"I never thought I'd find anything to distract me like this. It's been months since I last did something stupid," Ruby proudly announced it to herself.

I cleared the table that was near where she stood. Behind the cashier, she swept the floor roughly with a damp mop. I smiled at her but hid it immediately before she saw it on my lips.

A diner is no place to be celebrating for me or anybody else who works here. But for Ruby, almost everywhere is a place to show her smiles and joy.

It is a miracle that something finally snapped Ruby to reality and led her to a good direction. Since the beginning, she was never a good girl to deal with. The best words that describe her past are parties, fuck boys, and skimpy outfits. Granny had a rough time guiding Ruby away from her mistakes but it always ended with Ruby making those mistakes and return to Granny's arms in tears.

At the time, I was just as worried as Granny. Some of the guys Ruby had history with were violent and dangerous to be close to. I still remember many nights when Ruby chose to hide in my apartment and Neal had to step outside to deal with whoever was chasing after her. Nobody was enough to scare Ruby straight from her mistakes. Not even when Neal and me were harmed from the men she was linked to.

Lying is never a good decision to do to Granny. But I cannot tell her because for years Ruby has been going through an unhealthy cycle of partying and getting into abusive relationships. If this new fascination to fashion is pulling her away from that problem, I cannot ruin that.

"It is amazing..I-uh-well, I have to admit, I'm proud of you."

Ruby slammed her hands on the counter with a wide grin that made a few of the sample cupcakes jump. I rolled my eyes when she gritted her teeth and let out a squeal.

"Eekkkk! Did Emma Swan just say she is proud of me? A FABULOUS day this is. Just fabulous."

"Well enjoy it while it lasts, Rubes. Because that's the last time you'll hear that from me."

She shook her hair with that smile unmoving. "I don't fucking care, bitch. You said it today, a day when I most need it. That's enough for me."

I kept my eyes low, feeling my cheeks flush hot. I picked on the sugar packets that weren't lined in perfect rows. It wasn't necessary for me to arrange them since the next diners will mess them up again. But I did it anyway to give me a reason to look down.

"..Don't take it so personally like that. I compliment you time to time."

"More like once every five years. It's rare to hear that from you."

"Well, I only say it to people who deserves it. And today you deserved it."

I blinked a few times but slowly stopped bothering with the sugar packets and looked her in the eyes. Ruby grabbed each end of her pants as if it was a large skirt and curtsied to me. I chuckled and shook my head at her silliness.

"Don't you love my silliness?" She squealed the words.

I rolled my eyes. "Very."

"Shouldn't you be taking your break now? I'm sure Henry would like to have some of this LOVE you shared with me."

I turned around to see the clock that was nailed near the twin doors of the kitchen. She was right. My break was starting now. I left the wet rag on the table and quickly examined the room. The crowd was very small. There were only a small group of college boys finishing their dinner in one of the booths and an old couple sipping their cups of coffee.

"I should. Thanks for reminding me."

I walked to the phone that was placed next to the cashier. It was wireless but I always made my phone calls to Henry inside as much as possible at this hour. It isn't uncommon when some of the girls here…have a little issue with customers. I play the savior in those types of situations so I look after everyone as much as I can. We even came up with a name we can use for a cry of help. Belle thought of "Big Bad Wolf" and from then on we used that term ever since.

I picked up the phone and dialed the number to my apartment.

It is so easy to dial a number and wait for the call. But for a mother, having her child be alone for hours and hours in an apartment changes that completely. For me, when I dial this phone number and wait I hold my breath because anything can go wrong for my son – house could be burning down, a burglar could be holding him hostage, he might choke on his food and fall unconsciously on the floor till he turned blue or any other nightmare turned to reality. It is a paranoia that can only be described in words but understood by actually being a parent.

"Hey, mom."

I exhaled through my mouth and placed a hand on my chest to steady my heart. "Hey, kiddo. Answer my three questions. You know the drill."

"Run me that drill again, mom. Because I forgot," he requested sarcastically.

I blinked, slightly amused. "Really, kiddo? You're going to do this to me..Fine. I'll play your game. Question one: did you eat your dinner?"

"Yes, mother. I ate my dinner and not a single green was left on my plate."

I bit my lower lip to fight a smile. "Good. Question two: did you finish your homework?"

"Yes, mother. My teacher continues to call me the Golden Student. I want that title forever. Not for half a year."

"Lastly." I smiled – he always wins. "..Lastly did you lock the door?"

"Yes, I did the minute I got home. Happy?"

"Don't be Mr. Sarcastic forever, kiddo. There's a limit."

