The Help (MB)

Chapter 2

We were very discipline while growing up. She was very old fashioned,so we had much fun but we still had many boundaries. By the time I was seventeen,Peyton was 13,Amaya was 11,and Penny was seven. They were a tough bunch to handle,mostly because they always tried doing the stuff I did. Mama,as we called her now,let me go out to the mall sometimes with my friends Dejia and Tamera. She let me go to the roller rink every Friday night,with a curfew of midnight. I was enjoying life,at the most. My grades in school were pretty high too,even though it seemed as if the weight of the world was on my shoulders. Mama hadn't been getting around as much,so most of the time I had to help out around the house and such. I had no problem with that,of course. I loved my sisters,and I loved Mama. I cooked dinner for them often,something in which I loved to do,and helped them with homework. I did everything I could to not be like my mother. Irresponsible,blunt,mean,vulnerable, slutty. I do have this friend boy I had been seeing on the low for a while. His name is Marquan,and he is just as cute as can be.I work part time at the diner up the street,where we met.

It was a warm Spring day,and the diner wasn't getting much business.He had come in,and the cashier was on break,so I took over. He looked at me,flashing a smile,and I noticed his dimple on his cheek,something I absolutely loved about him. He ordered two vanilla milkshakes,and payed me twenty dollars,even though his order totaled up to $4.95. I chuckled,raising my eyebrows. "I don't think I have change for a twenty.. Business is very dry today,sorry." I said,handing the bill back. "Oh,that's fine. Keep it." He winked at me,and I blushed putting the bill in the register. I fixed his milkshakes and set them on the counter in front of him,where he had decided to sit. He stared at me for a long time,and I blushed,wiping the counter. "Oh,my. I have these TWO milkshakes and I'm only one person..." He droned on,his voice loud. I glanced up at him,and he pretended to look around the diner. "If only I had someone to give this other fine milkshake to.. I could sure use some company." He said,giving me puppy dog eyes as I chuckled. He continued to look at me. "I guess this milkshake will have to waste because the pretty lady won't take up my offer..humph." He did the puppy dog eyes again,and I giggled,walking over to him. "Oh my goodness,it's the pretty lady I was talking about. I wonder if she would say yes to my offer of a milkshake." He said,like he was talking to someone else,but his brown eyes stayed on me. I giggled,nodding. "Yes! She said yes!" He said,looking at me with a big smile.

"You're weird." I commented,taking the milkshake from him and sitting next to him at the counter. "Don't you like it,though.." He said,smiling at me. I giggled,looking at him. "Kinda.." I laughed. That's what kicked off the wonderful relationship we have now. At first we were just friends,then we got more serious. It wasn't just that serious though,imean we've only kissed. Mama doesn't let me go out with him much,and when she does,I have to be home by 9.

Peyton is getting older,and she's at the junior high now. I see her with the fast crowd. The girls that wear make up and have boyfriends. I remember that age,but when I was that age I didn't like those type of girls. I know she tries to wear a small amount of make up on the slick side,but she better not let Mama catch her. She'd have a whoopin in front of all her friends. I also see some boy that's fond of her. He's a little nerdy,which I find cute,but Peyton doesn't. She doesn't even do as much as glance his way when he comes up to her,cheesing away. A small amount of me is glad that she isn't interested,she's too young to date.

Amaya is just a fierce little thing,and I love it. She's what you consider the "off" kid in the bunch,but she's very sweet. She loves to do things like chase bugs and listen to rock music and try different scientific experiments with her pet mouse. Mama got onto her a couple times for it,so she learned how to do it on the down low. She still stands up for what she believes,and has a mouth that's so smart you wouldn't even know if you're still talking to her or a different person,but that's only if you get on her bad side. It's not pretty.

