Ivory Marshall paused for a second to examine what she had been preparing since she woke up. It would soon be time for her son, Stacy to wake up. Preparing him for school has to be fast because she cannot risk taking him to school herself if he misses the bus.

She had long brown hair that reached her waist, most of the time she had caught people's attention with it. She has blue captivating eyes that most of the time does not know where to stay, often looking around. Her face was one every man looked at twice. In short, she is a beautiful woman.

'What do you have there?' Roger, her father, called at the doorway.

'Oh you are awake?' Ivory replaced the knife she had used back in its place.

'I have a lot of things to do today'. He applied toothpaste in his brush.

'I will soon be done with the food. You can wait in the dining room'. Ivory smiled.

'Get a job and stop this act. I hate busybodies'. Roger hissed before walking away, the brush already in his mouth.

Ivory sighed. He should not have started it this early. Her day was ruined already.

She quickly packed the food in the dishes and left it on the dining table before going to her room to wake Stacy.

'Mom, how about skipping school today?' Stacy pulled the duvet over his head.

'Honey, you are not meant to skip classes. If you want to be big and famous, you need to go to school'. Ivory pulled the duvet from his body and ruffled his hair.

'Like Henry Ford?' He asked curiously.

'Yes'.

'But Mom, he didn't go to school! I heard it from a lot of people'. Ivory could tell he was going to argue for a long time if she didn't give in.

'I know, but you have to go. School is fun'. 

'Not anymore. I hate going to school. I hate everyone'. He whispered.

'Why?'

'Yesterday someone asked me to tell them about my dad, I couldn't say anything because I don't even know how he looks'.

Here they go again. He has always wanted to know his Dad, but Ivory has swore not to let the stupid man know Stacy exists. She would rather let him remain fatherless than allow the man to see Stacy.

'You don't have to listen to them. You are wiser than them,All of them'. She pulled him in a hug.

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'I really don't feel like going today'. He persisted.

'I promise to take you out today after school. How about that?' She looked at him searchingly.

'You are not giving me any choice, are you?' He jumped down from the bed, his clothes flying in all directions as he prepared to take his bath.

'Let me help you'. Ivory offered to walk toward the bathroom.

'No, Mom. I am not a kid, the others would laugh at me in school if they hear about this'. He shouted before locking the door behind him.

Ivory smiled.

Peeping on her Dad, Ivory mused at the way he swallowed the food. She was caught unaware when he glanced at her.

'How come this food tastes this bad? Has Ivory gone insane? Too much salt! The food lacks taste'. He dropped the spoon and walked to the sitting room, already aware that Ivory was watching him.

'Dad?' Ivory glared at him.

'Get a job and stop staying in the house. It pisses me off to leave the house and come back from work while still meeting you at home. It seems you have no idea of how fast you are growing?' Roger put on his socks.

'You said the food was tasting bad, should I help you with it?' She deliberately ignored all he had said.

'Why would you? Elderly people need food. You had better not go there'. He went back to the dining table.

'I was already thinking about the quantity of food I would eat'. Ivory said in pretense disappointment.

'Eating without working?' Roger took a spoonful.

'It is a bad habit to talk with food in your mouth Dad'.

'I have been eating before you were born. Don't you think it is senseless for you to tell me how I am supposed to eat?' He dropped the spoon and walked over to her.

'Just a suggestion'. She shrugged.

'You have only five days left to leave my house. You can leave Stacy behind, but without a job you are leaving my house. Enough of all these. I have been trying to cope with the situation all these while, but I think it is high time you stop. You are not even aware of what it means to be here without a job. All my friends at work have children who are working already….' Roger paused and  coughed.

'If they want to retire tomorrow just because they feel like it, they can, but look at me. What have I got?' He stretched out his hands.

'A house and a few properties. That is not even the matter'. He waved his hand in the air and gave a sarcastic laugh.

'Feeding my grandson and my own daughter is the worstest nightmare, but here it is, right here with me. I have to feed you!' Roger paused again to allow the words to sink in her head.

'I thought at this age, I would be living my life freely without working. Hell no! Someone was planning to spoil all the fun I promised myself. Ivory, get this in your brain, you are going out of here if you don't get a job. I am done with feeding you'. Roger looked at her for a few seconds as if expecting some sort of reply from her. 

'I got that'. She swallowed the lump in her throat. She knew what was coming. Tears, she would cry again.

'You have to act fast'. He yelled before reaching for his briefcase and going out.

'Have a nice day'. She called after him.

'You don't need to tell me that, I already started the day being bitter, all because of you'. Roger banged the door after him.

Ivory took off the apron she was wearing and dropped it. She leaned on the wall.

A lot of time, she had promised herself not to cry, but here she was, preparing to cry again. There was hardly a day when she had not cried. It now seemed she had never laughed all her life, it was not surprising that she didn't remember the last time she laughed.

'Mom?' She heard Stacy's voice and hurriedly wiped the tears that were already falling down her face.

'Are you ready to go?' She faked a smile.

'You would bet I am'. He walked to the dining table.

'Grandfather didn't finish his food?' He looked at Ivory suspiciously.

'Yes, he said he was full'. Ivory lied.

'Or do you two fight again?' He retained the suspicious look.

'Why should we fight? There is nothing to fight about'. Ivory dismissed with a smile.

'I hate it when you two fight. Adults are not supposed to fight'. He sat down.

'I told you earlier, we didn't fight!' 

'I hope so. I wish I could believe you, but he rarely leaves his food unfinished'.

'You had better be fast otherwise you will miss the bus'.

'I had better not miss it. The last thing I want is for me not to go out with you'. Stacy hurriedly opened the dish.

'I want to get something, I will be back'. Ivory said before going to her room. 

A glance at the mirror showed how badly she  was preparing to cry. She wiped the already dropping tears and wore her jacket. It was cold outside. She would not risk having the flu.

'Make sure to learn something today'. Ivory waved as Stacy got into the bus.

He waved back at her.