"Eh, what are you gonna do to stop me, mom? Hang up and never speak to me again? We're family."

My smile broke wider. I laughed – a horrible defeat.

Worst parent vs. child battle ever.

"See? You can't pump me up with your parenting ways. Unbelievable, mom."

"Why did God give me a son who's smarter than me? This is a nightmare."

"Maybe because God knows you need someone in your life to make you smile and laugh..just the hard way with sarcasm. I love sarcasm, mom. I call them life. You consider them…unbearable."

I laughed a little harder. "How could you only be twelve years old, kiddo?"

"I read too much, mom. My intelligence is just a little higher than most twelve years olds you're used to. Do you think you can handle me for the next six years at home?"

"Don't you mean for decades? College isn't necessarily a retirement for parents."

I could almost hear him shrug his shoulders. "Well, looks like you're stuck with me. Isn't this a big big problem?"

"Absolutely. A big..Huge. Massive. Ginormous problem."

"Hey. That was not cool, mom."

"Hey, I still look after you and enjoy doing it, kiddo."

Here comes the eye rolling.

"..yeah..yeah, I know."

"Big Bad Wolf!" Ruby cried.

I quickly looked up with wide eyes. Ruby was by the booth where the college boys were sitting. When she cried out that name, one of the boys took the wrong idea and thought it was an act. He had his legs out from the booth and took Ruby's wrist and pulled her closer to him.

"Henry, your Aunt Ruby is in trouble. I have to go. Go to bed within an hour. Okay?"

"I'll be fine. Save Aunt Ruby, mom."

"I will. Goodnight, kiddo."

"Goodnight, mom."

I hung up the phone and left it on the counter. I marched to that booth and pulled my sleeves up. When I was beside Ruby, I halted and slammed my hand hard on the table that made their dirty plates and silverware jump. Everyone's eyes were on me.

"Hello, boys. Do we have a problem here?"

The boy who was still hanging onto Ruby by the wrist only smirked at me. He looked very young. My guess was nineteen.

"Not at all," he replied.

I detected a British ascent from his response. And I thought Englishmen had more manners.

"Well well well, welcome to America, kid. Are you from a country where it's okay to harass waitresses in a diner?"

"No, ma'am. I only wanted to get her number."

"All you're gonna get doing that is a fucking lawsuit. So I suggest you to let my friend go, pay for your food, and leave this motherfucking diner with your buddies before I kick all of your assess out of this diner."

His nostrils flared as his eyebrows knitted together. The smirk from his mouth was gone. I definitely hit a nerve for saying that.

But do I care? Nope.

"What language to a customer. I'm a paying diner. Not to mention I had the decency to address you as ma'am, lady."

"You might want to see a surgeon to cut down that fucked up nose that keeps growing, Pinocchio. Right now you're being a fucked up asshole, not a diner. And you are one to talk about decency when you're treating my friend like this."

He got of the booth and stood to his feet. I should have been more observant before saving Ruby like this because he was taller than Ruby and me. But at least he let her go. I tilted my head up to look at his face. This was not the time to show hesitance.

"I like to speak to the owner of this joint to file a complaint. This place is a dump as it is. I didn't think the people who work here are equally as pathetic and disgusting too."

"Go ahead and tell my boss. I won't get in any trouble," I said proudly with a wide grin.

"Highly doubt it, lady."

"Oh yeah? Well, here is some reality check, kid. This girl right next to me is her granddaughter. Not to mention, a lot of people stops here for food. Construction workers, architects, selfish bitchy ass students like you, and..Oh yeah, the police. They get free coffees and donuts here every weekend – favor highly of my good old boss. Do you want to cause a scene and have one of those nice policemen escort you out like a child? Or do you prefer to face my boss? She alone is scary as hell."

"You're lying."

I stepped back and gestured my hands to the way where it led to the kitchen. "Then by all means, kid, go ahead and find her. I'm not stopping you."

He just stared at me looking just as angry as he was before. Ruby stood by me uncomfortably. I could sense her fear that he might attempt to do something violent but I gone through situations like this before. Most of the times, they end by sitting back down or leaving.

One of his friends made the decision for the kid. He pulled out his wallet and dropped a few ten dollars on the table without counting.

"Hey, we'll just leave. We don't want any trouble."

His friends got out of the booth but the kid continued to angrily look down at me. Ruby and I stood aside when his friends took him by the arm and escorted him out.

Ruby sighed aloud and pulled me in for a hug. "Thank you, Emma. Oh God that was scary."

I could feel her heart beating fast on my chest. "Tell me what he did when I wasn't looking."

