Hard life (editing)

Chapter 9

I wandered into the nursery that was so carefully decorated, inside each crib were the sleeping babies. I was proud to have made these beautiful beings, in the last crib two gorgeous pink eyes blinked back at me. I picked Shannon up and rocked her to and fro, She stretched her rosebud lips into a cute dribbly smile. Kissing her forehead I put her back in her cot and spun her mobile. Meanwhile, Dylan woke up and started screeching, I lifted him up and inspected his red face, I rubbed my cheek against his then shushed him quietly and breastfed him, still he carried on crying. So I put him back down and quickly washed and dried my hair and packed it up in a pile on my head. Whisps fell down and I tucked the blonde strands behind my ear. I pulled on random jeans from the laundry basket and a red top as well. In the room I got out the baby carrier and securely strapped in Dylan. I went for a midnight stroll, still Dylan persisted in crying! I think I jiggled him around too much and he puked a white substance all down mine and his front. He let out a gurgle then quietened down, I sighed then jogged back to King's house. After another shower I climbed into bed and warm comforting arms snaked round my freezing stomach.

I jolted as a piercing cry filled the air. I lept out of the bed rubbed my eyes
then opened the door of the baby's room. Xiander was on his stomach kicking his legs, they were all now three months. So big already. I picked him up and sensed he needed a diaper change, onto the mat he went and I managed to complete the first two stages of changing: nappy off check underneath wiped check but I failed to produce a nappy in time and was soon sprayed. King came into the room, noticed the state I was in and started laughing like a drain.
" Weren't able to avoid a shower? " he snorted. I gave him a mock death stare then wiped my wet face on my sleeve. After managing to put on a straight face he said " You'd better take another shower and get the babies ready 'cos I got a surprise for ya."
" What? " I asked, soon bubbling with curiosity. King gave a playful smirk,
" Wait and see. " I repeated my question, my annoyance clearly on show. He seemed to enjoy winding me up and winked saying, " All will be revealed. " Before I got a chance to yell at him he made an exit. I picked up Shannon, then gave her a quick wash and got her into a warm jump suit that read : Little princess. I copied the process then got myself ready, I almost squealed when I looked in the mirror. Bags the color of purple bruises were under my eyes! No amount of makeup would cover them up, so they had to be left alone. As for my hair, I braided the sides then twisted them into a crown then curled the remaining part. I put on some smoky purple eye shadow then outlined my eyes like an owl, I threw on some bermuda shorts and a lacy purple t - shirt. I strapped Rico in the baby carrier onto my chest, loaded the baby bags, grabbed a granola bar for breakfast then put Dylan & Xiander in one double buggy and Nicole & Shannon in another. With multiple things hanging off my arms and a baby attached to my front I maneuvered the two double buggies out of the front door. There waiting, empty - handed was my boyfriend. He took control of the stroller that contained the boys and took some things off my wrists.

We walked to the bus stop then caught the 190. A kind man helped load our belongings on the bus and we took up all the room in the buggy space, which earned us some dirty looks. Then a wheelchair user came onto the bus so we had to squeeze ourselves in the aisle to make way. A few mean stares and stops later, King said it was time to come off, I didn't recognize the area. A passer-by stopped and said in awe
" Quintuplets, ey? You got lucky, that husband of yours has some mighty sperm! " I blushed furiously, especially at the mention of King being my husband.

We arrived at a park, under the trees was a spot shaded from the sun a picnic was neatly set out with daintily cut sandwiches ( jam, cheese and cucumber & tuna ), mini cocktail sausages, a large bowl of fruit salad, packets of ready salted crisps, chocolate and blueberry muffins and mocktails with tiny umbrellas and kiwi on the side. I squeaked then jumped up and down with pure pleasure, " So do you like your surprise, Penny? " asked King.
" Yes! " I answered without hesitation, I was about to pull him into a bone - crushing hug when I remembered the baby that was slung on my stomach. I sat down fed the babies and sat Rico on my lap, next it was our turn to eat.

