” Yes come in please.” Said Alice as she sat on her couch eating a cucumber that was anything but fresh. She had gotten a whole loads of vegetables for next to free and all things given for free In Texas were either obsolete or a few seconds to.
” My goodness babe what the hell are you eating. This cucumber looks so pale. Won’t it make your stomach hurt.” Alice asked looking irritated than surprised.
” Oh Alice it’s not as bad as it looks. It’s taste fresh to. Have a taste.” She smiled and innocently stretched it forward to her neighbor.
” Oh hell eat it all. I don’t go through the stress of fucking that stinking Japheth just to eat stale vegetables.” She mumbled and faced off like she had caught her eating poop.
” Yes that! Thanks for the water this morning. I really appreciate it.” Said Marilyn and dropped the munched vegetable back on the ceramic plate before cleaning her mouth.
” That’s nothing. I’m afraid I have sad news for both of us dear. Well it’s a good news for me and since you are my friend. It should also be for you.” Said Alice after sitting down on a couch. She was looking all Smart in her jean shorts and pink vest. A dressing style that made her look much younger than forty.
” That’s interesting my friend. I’m sure it’s something about development. What’s the news.” She asked.
” Yes yes. It appears so. My first son Morant, I don’t know if I ever told you about him. I had him when I was just fifteen.” She said and smiled in guilt.
” What! You have more kids than you already have here.” Marilyn asked in shock, forgetting to enact a pretentious calm.
” Oh look at you. I have five kids. Morant my first son is twenty five. Meredith my first daughter is twenty. Michelle is the third and he is seventeen then my twin babies Micah and Mirable are seven. Let’s just say I’m a fertile one.” Said Alice and chuckled softly.
” My goodness. You never told me about your two eldest children where is this Meredith now.” Marilyn asked in awe.
” In the Brothel of Arkansas. It’s a shame that she picked it up from where I left it. She’s a good lad and with a little more push from me, she would have stayed in school. Well oh well she hasn’t turned out badly at all. At least she helps me feed these three mouths just to think they don’t even share the same father.” Said Alice and hummed melodiously.
” Oh. That’s kind of her.” Said Marilyn who was still in shock at all the revelations thrown at her that she didn’t need to know.
” Well those are stories for another day. You know what I do here is no different from what a hooker does. I work two jobs and sleep around with a couple of old folks to balance my pay slip. My first son Morant knows about this. He knows I used to be an escort in the Brothel. It was his playground but he turned out with good morals. He just got a basketball college scholarships in Cleveland and from what he tells me, he got a little sponsorship from one of these sporting companies. They will pay him wages to support his dreams till he can be signed by a league club. I don’t know how much they pay him but all I know is that he has asked me to move over to Cleveland along with all his younger ones. Still to think they don’t share the same father hehehe ” she said and chuckled softly at her own words.
” Oh my goodness. You are leaving us. Oh Alice.” Said Marilyn as her mood went from scared to sullen. Her last pillar of support was leaving the neighborhood and it brought a whole deal of sadness and then fear and then sadness again.
” Yes sadly so. I will have to leave. I will have to do it for this three little kids. My daughters look up to me. Children learn a lot from their parents. Sleeping around with different men in this room while I pretend my girls can’t hear me in the next room is not going to help me. I did a bad job with Meredith. I don’t want to repeat the same with this little lads. Cleveland would give me an opportunity to start a new leash and who knows I may get closer to God or find true love again. Hehehe ”
” True love again? You mean baby daddy number four.” Marilyn chuckled with a teary smile.
” Nope. I mean baby daddy number six. Morant and Mary are of different fathers to. Damn it all my kids are of different fathers. I have tasted it all. You are too young to cage yourself in this dungeon while your husband is having the time of his life the pussies of those Arab ladies. Pull out babe! Hehehe”
” Oh my God. Funny you. My man don’t cheat.” Marilyn chuckled and smiled through the truth in her friends words.
” All men cheat. None are holy. You should have some fun. Look at me. I’m forty one. I still got the glee of a sixteen year old. Once in a while I go to the bar at night and pick random young dude to take me back to the good old eighties when I was young and wild. You can’t be this young and beautiful and be broke. Hell no! It’s a Cardinal sin.” Said Alice and stood up.
” So this is goodbye. When next shall we see? I’m really going to miss you.” Said Alice and bowed her head to the ground in reflection.
” Definitely I like to travel around and live the best life. If you don’t come up there, I will come down to visit you someday. A logistic truck should be on its way soon. My son paid for it. I’m sorry about the short notice. I just didn’t know he was going to come up big for us like this. You know I have no regrets whatsoever having birthed all these kids. Even if I don’t have money, I have them and it gives my heart so much joy than you can ever imagine. You have just one. It won’t do.” Said Alice with a smile on her face. Just then there was a knock on the door.
” Yes who is that please.” Marilyn asked.
” Mrs. Gustavo it’s us. Mira and Micha.” Said a male kid’s voice.
” Oh my darlings please come in.” Said Marilyn.
” Oh mum. You are here to.” Said Matilda who had a big jacket and jean trousers that was fitted into her supra boots. The grooming of her twin brother wasn’t any different.
” Hell Yeah I’m here. I wasn’t going to leave without saying bye to my friend was I ?” Alice said as she gazed at the kids admiringly as if she had not seen them in a long time.
” Oh well. Mrs. Gustavo we came to say farewell to Erica even though we know she will be at school by now. We want to let you know that we are going to miss you all and we won’t forget you.” Said Micah in a tone that was innocent and free of emotion. He was clearly excited to leave Texas behind.
” Oh my little lovelies. That’s so kind of both of you. Your departure would come as shock to Erica but I know she would grow out of it.” Said Marilyn and found her palms wiping off the tears from her eyes. Alice and her kids were the closest thing she had to family and they weren’t even so close. Their leaving meant she was going to be in for one hell of a lonely winter and she knew it.
” Me especially. I’m going to miss her so much. She’s like the little sister I never had.” Said Mirabel in a very sullen tone.
” Well be careful for what you wish for. I’m still fertile and who knows, you might just be in luck if I find true love in Cleveland.” Said Alice with a grin on her face.
” Eww mum stop it! That’s so disgusting.” Said Mirabel and placed her face in her palms, feeling ashamed for what her mother had said.
” I swear it makes me want to puke.” Said Micah and wagged his head in irritation while Alice and Marilyn were compelled to laugh.
” Okay kids. Leave us alone now. I will like to have some time alone with Mrs. Gustavo.” Said Alice and this time around there was seriousness in her words.
” Okay mum. Farewell Mrs. Gustavo.” They said almost in Unison.
” Oh is it that bad. Won’t I get a hug.” Marilyn chuckled and threw her hands open. They wasted no time in investing their emotions on the sides of her belly.
” You two have always been good kids. It’s the reason why I let my daughter play with you. Don’t ever let go of your good values and always choose to imbibe positive virtues in all situation. Okay?” She said to them as she caressed their scalps in an affectionate manner.
” Thank you Mrs. Gustavo we would keep that in mind.” They said. Sighed deeply and took their leave leaving the two women alone in the room.