The Wrong Way Around

1. Teddy

My head pounded as I lay in my bed, willing my migraine to go away. A few too many glasses last night and I knew I would be sorry. But it was my one night out away from the shambles of my home life. I should've stopped at two glasses, but Jude pushed another glass of wine into my hands and with Sunny's insistence, I was a gonner. 

Feeling a poke on my shoulder, I cracked an eye open seeing my little boy staring at me with his teddy bear clutched in his arms. His large brown eyes blinked at me, his hair tasseled in every direction. A pang went through my stomach as I remembered another stress on my plate. He was four, going on five, and I would need to decide on a school for him soon. 

"Hey, baby," I smiled, my voice sounding croaky. Oliver jumped and I realized that I sounded worse than I expected. "I'm getting up...Mommy had too much fun last night with Uncle Jude and Aunt Sunny." Ollie blinked again as I pushed myself up. "Is Aunt Millie up?" 

Ollie shrugged, his tale-tell language of "I don't know" and began to whine slightly. I cursed myself as I pushed up, realizing that my night of partying was ruining his routine. 

"Okay, okay, I'm up..." I yawned, standing. "Go wait for me in the kitchen, okay?" 

I watched as my son ran out, and I shuffled to the bathroom and grabbed some Excedrin. I needed coffee, bacon, and toast ASAP. I headed to the bedroom next to mine, knocking. A body was buried in the pink and purple polka-dotted sheets as I shook the person awake. "Mills...Millie, wake up..." 

"What?" my moody teenage sister asked, sitting up. 

My head pounded harder. "Time to get up." 

Millie sighed and grabbed her portable oxygen tank, switching her tubing over. Smiling at her, I wandered out towards the kitchen, where Ollie was playing a game on his iPad. Bills were stacked up on my kitchen table. Bills that were overdue. Pushing them aside, I grabbed a bowl filled it with Ollie's cereal, and poured it with the right amount of milk. Not too soggy, not too dry. It took years to master the perfect ratio. For Millie and myself, I started to cook bacon and eggs, popping some toast in the toaster. 

Squeaky wheels echoed through the small space as Millie pulled her oxygen tank behind on her stand, sitting down. "Hey, squirt...Can I have a hug?" Millie asked her nephew. 

Ollie looked up at her and returned to his game. "Come on...How about a high-five?" 

Ollie placated her by giving her a small high-five, causing me to smile. "I love this kid..."

"I'm glad. Take your meds?" I asked, grabbing the carton of orange juice. 

"Yes," Millie sighed, rolling her eyes. "Aly's having a party tonight. Can I go?" 

"It's Saturday." 

"Exactly." 

"I have work. I need you to watch Ollie." 

"I watched him last night so you can get your freak on. BT-dubs, did you get some last night?" 

"No...All I got is a hangover and a morning of regret," I sighed, sitting down next to her. 

"No sign of Baby Daddy No. 1 or DB?" 

"Nope and nope...I'm gonna have to work a double shift," I sighed, my head pounding increasingly. "I got a letter yesterday asking me about schools for Ollie." 

"What did you decide?" 

"I don't know yet. I still have a year to decide. I just can't send him to a public school. And private schools are expensive. And then I have his therapy...And your medical bills."