Rockabye, Baby, Rockabye

Chapter Three: Gift

Leaving my baby boy was one of the hardest things that I could ever do, but it had to be done. I couldn't take Cole with me to the strip club, what kind of parent would even think of doing something like that?, and I couldn't just not go to work because I had a son who needed things.

"You be good for Mister and Missus Wilksons," I told the baby as I handed him over to the older woman.

"He will be just fine, dear," Missus Wilksons happily held onto my sleepy son. "You go have a good time at work and don't worry about him, he is an absolute angel." The older woman tickled my little boy, who let out a tired giggle and patted the woman's hand.

I nodded my head once, biting my bottom lip before leaning down and pressing a kiss to Cole's forehead, causing him to giggle tiredly once more.

I didn't want to leave.

"I'll be back in the morning," I promised. "I love you."

Of course, Cole didn't say anything, but I knew that he loved me back. The smile on his face and the love in his eyes was more than enough proof of that.

"I'll be back soon, Missus Wilksons."

"Be safe," the woman told me, "and have fun, don't worry."

I had to leave then or I knew that one of two things would happen. I would either stay longer and be late for work or I would just skip work altogether. Neither option was good for me. So I left, waving my son and neighbor 'bye'.

I pulled my thin jacket tightly around my small frame as an attempt to warm myself up and keep the cold wind off of me as I walked.

"Hey, baby!"

I didn't have to look over to see who was yelling at me.

"I know you can hear me, little slut!"

I kept quiet as the man continued to yell at me.

The same men always seem to find me as I walk to and from work. It was really annoying and very scary. I didn't want nor did I ask for these men to follow me around.

I heard the car door shut, so I began to walk a bit faster. Who knows what these men wanted.

Well, I did.

One man grabbed my arm and pulled me back. I quickly pulled my hand out of my jacket pocket and sprayed the man with pepper spray before I took off running.

Ladies and gentlemen, always carry pepper spray with you. Some people weren't taught to respect others.

"You bitch!" The man screamed as I ran.

His words didn't bother me, he had it coming for quite some time now.

I didn't stop running until I was at the club's back entrance. It wasn't every day, or night rather, that I got a good run in but it did happen more often than not.

The people who come to the club seem to think that I owe them something, either because I'm a woman or because I'm an employee of a strip club. Either way, they could never be more incorrect.

"Had another run in?" Mary asked, noticing how out of breath and sweaty I was.

"Yes, guy got peppered," I said, taking my jacket off.

"I hate it when they do that! It's so annoying," Mary huffed and rolled her pretty green eyes.

I couldn't agree more.

"I just don't want anyone to bother Cole."

Mary was the only person at the club, other than my boss, who knew about my son. No one else had asked, so I didn't tell.