Penny is seven,and she is just as sweet as can be. She looks up to me the most of the rest of the girls,and she loves to sit and ask me hundreds of questions at a time. Sometimes,I stop her from asking so much,but sometimes I just let her go ahead. She'd ask questions like "Why don't I have a dad like my other friends?" And "How come you and your boyfriend aren't married yet?". She'd always laugh away when she asked questions about me and Marquan. She's young,so this whole 'boyfriend' situation is just hilarious to her. She's so adorable.

Mama is just as sweet and sassy as she can be,but she's getting on up in age,and these past seven years have really worn her out. Mind you,she wasn't young at all when we first came anyway. She usually sits up on the couch,knitting and watching her stories. She's best friends with the pastor's wife at church,so they sit up on the phone most days,laughing and talking about people. She hated to bother me about watching after my sisters,but I insist. It's the least I can do,even though we already do chores around the house. I love her with all my heart,and she always tells me how proud of me she is,and how she wants me to go big someday.

One day,I heard her call me in her room,and I went in,asking her what she wanted. "Sit down honey,I have bad news." She said in a down tone. My stomach dropped,and I looked at her,sitting down. "I've been keeping this from y'all for a while,and I think since it's about to reach its peak,I might as well go on and tell y'all." She said,looking at me in a saddened tone. "A few years back,I was diagnosed with cancer. That's the main reason I've been down lately." Soon as she said that,tears filled my eyes. "What?" I asked,looking at her. "Yea child,but i'll be fine. I just want to ask a huge favor to you and your sisters." She said,looking at me. I nodded,listening and willing to do anything to help. "You see,we don't have the money for my treatment. We've been struggling these past few months,and your job is helping alot but not enough." She said,looking at me with a small smile. "I can get another job,Mama. I can apply for one tomo-" "No,baby,it still won't be enough." She said,looking at me. I nodded. "I was talking with this man yesterday in the grocery store,very rich man. Said he needed a group of maids who is willing to take care of him and his boys. You see,their momma just passed,and it's a hard time for them. Some of them are adopted,but I think he said two of them are his," she said. "I talked to him a few minutes,he's a very nice man. He's willing to pay a large sum of money,also. I really need you girls' help." She said sincerely. I nodded. "Of course,Mama. Anything for you." I said,honestly. She smiled that big,pretty smile that I live to see,and gave me a huge hug. "I love you,Mama." I said,kissing her cheek. "I love you too baby," she said back,kissing mine.

A few weeks later,my sisters and I were packed,ready to leave Mama to go work. Turns out,the man actually lives hours from here,so we would have to stay there,living in a seperate part of the home of course. Amaya's 12th birthday had just passed,and we had a party at the diner I work at. I hated to say goodbye to my friends,and it was very sad. We'd exchanged numbers,even though we already had each other's numbers,and promised to call every other day.Peyton had been sour in the mouth ever since she found out us girls would be moving,leaving Mama there. I'd learned to brush it off,because the other two girls didn't have a problem with it. They hated to say goodbye to their friends also,and had a slim chance of making new ones anytime soon since we would be homeschooled. Marquan came to my apartment to say goodbye to me last,and I shed a few tears while we hugged goodbye. "Now,don't be getting all emotional on me girl. I can't have my mascara running. Oh lawd jesus." He said,rolling his neck in a ratchet manner. I giggled,wiping the tears out of my eyes. "I'm gonna miss you." I said,looking at him. He kissed my forehead,looking at me. "I'm gonna miss you too babygirl." I smiled. Penny looked at me,coming over and raising her eyebrows. "Ewww! He kissed you!" She said,half whispering in my ear,but Marquan still heard her and he giggled. I laughed. "Well,we have to go now." I said,grabbing my bag and giving Marquan one last hug. "Make sure you call me,now." He said,kissing my cheek. "Alright," I answered,waving back at him as we got into the limo. We rode off,and we all looked at each other,sad to leave,but a small part of us was excited about our new jobs.

Mama had already told the man how experienced we were,and he wanted to hire us right away. I just hope this experience is great,and I hope I don't regret it....


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