Reapers' Daughter

29: Ceres Years

"Ceres off the coffee table," I said.

"No," she shook her head.

"Ceres, I'll count to three," I said. "One, two..." she got off before I said three.

Ceres has been very active now that she walks. She began walking right after we got back from the lake. Since then no one can stop her.

And school is about to start for me. So I had to get everything ready for when I have to go my mother will watch her once in a while. Such as Andrew mother will watch her when my mother can't. Summer went by so fast. Can't believe I'm a senior now. And I'm a mother. My little bundle of joy.

"Uh oh," she's a troublemaker. I sighed this the second time she broke a plate.

"Ah, careful sweetie," I picked up the broken pieces. Using a broom to pick up the rest. "Now, no more grabbing things you can't carry okay." She nodded. "Go play." She ran to her toys. She is a troublemaker, the door open and Kenny walked in looking a bit gloomy.

"So exhausting," he dropped his things on the floor and flop on the couch. Ceres rushed over and poked him. "Can't play, me tired."

"How was it?" I asked.

"Hard, working is hard," he said. "I'm so, tired. And people at Walmart keep complaining about not finding things." He groaned sitting up. "This one grumpy lady wanted to return something she already used. Freaking underwear. There's a no return policy for that. But no she kept on saying she didn't want them, that it gives her a rash. So she made me call the manager because she said I was rude. In the end, I won." He smiled. "She said she'll come back to whoop my ass. She can try."

"Ass," I gasped. We looked at Ceres.

"No no," Kenny wiggle his finger. "You missy do not say that. That's a bad word. If you repeat it, I will spank you."

"No," she covered her bottom.

"You won't repeat it?" Ceres shook her head. I chuckled.

"Your fault," I said.

Ceres will repeat words she doesn't understand. Sometimes we would explain to her what's terrible and what's not. She realizes, but sometimes she would mean something else. Like Beach, she would say "bish," which for us sounds like "bitch." And yeah. It's confusing sometimes.

Soon school started, it was difficult for me to leave Ceres. She would cry, wanting me to stay. But I had no choice. But little by little she got used to it. She knew I would be back.

And so the days went by, and school was fun. Omar was now officially in our group. Once in a while, his old friends would talk to him. But Omar would only speak to them for a while. Everyone wondered why he was hanging out with us. Omar would merely say he got bored of being followed around.

Kenny was happy Omar was in his art club. Which by the way, he made me join.

Anyways, days turn into weeks; weeks turn into months. Soon it was Christmas. And Ceres first birthday. Just wish her father was here. She would ask for him. I keep telling her, his working. But she'll grow up, and she'll keep asking. Then I won't know what to do.

"How old are you?" Kenny asked.

"One," Ceres lifted two fingers. Kenny corrected her. "One."

I recorded her birthday. Such as her first steps as well and her infants years. So Anthony can watch it, whenever he comes back.

"Ah, no you caught me," Kenny said. He had cream on his cheeks. "Now I'll get you." Ceres ran.

"Careful," I said.