Beck sat at his table grading papers, he heard a knock on the door. Sighing Beck stood up walking over to the door and opened it.
Beck: Where have you been?
Jade walked in past Beck, he closed the door after her.
Jade: Handling business.
Beck: I left your place hours ago, you know I have school in the morning.
Jade: Who cares, I'm here aren't I?
Beck: Yeah, late as hell. It's after ten.
Jade: Just get the kids so I can go home. I'm tired.
Beck: Is that man still there?
Jade: Zeek? No he's not there.
Beck: I don't want my kids around him.
Jade: I don't care what you want, it's my house and if I want him there, he's there.
Beck: If he's being violent I don't-
Jade: You know what? I'll go get them. Move.
Jade pushed past Beck rushing to his bedroom, he quickly followed behind. Jade walked in the room turning on the lights, she walked over to the bed of sleeping toddlers.
Jade: Get up. You. Wake up. Everybody up.
Jade roughly shook the toddlers awake Beck shoved her hands away.
Jade: Don't touch me!
Beck: Why are you being so rough with them?
Jade: I'm waking them up.
Beck: I could have carried them out, you didn't have to break their sleep.
Jade: Too late. Come on, we're leaving.
Jade yanked each kid off the bed onto the floor.
Jade: Where is their bag?
Beck handed it to Jade, she snatched it.
Beck: Let me put their shoes on.
Beck grabbed the toddlers' shoes from his closet.
Jade: Those aren't their shoes.
Beck: I bought these.
Jade: Where are the shoes they left my house wearing?
Beck: In the bag, those shoes are worn out.
Jade: I spent money on those shoes and they are going to wear them.
After Beck finished putting the kids' shoes on, Jade left Beck's apartment with them. Her car only seats five, Jade sat the five toddlers in the back seat not bothering to try strapping them in seatbelts. When Jade arrived home she and the kids walked inside. The toddlers shivered.
Jade: (sighs) Don't tell me they cut the electricity off.
Jade walked over to a light switch and flicked it up and down.
Jade: I guess when they say final notice, they mean it.
The toddlers stood shivering with their arms folded.
Cat: Mommy? I cold.
Jade: Aren't we all? Go to bed.
The small toddlers stood in the same spot shivering.
Jade: Did you hear what I said? Go to bed.
Andre: But its dark.
Robbie: I can't see.
Jade: I don't have the patience for this.
Using both hands, Jade grabbed the toddlers arms, pulling them along as she stomped to their room throwing them in.
Jade: Go to bed.
Jade slammed the door shut. She pulled her phone from out her pocket and dialed a number.
Jade: Hey, you need anything? My lights and heat are out and I could use some extra money.
/ / / / / / / / / / /
The next morning:
Beck was sitting in his classroom, the school bell rang, within seconds students filled the room sitting at desks.
Beck: Good morning everyone. You can start on your bell work. I have to make a quick phone call.
Beck stood up from his desk and left the room. He dialed his mother's number.
Carolyn: Good morning Beckett.
Beck: Mom, I need you to do me a favor.
Carolyn: Sure, what is it?
Beck: I need you to go over to Jade's and check on my kids, please.
Carolyn: Beck, I, uh, I don't like the neighborhood.
Beck: Mom, please. I had trouble sleeping last night. I need to know if they're okay.
The desperation in Beck's voice convinced Carolyn.
Carolyn: (sighs) Okay. I'll go after I leave the bank.
Beck: Thanks mom. I have to go, my class is getting rowdy.
At Jade's House:
The sunlight shining into the window awakened Jade. She turned over feeling someone, her eyes opened wide.
Jade: Oh gosh!
Jade sat up in bed throwing the blanket off her, she grabbed her robe putting it on.
Jade: You have to leave. Now!
Jade got out of bed pulling the half sleep man up. She grabbed his clothes off the floor throwing them at him.
Jade: Come on, hurry up.
Jade pulled the man out from her room to the front door, she opened the door and pushed the man out slamming the door in his face. She sat on the couch counting her money.
Jade: Damn. It's still not enough. I'm a hundred dollars short.
Jade ran her fingers through her hair sighing, she rested her face in her hands.
Jade: How am I gonna do this?
Jade heard a door open followed by tiny footsteps, she looked up to see the group of toddlers standing in front of her sucking on their pacifiers.
Jade: Ugh! I don't want to be bothered today.
