Adventures in Parenting

X Work X

Kagome was refolding shirts in the junior boys section of JC Penny. That week's latest bubblegum pop song from the newest teen sensation was playing over the store speakers. She'd been hearing it all day and it was seriously grating on her nerves. Glancing quickly at her watch, she groaned. She still had three hours until she could clock out and pick up Shiro from daycare.

"Hey, Kaggie!" Sango, one of her closest coworkers, sing-songed as she sauntered over, weaving between racks of t-shirts and cargo pants.

Kagome smiled up at her in response, still folding shirts. Sango started folding the shirts on the other side of the stand-alone shelves. "So," she began overly cheerful. Kagome just quirked an eyebrow. What was she trying to get at with the chipper attitude and sugary-sweet tone?

"Are you going to the party at Sam's place next Saturday?"

Kagome nearly laughed. Sango was always trying to get her to go out, especially to the employee parties that seemed to take place every other weekend. It'd been going on nearly every week since she started working there and befriended the young woman.

"San, you know I can't. I can't afford a sitter for Shiro at this time of year, much less any time of year. And I'm not bringing him to Sam's house. I know about how wild his parties are. The stories get around."

Sango seemed to pout silently for a few moments. But Kagome knew better. She was just planning out her next tactic to get her out of her apartment and away from her responsibilities as a single mother.

"What about your mom? You know she would die to have Shiro all to herself for one night." Kagome was taken aback. Sango had never tried that one before… And she was surprisingly correct. Her mother had been begging to watch Shiro for a night… or four.

Sighing, Kagome nodded reluctantly. "Okay, fine. You win. I'll call my mom later and see if she'd be up to it." A wide smile spread across her friend's face. "But," Kagome cut her off from her victory dance and cheer of triumph, "I'm not going to go to every party that pops up now because my mom might want to spoil my son for a night. I barely get to spend quality time with him as it is."

Sango looked let down for a second, but her grin quickly came back full-force. "I'm just glad that I'm finally getting you out of the house, you old maid!" she crowed.

"I am not an old maid," Kagome whined, moving over to the racks to hang up clothes in their proper spots. "I'm just a dedicated mother with a six-year-old."

"You need a man," Sango decided firmly with a single nod of her head.

Kagome laughed. "You say that as if it'll solve all of my problems. I had a man. Look what happened: I got another smaller one in return. I'm done with males except for the one I gave birth to."

"Nope, I'm going to get you a new man and prove you wrong, Kags," Sango said with finality.

"Ha! That'll be the day," Kagome scoffed.

"Hey, you said the same thing when I decided I'd get you to a party. Guess where you're going in a week?" Sango pointed out with a flat stare.

"That might not even happen if my mom can't watch Shiro –"

"Which won't happen," Sango cut in. "The woman is crazy about the kid."

Kagome laughed in agreement. "She always did want grandchildren."

"Exactly, so you're going to that party. I hope you have something to wear."

Kagome glanced off to the side with a nervous laugh. She didn't have money to spend on party dresses and she really didn't get out much to own one anyway… Sango rolled her eyes, knowing that her friend didn't. "Whatever, I probably have something that you can borrow. We're about the same size anyway."

"Thanks, Sango," Kagome said softly.

She just waved it away. "It's just a dress, Kagome. But you can't tell me no on my choice for you; you'll wear what I give you and you'll like it."

Kagome shook her head. "No, not for the dress. Thanks for being a good friend and pushing this. I probably do need some time for myself that doesn't involve sleep or work."

Sango beamed brightly at her. "Oh, no problem! Everyone deserves to party it up every once in a while. You especially, Ms. Mama. You'll wear yourself out if you don't let loose and have a little fun."

Kagome just laughed and turned back to her work. Sango hung around for a bit before heading back to her register on the floor below with a wave. "I'll call you and pick you up," she called back as she trotted over to the escalator. "We can get ready at my place, yeah?"

Kagome just nodded and waved her off. Sighing softly, she shook her head with a small smile tilting the corners of her lips upward. Maybe a night out would do her some good… Glancing down at her watch once more, her smile grew. Only two and a half more hours...

And there's number five. There's not much to say really. But my break ends soon, so the speed of the past few updates aren't going to be the norm for the future of this story. – Hope