kira and turn to give Ali a kiss on the cheek before leaving.
"Sorry Ali, I gotta go. Have fun with Ms Cormier. Thanks again. I'm going to be late for work." I'm almost out the door when I hear a little voice whisper.
"She is always late." I can hear the smile in her voice but I don't have enough time to spare to go back so I race on to the next job.