Daily (Hopefully) Exercises

Day One

A Strange Request at a Piano Bar

It is abnormal, to say the least, to find me at a five-star hotel. But, business calls for what it does. This just happens to be what it calls for. Me dressed in far too formal and nice of clothing and at a piano bar with a cocktail in my hand.

I sit at the bar, my back turned slightly so that I am able to survey most of the area while still appearing casual. I take a sip from my cocktail as the piano music floods the entire area. I just sit there watching as I wait.

I take a peek at my watch. They're late. I don't appreciate them wasting my time. I take another sip of my cocktail. I'm adding the whole time I have to wait for them to my charge at double cost. You don't waste Aurora Strand's time.

"Hello, miss," a man says as he walks up to me. He's not who I'm waiting for.

"Find some other hot girl to pick up," I say with a smile. "I'm here on business."

"Why," he says as he sits down. He signals to the bartender and also gets a cocktail. "That isn't what I was doing at all. I'm also here on business. I have a request for you, miss."

"Oh?" I ask. "Pray tell."

"I want you to stand up Frenato," he says simply.

"Why would I do that?"

"Because if you don't, a lot of people will be after you," he replies with a smile. "It's advised to stand them up."

"What will you give me?"

"I've given you all I am going to give you, advice," he replies. "Advise you should follow."

"I would recommend knowing who you are dealing with before making idle threats," I reply as I down my cocktail.

"I know who you are and what you do," he replies. "You will have hundreds of people after you and your school if you associate with Frenato. Hundreds of kids' blood on your hands."

"You being one?" I ask with a cocked eyebrow.

"Me and plenty of others."

"I'll return your idle threat with a real threat in turn," I reply coldly. "Know who you're dealing with. My school and I aren't so easily messed with. I would step back now and as I said, find some other hot girl to pick up."

"You've received my warning," he says. "It would be very bad for you to not heed it."

He gets up and leaves. I don't like him. His threats against my kids. Those kids are only well off because I brought them out of poverty, out of hated conditions and gave them everything. They are educated, can take care of themselves and are loved. No one threatens my kids.

If society had taken care of them like they were supposed to then I wouldn't have to do what I have to to care for these kids. The kids that society fought so hard to be given a chance to live just to forget them as soon as they were born. Not willing to put up the nets need to make sure these kids they wanted so much are able to live and survive and have good lives.

These kids have been through enough.