With my tummy stuffed, I decided to let Rico have a rest in the pushchair and have King clip Shannon onto his chest. On the way back all of the babies had to have their nappy changed. I stopped off at Sam's place and let her play with the babies, I'm sure Xiander was her favorite though. By the time the we were all sorted out and in bed it was 7 pm and we left at 2 pm. I got a message from my mum that night.

- Mum
Where the hell have you been? You have not been home for 3 months!!
- Me
I've been staying with King because you wouldn't give a shit if you killed one of your grandchildren!
- Mum
Don't be such a bitch and use that language with me! You have no fucking respect for me.
- Me
Well your just a bastard, the only time you've seen my children was when I gave birth, dickhead!
- Mum
HOW DARE YOU! I raised you and this is how you repay me!
- Me
You raised me wrong, I would be just like you if I hadn't gone to school! You ABUSE me so just fuck off!!

My head fogged with anger as I sent the final message, I rolled over and eventually fell into a dreamless sleep.

Faint cries seeped through the crack in the door. Huffily I crawled out of bed and opened the nursery door, there rocking Dylan and Rico to sleep was King, kneeling on the floor feeding Xiander was Dixie so I plucked Nicole and Shannon out of their cribs and rocked them simultaneously. It was ten o'clock anyway so I wasn't too annoyed, for once I got a full night's rest. I picked up a stray dummy from the floor and put it on the changing table. Carefully I laid Shannon back down with her blankie and changed Nicole into a cute little purple- striped vest, a hoodie from baby gap and leggings. I did the same with Shannon then I fed the girls, it was Saturday and King's parents decided that it was time for us to go back to school. No matter how much we protested they wouldn't change their minds.

Two days later

I had a shower got on a blue maxi dress & gladiator sandals and applied shiny lip gloss, after scraping my hair into a ponytail and eating a stack of pancakes we were driven to school and everyone greeted us. Sam was ecstatic and literally bounced off the walls, she filled me in on all the latest gossip and it turned out there was a new girl and boy in our grade. I thought to myself, maybe I could befriend them and bring them into our little social group.

After lessons it was lunch, standing in the centre of the room looking a bit befuddled was a brunette. She was obviously one of the newcomers, she had a spotless, ironed black school skirt and a crisp white shirt with our ugly yellow canary jumper. Somehow she managed to up the level of coolness on our disgusting uniform, mentally I took notes. When I called her over to sit with us, she smiled and introduced herself. " Hi, my name's Rosalie Whitlow and I moved here from St Ziegler's high. " Sam's eyebrows shot into her hairline, that snooty school - which is our rival in everything? King looked uncomfortable as she immediately started looking into his eyes and twirling her hair round her finger. It was like she was trying to hypnotise him... During lessons she kept smiling at me, but unfortunately she was in every subject King and I shared. At the start of History she practically ran to King and nabbed the seat next to him, my seat. I couldn't help seeing her flicking her ombre brown hair over her shoulder and giggling at what ever King said. From that day I began to go off her, she started hanging out with the players, jocks and mean girls - not a crowd I would mix with.

Three months later
I went to my house, my actual house to see how Jaden and my mum were coping. After unlocking the door I was welcomed to an untidy living room, a kitchen cluttered with dishes, a staircase with books and rubbish on each step and my mother screwing a random stranger in the hall. Luckily, she was too occupied to notice my presence.

In my old bedroom Jaden was on the floor with a lip split open and a blood-stained t - shirt he looked up when I opened the door and rushed up and hugged me. " Penny! " he sobbed,
" Penny, you've come back! " I hugged him back and he told me that mum was always bringing different men home and slapping him. I apologized for leaving him and promised I'd visit every weekend. It broke my heart when I had to go, I skillfully scaled down the wall and ran back to King's.

I spilled the news at dinner to King's parents, sister and him himself. They were horrified, they and Samantha were the only ones who knew my secret...