T.J is 17 year old who strips to support her and her mother after her father disappeared without paying child support. What happens when her mother tells her she's going to get married to a rich man with SIX CHILDREN.
This is just a quick disclaim...
I walked through my two-bedroom apartment door and softly closed it behind me before collapsing onto the floor. I took a quick look at the time, 4:37 am, I just got back from my shift at the club. My feet and muscles were aching from performing in my clear platform heels, but it was fun none the less. After about five minutes of silence picked up my things that I scattered on the floor and made my way to my room.
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(t.j's room)
I turned on a small yellow lamp in the corner of my room and took a seat at my desk. I opened up the envelope which contained my tips for the night, after counting each note the total came to $328 which is an ok night but not the best. My usual customers ended up bailing tonight and let's just say the people who were there weren't super comfortable with my body type. I would consider myself to be a bit chubby, although I have a heavy chest and rear the minute my stomach is exposed some lose interest. Which I personally don't take offense, to each their own, but when it comes to me having to support myself with my mom it gets a bit upsetting for that to be the reason.
THIRD PERSON
T.J glanced at the time on her phone, 5:23, she stood up and decided to make breakfast for her mother. After a minute or so of scanning the fridge and cupboards for ingredients waffles, bacon and fresh fruit were decided on. As she cut the apples and washed the raspberries, while softly humming a lullaby her mother used to sing her. It reminded her of carefree times and chocolate milkshakes.
It was the middle of summer break so she was free to work as many days as she could in the club. She was working 4 days a week all through the night, although she would make and average of $400 every day most of the money was going into her college savings. With Angeline working less and less every year due to age and fatigue T.J worked extra nights even on exam weeks to make sure her mother would live comfortably.
ANGELINE
My eyelids felt heavy, no scratch that, everything feels heavy. I could feel my body drooping under the weight of my bag. I stepped out of the elevator and made my way to the last apartment in the hall each step sent sharp pain through my muscles. I slowly pushed open the door when the smell of food danced into my nose instantly making me drool. What caught my attention the most was the song she was humming, that old lullaby. Bittersweet memories filled my head for a moment as I stepped in and shut the door behind me.
As I closed the door T's head whipped around, "mum, your home" she almost whispered it pairing it with the most heart melting smile ever. "Yes dear, I see you made me breakfast too. I'm so ready to sink my teeth into one of those waffles" I responded as I made my way to the bathroom to take a shower.
As I stood under the hot water for a couple minutes my mind kept going back to the image of T smiling, she had dark circles. She probably only got back in the house at four, but she was taking care of me. Since I started dropping shifts, she's been taking care of me more and working much more. It pains me to have to see her use her body for money at such a young age, maybe if I had just stayed with her father a bit longer he would've paid for her college.
After changing and spraying almost every inch of my body with icy hot spray I sat down for breakfast.
T.J
Mum came home at around 6:30, I could hear the exhaustion in her voice. After laying out a plate of breakfast I start to make my way to my bedroom before my mom stops me and asks me to sit with her. Since I'm usually tired after a long night I head straight to bed for a nap, so if she wants me to sit with her it means she was going to drop something huge on me.
THIRD PERSON
T.J took a seat at the table next to Angeline with a worried look on her face. The last time this scene was played Angeline had to tell T.J her father disappeared and wasn't paying child support. Angeline took a deep breath "Do you remember a month after your father left you told me to find someone who truly loves me and settle down?" T.J silently nodded "well I met someone on one of my shifts and we have been going out together for a couple months now" she said in one breath while giving a nervous look. T.J smiled "that's great mum! I'm so happy for you, but that also means that you remember what we talked about after that". Angeline gulped hard, T.J had said she should meet someone who loves her but Angeline shouldn't force T.J to live with them if they get married or expect her to see this person as a father figure. "I do remember" she said with a sigh, Angeline more than anything wanted T.J to have a good father figure in her life but after T.J's fathers abuse she feared the idea of having a father.
After a deep breath and finishing the last of her fruit Angeline said, "We want to get married soon, in a couple weeks at the latest so he really wants to meet you" T.J's face twisted "What do you mean get married soon? We don't exactly have the luxury to fund a wedding any time you want" "He said he would take care of all the arrangements and anything I need to buy for you and me I should just put on his card" Angeline said in a meek voice. "isn't that a little weird though? For someone to be able to fund wedding like that? Are you dating a" T.J cut her sentence off while mouthing the words 'sugar daddy' which made her receive a playful slap to the arm.
"But in all seriousness, I really do love this man and he really loves me. You'd be pleased to know he has six wonderful children" Angeline chimed. T.J's eyes turned wide "Six kids? Did his last wife have a super coochie or something" Angeline answered her with a smack on her head "when you meet him, I beg of you not to say that" T.J gave a quick nod.
Angeline wanted to say something but waited until the very end since she knew it wouldn't be received well. "His kids are very loved" she continued not glancing in T.J's direction, "he expressed so much joy when he heard I had you and was very thrilled to have a second daughter he even decorated a room for you in his house". T.J stared right into her mother face part with betrayal and part with disgust that even though they had discussed this so many times her mother didn't listen "I honestly couldn't care less about what he's done for me or how excited he is for a second daughter, if you get married and move out I'll move into the studio apartment that's down the street and has rent for $500" Angeline stood up trying to stop her "please just give him a chance, I've seen the way you look at little girls with their fathers and it breaks my heart" T.J sighed "I agreed to meet him but I will not be looking at him as a father figure, we've discussed this so many times. Sure, my dad sucked and sure there are better dads out there but right now saving up for college and surviving are my only two priorities right now"
Before Angeline could say anything more T.J ran to her bedroom and buried herself into the covers. This wasn't what she needed today, a straight reminder that she has parental issues and being expected to see this new man as a father was too much to take in at the moment. She closed her eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep.