She let me go with her shaky hands held tightly to my shoulders. "He and his friends tried to get my attention a few times. That's why I moved far away but while you were on the phone they called me over for something..,Oh that dick slapped my ass and expected me to like it."

"Then I feel more proud to treat him the way I just did."

"Jesus, how do you have the guts to do that every time? That kid looked like he wanted to hurt you."

"Someone had to intervene. Let's forget that kid and hope he and his buddies doesn't come back."

Ruby's smile suddenly fell. She took a moment to smell the air. I did the same. Something was burning.

Our cook Pete burst out of the kitchen. A gush of dark smoke escaped with him. He quickly shut the door and coughed hard. Ruby and I rushed over to him.

"Don't tell me the stove broke down again," I muttered with a hard pad to his back.

Granny paid a fortune to fix our old stove several times. When that happens all of us can't show up for work for at least a day or two until it gets fixed. By now, fixing this stove was out of the question. We have to replace it.

From the entrance, Granny walked around from the back door of the kitchen and came inside. One of her cheeks was smeared with a light black shade. She too was hackling her lungs out. I went to her and wrapped my arm around her shoulders to support her.

She assured me by padding my hand that rested on her shoulder. "…Th-That..That stove has to go. You know the drill, all of you. Don't bother to come back here tomorrow. I'll be busy negotiating with the repairman – God help me if he dare raises the cost ten percent higher than he did last time."


~ It was upsetting that Granny has to go through an entire day dealing with the repairman about the stove. But…it was still a time of celebration for me since it gives me a day off.

I got home by midnight. No other soul was around but me. The studio was on the third floor. I hated that it was the third floor because my landlord has a habit of drinking on the stairway that I have to go up to.

Grumpy is an emotion, an unpleasant emotion – a name perfectly suited for my landlord. Nobody here remembers his real name, we called him Grumpy for years to the point his real name was no longer important.

He was always like this since I moved here with Neal years back. He always carried an irritated, sour look on his face and had the tendency to grunt when anyone spoke to him. I rarely see him without an old cap covering his receding head, or a clean shave. The beard that covered his upper chin to across his jawline was part of him ever since. I can see a hint of gray from the natural color.

I took quiet steps as I started my way up. I bit my lower lip hard when I saw a lifeless leg laid on top of the first three steps as I looked up. I got closer and was able to see Grumpy's whole body. A forty was on his loose hand and emptied out because he was tilting it to the floor. I rolled my eyes that the rest of the beer splattered to his pants.

I leaned to the other side of the wall and walked from the little space he made for me to walk. His body stirred a little when my foot lightly brushed on his arm. But he did not wake up.

He will never change.

I huffed a sigh when I made it around him. A hand suddenly caught me by the ankle. Instantly, I grabbed onto the bar of the rail as it tugged on me to fall backwards. I looked behind me and saw Grumpy's hand around my ankle. His body was unmoving and the same as I just saw him. But from the pressure he gave on my ankle, he was clearly not sleeping.

"What the fuck? You could have killed me."

"Now that's a thought – what a wonderful idea."

"I paid this month's rent on time. Don't get on me about money now. So let go of me," I hissed and tried to yank my leg free but he held it tighter.

He smiled with his eyes closed. "Not money tonight, Swan. Just wondering what the hell you're doing here so early."

"It's none of your fucking business. Now let go, I need sleep God damn it."

"Father's Day is coming along, you know? Is that rascal of yours going to serve breakfast in bed for a ghost?

My cheeks grew hot. I squeezed on to the steel bar of the rail, imagining it to be his neck until my knuckles turned white. He knows how much I loved him, and how much it hurt that he was gone from my life. There were times he would tell me that he saw Neal leave and never turn back to hesitate on his decision. I never believed him. But sometimes, I can't help believe them. This…Tonight..These words have gone far enough.

"He will be serving to no ghost." I yanked my ankle harder and freed it from his grasp. "I didn't raise my son to celebrate for traitors. Unlike you, Grumpy, not everyone serves breakfast in bed for ghosts, in your case, your wife."

I quickly headed up the stairs. He turned and his hand reached out to reclaim my ankle but I was far from his reach. He came at me but I now ran to my studio with my shaken hand fishing out for my keys in my pocket. When I reached my door, my hands rattled the keys as I tried to insert the right key in.

My heart started to beat quickly when I heard Grumpy break the glass of his forty to the wall.

"You're f-f-fuck-king drunk! Slap out of it!"