The toddlers stared innocently at Jade, Jade stood up walking to the kitchen. The curious toddlers followed.
Jade: I'm going to give you breakfast, after that, don't bother me for the rest of the day.
Andre: Look, look.
Jade: What?
Andre: Can this come off, this no diaper.
Jade: Take it off.
The toddlers did as Jade instructed and took off their nightly pull ups. Jade picked up the used pull ups and threw them in the trash. Jade didn't bother instructing her toddlers on putting on new underwear, instead she pointed to a table.
Jade: Sit.
The toddlers sat at their small table Beck had bought for their third birthday. It was a small table seated for five, just perfect for toddlers. Jade sat a bowl of cereal in front of each child before leaving the kitchen.
Tori: Why mommy so mean today?
Cat: Her need a nap.
Andre: (nods)I think she went to her bed to sleep.
Robbie: I'm still cold.
Trina: Why is it so cold?
Robbie: My milk. I don't have milk.
Robbie sat confused, he stirred his dry cereal with a spoon. The other toddlers did the same.
Tori: Where's the milk?
While the confused toddlers were eating their dry cereal, Jade had finished getting dressed and was in their room.
Jade: Yes, this is perfect.
Jade smiled as she held a shoe in the air.
Jade: I can sell each pair for twenty and make a hundred bucks.
Jade picked up the tiny shoes and carried them to the living room dropping the shoes on the floor.
Jade: He thinks he's better than me, buying them shoes. I'll show him.
Jade sat on the couch recounting her money, she heard a car door slam, seconds later banging was heard from the door.
Jade: Shit.
Jade looked around the small house and decided to hide the cash in her bra.
Zeek: Jade! Open up, now!
Jade walked over to the door and opened it, Zeek nearly fell in.
Jade: You're gonna break down my door.
Zeek: Well that wouldn't happen if you would give me a key.
Jade: What are you here for?
Zeek: My car needs to be fixed.
Jade: Okay, so?
Jade pulled up her shirt.
Zeek: Give me two hundred bucks.
Jade: (sighs) Zeek, I don't have any money and-
Zeek: Where is it Jade?
Jade: I don't have any money Zeek! Can't you notice my lights and heat are out!
Andre: Uh oh. He's here.
Cat: Him so mean and scary.
The toddlers got up from the table peeking from behind the wall to the living room.
Zeek: What about your tips?
Jade: That was two days ago, and you took it.
Jade pulled up her shirt rolling her eyes at Zeek.
Zeek: Why don't you ever have any money?
Jade: Because you always take it!
Jade pulled up her shirt again, Zeek grabbed her arms.
Zeek: What's wrong with your shirt Jade?
Jade: Nothing! Let, go, of, me!
Jade struggled trying to break from Zeek's grip, he reached into her shirt pulling out money from her bra.
Zeek: You're getting creative with your hiding places.
Jade: Zeek, I need that money to pay my light bill.
Zeek: I need it to fix my car.
Zeek pushed Jade away, she stumbled almost falling to the floor.
Zeek: You liar.
Jade angrily walked over to Zeek as he was counting the money trying to take it from him.
Zeek: Wow, just the right amount. Thanks babe.
Zeek started walking towards the door, Jade stopped him grabbing his arm.
Jade: Give it back, I need to pay my bill.
Zeek: Get off me.
Zeek shrugged Jade off him as he opened the door.
Zeek: And next time when I ask for some money, give it to me!
Zeek walked out the house slamming the door shut. Jade reopened the door looking out.
Jade: YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!
Jade slammed the door shut, she stomped around the house as she grabbed her shoes putting them on.
Tori: Mommy, I finished all my cereal.
Jade pushed Tori aside knocking her down.
Jade: Get out of my way.
Tori: Owie.
The toddlers watched as Jade put her coat on, she grabbed their new shoes from the floor walking to the door.
Andre: Are we going bye-bye?
Jade: (sighs) Go to your room.
The toddlers stood confused.
Jade: Now! Go!
Robbie: (points) My shoes.
Jade: These aren't your shoes. Now go to your room.
/ / / / / / / / / /
Thanks for reading, more to come.
Thanks for the reviews on the first chapter. I appreciate the feedback.
For those who may think Jade's being too harsh, well, that's part of my story. Please do not complain about it, don't read if it bothers you. I did put a warning in my AN.