Hopeless Honey

Hi, im Honey

Getting up in the morning was the hardest part. 4:00 am. The same time, the same outfit, the same place. My morning routine was a hard way to start the day, but I was used to it. I hadn't known any other way.

My uniform clung on to me tightly and uncomfortably, my hair was in its natural state and framed my face messily. I didn't really have time to put in more effort.

"Mija, are you ready?" My mom called out, Her accent thick. She was probably still getting dressed, but I decided to get the truck ready.

I walked over to my bag and picked it up reluctantly, it weighed my arm down and reminded me of all the work I had to get done. My mom had a matching one that was a bit older.

I looked over at my mom and she had on a house keeper uniform, same as me. She put the other bag in the back of the truck. It was a beat down old truck covered in paint and dirt. But it got us where we needed to go.

We were on the road, and I decided to catch up on homework. The drive was long, but worth it, the views were amazing. The mansions we passed were like castles, each one larger than the ones on the last street. Our car looked out of place next to the BMW's and Mercedes Benz cars we saw.

Finally, at the end of the neighborhood was the biggest house I'd ever seen. I remember as a child when Mami would take me to work before I was old enough to help out. She worked in this house for years. Even before I was born. When she first immigrated here as a teen, this was one of the first jobs she ever worked.

She got pregnant soon after, at just 17 ,She tried to hide it for months, so she continued working. She was scared to lose her only income. When the bosses wife found out, she actually seemed excited.

She was a mature woman already and hadn't been able to have kids yet. The woman offered to help pay for doctors visits and baby vitamins. My mom never thought she would be met with this kind of hospitality, especially from a white lady.

The lady had told my mom that she had tried and tried to get pregnant for years, but didn't have any luck. She was almost thirty then, and thought she was running out of time. After my mom had me, she was the happiest she'd ever been. They would even let her bring me to the house some days while she worked.

The following year when I was only a few months old, the bosses wife was pregnant. Then two years later she got pregnant again. Then two years after, then the one after that. Then three years later. Then her last one, or so we thought, two years after. To all of our surprise, she had one more baby four years later.

Her wish of filling up this huge house had come true. She had 7 beautiful babies, all with blonde hair and blue eyes, just like her and her husband. She tells me to this day that I was always the most excited every time she fell pregnant, because I was getting a new friend.

I asked my mom why she stayed for so long even though she could find a better job. She said it was decent work and it payed enough for the two of us to live, so she liked it. A decent life was all she could ask for. And this family she worked for, was like our family too in a way.

At 5:30 a.m we reached the house and began working. Make sure the boss has his clothes laid out, perfectly ironed for his long work day. I made lunches for the younger kids and put money in the older kids bag.

The boss man was the first one to wake up everyday. He had a scary look permanently etched on his face and I hadn't seen him smile in years.

"Good morning Mr.Callahan" my mom set his plate of breakfast in front of him. He ate quickly and quietly before leaving at promptly 5:45 a.m.

Hearing footsteps coming down the grand staircase we knew it was Mrs.Callahan. Or what she liked to be called "just Betty"

"Good morning Ms.Betty" my mom said in her usual cheerful voice.

She came over and hugged my mom and gave me a kiss on the forehead, like she did every morning.

She chatted and ate her breakfast with my mom which mostly consisted of my mom listening intently and nodding every once in a while.

"Oh my goodness, is it 6:15 already?" Ms.Betty said.

"Honey, could you go wake up the kids." I nodded and went straight up. I hated this part. I started from youngest to oldest.

Yes, my name is Honey, my mom wanted to give me an American name so I wouldn't get made fun of. It kind of back fired, but she had the right idea. Being named Honey was just one of my many misfortunes in life.