I quickly eyed him to see how much closer he was coming. He was very close. He stumbled his way to me, but his movements were quick. The shining glint of the half-shattered forty frightened the pants out of me. He clenched onto its head tightly.

"You can't just leave after saying that. Nobody messes with my wife."

There were four different locks for me to unlock. As a paranoid mother, I had it specially nailed to the door when I started to leave Henry to stay all by himself here while I was at work. It has its perks of protection. But this is a definite con: not being able to unlock it fast enough while a drunk maniac is after you with a dangerous weapon.

I finally unlocked the last lock and grabbed the doorknob to turn it. I opened it by an inch but Grumpy's large hand slammed the heart of the door closed. Before he closed it right away, I let out a terrified cry for Henry.

He aimed his weapon to my head but I backed away and covered my head protectively with both my hands. The bottle hit the wall instead and a few broken pieces shattered and fell to the floor. Breathlessly, I have the chance to run off but he was so close to the door. In the state he was in, running off with my son in our home that's not protected anymore is the last thing I would do.

I faced him with a good distance away from him. He stood in place uneasily but he looked capable enough to strike me again with the broken bottle.

"Look, it's not fair to anyone to say those things you said back there who went through loss. You of all people should know that. I don't fucking care if it was your heartless, cold soul speaking to me, or the motherfucking booze. There is no excuse to how much it hurt me to hear what you said."

"At least he's damn as well alive. Mine is dead, you bitch. Death beats some lame asshole just walking out about because he's full of chicken shit for having his life turn upside down so fast because of a bitch like you. You will never know what I went through when I lost my wife."

Frustration throbbed inside me like a fresh wound. I licked my lips and took a breath to calm myself. Drunk or not, I choose not to stand aside of his cold words.

"Oh I know. But it wasn't just my boyfriend full of chicken shit. No. It was my dad and his cold heartless bitch. You fucking bastard think your life is no comparison to anybody else's. Well, keep dreaming. Everybody experienced death, or at least will in the future. I have. I know what it's like."

The hot tears stung my eyes but I didn't allow them to fall because this was not the time to show him I was weak. "And if you wanna play the pathetic sympathy game then let's go. It's my turn. I am a single mom who works six days a week because I HAVE to. I have a kid who has no idea what it's like to be with a father and never will.

"My future is working till I'm old and looking after my son. And in the holidays, like fucking Father's Day as you so kindly reminded me, my son and I go to a cemetery to give flowers to my father's grave. What do you have to say for yourself now, Grumpy?"

The tears in my eyes blurred my vision. I couldn't tell if my words moved him or not. All I could see was that he was standing in the same position with his arms unmoved.

My door slowly opened. I blinked my eyes and the tears fell down to my cheeks. Henry's eye was seen from the thin gap he made with the door. My lips quivered to see that one of his eyes glistened with tears.

Grumpy violently threw the shattered forty to the other side of the wall. I yelped and quickly turned my back to the wall with my hands still covering my head. Two large pieces hit my back. I stood still and waited for Grumpy to leave.

When his footsteps soon came to a stop, I went to the door. Henry froze in place. I kneeled to the floor and opened my arms for him. He didn't move. It hurt to see the look in his eyes. It wasn't fear but pain.

"Come here, kiddo. He's gone. It's safe."

He stepped forward with his arms down to his side. I let my arms down, taking that as a signal that a hug was the last thing he wanted. I took his arms and pulled him close to me.

"I'm sorry I scared you like that. Grumpy..he was just having one of drunk nights. Are you alright?"

"Mom, for once think about yourself. I'm fine. Are you okay?"

"I'm not hurt this time, kiddo."

He looked at me long and hard. At the time, he always looked afraid of Grumpy. But the older he grew the more that fear changed to anger. His hands touched my cheeks and held my face in place. My eyes rolled to the right and left eyeing his gentle hands resting on the skin of my cheeks.

"Look at me now, mom," he commanded with a strong hint of declaration he rarely used.

I obeyed and looked deep into his firm, determined eyes.

"We won't be here for long, mom. I'm gonna do real good in school and get a career that'll support both of us. The first thing I'm gonna do is get out of this place. It'll be a nice home, mom. A white painted house just for you and me. There will be a garden in our backyard and a porch for both of us to relax and drink lemonade. It'll also be near the cemetery so you can be closer to grandpa."

I weakly smiled and rubbed my hands up and down on his arms. "Sounds like heaven, kiddo. But these better be not just words, promise me you'll make it come true."

"Word of honor."

He let one hand go and folded it into a fist, pointing the pinky out. I did the same and our pinkies intertwined to seal it to a promise.

"Word of honor," I whispered.