"Do you want to stay with mama for the summer baby?" Leigh-Anne asked her seven year old who was sitting in her lap watching cartoons. Jesy shrugged her shoulders, she didn't know about a whole two months with Perrie, she barely knew the woman.

"How come mama doesn't live with us anymore."

"She lives with her new girlfriend babe."

"Aren't you her girlfriend mommy?"

"No baby."

"But you have a ring that mama gave you, remember?"

"Yes I don't wear it anymore." Leigh-Anne looked down at the tan line on her ring finger from where her wedding ring once was.

"Why not?"

"Because mama and I aren't together anymore."

"Why?"

"We just grew apart bubba." Leigh-Anne lied. Perrie cheated on her and they broke up. She wasn't going to tell Jesy that because she didn't want her to feel any way towards Perrie.

"Oh. So I'm going with mama and her new girlfriend for the summer?"

"If you want to"

"Do I have to call her mommy?"

"No. You don't have to call her mommy. I'm your mommy, not her. Mama and I are your parents."

"Okay. I dont know if I want to stay with mama"

"Thats fine. She asked to see you this weekend. Is that okay with you?"

Jesy nodded.

"Okay, let's get ready for bed now. You have school tomorrow."

Jesy followed Leigh-Anne into their small bedroom. Laying down on the air mattress.

After the divorce Leigh-Anne was left with nothing. So she picked up a job that didn't pay that much. She was on government assistance. She was making things work for herself and Jesy. But as Jesy got older it became harder. The girl was growing and eating more, she had to pay for school supplies and uniforms. It was a struggle. One day she picked Jesy up from school and she was crying. Some kids were picking on her because her sneakers and book bag were a bit shabby.

That day Leigh-Anne had to swallow her pride and ask Perrie for help. She didn't want to ask her for anything but since it was for Jesy she did.She only asked her for three hundred dollars. For Jesy to have a new book bag, clothes and sneakers for school. Perrie said she would take care of it, but she never got back to her.

The following morning Leigh-Anne ironed Jesy's uniform and made her breakfast before waking her up.

"Come eat baby"

Jesy got up to eat breakfast. While she did that Leigh-Anne folded the blankets and deflated the air mattress.

"Mommy?"

"Yes baby?"

"Do you have ten dollars?"

"For what bub?"

"My trip mommy. Remember I told you about it?"

"Ah yes. I remember.  I have the ten dollars and I'll buy you some lunch, okay?" Jesy nodded with a smile.

"Thanks mommy" Leigh-Anne kissed Jesys head telling her to get dressed so they can go. Leigh-Anne looked through their closet for her box where she kept a little bit of extra money. She was not expecting it to be empty, but then she remembered that her check wasn't as much as she expected so she had to use the rest of the cash to pay the rent.

She looked through her wallet and jacket pockets trying to scrape up at least ten dollars for Jesy. She would just pack her lunch. She didn't want her classmates to make fun of her, she only went on the free school trips last year and all the kids used to tease her about it. She smiled when she found twenty dollars in her Jacket pocket.

"Mommy"

"Yes baby. Are you ready?"

"Yes"

"Okay, let's go" Leigh-Anne got dressed leaving their apartment with Jesy right behind her. Locking the door.

"It smells" Jesy covered her nose, the hallways weren't the cleanest and always smelled like urine.

"I know bubba. Come on"

Leigh-Anne walked with her to the Deli ordering her a chicken wrap. She picked up a bottle of water for the girl.

"Grab a snack baby"

"Can I have these mommy?" She asked, holding up a pack of chocolate chip cookies.

"Yes, would you like anything else?"

"Can I have juice please?" Leigh-Anne nodded and Jesy went to get a caprisun. Leigh-Anne was hoping this stuff didn't come up to over ten dollars.

She put the items on the counter.

"I have this and a chicken wrap"

"Your total is nine fifty." Leigh-Anne handed the man the twenty and tucked the rest of her change away.

"Here you go" He handed her the bag and she began walking Jesy to school.

"Are you coming with me mommy?"

"No, baby. Mommy has to go to work."

"Please can you come with me. Everyone else's parents go with them. You can come"

"I can't babe, maybe next time"

"That's what you said last time mommy" 

"I know, I'm sorry baby."

"Is work more important than me?"

"No, nothing is more important than you baby but if mommy doesn't work then we won't have anywhere to live."

"We can go live with mama. Don't you want to see the animals?"

"I would love to. Maybe we can go on the weekend. Just me and you Okay?"

"Okay" Leigh-Anne could hear the disappointment in her voice and she felt bad.

"I love you. Have a good day and make sure you eat all of your lunch and pay close attention so you can tell me about all the animals okay?"

"Uh huh"

"I'm really sorry I can't come with you baby."

"Its fine." Jesy mumbled looking at the ground as tears filled her eyes.

"Dont cry. Next trip I will be there"

"Promise?"

"I promise." Leigh-Anne knew she shouldn't have promised but she didn't like to see Jesy cry. So if that meant taking a day off of work and going hungry a few days that's what she was going to do.

She wiped jesys tears putting her food into her bag.

"No wait."

"Whats wrong?"

"Do you think that I can just take my lunch because we're going on a trip?"

"Yes, here you go." Leigh-Anne took the worn bookbag and handed her the plastic bag with her food in it and the ten dollars

"Thank you mommy."

"You're welcome. I love you to the moon and back baby" Jesy kissed her mothers cheek giving her a hug and began walking to the building. She turned around waving.

"Bye bye"

"I'll see you later" Leigh-Anne waved and rushed home to shower and change her clothes.

"Why? Why today?!" There was no hot water. She couldn't shower in cold water so she warmed some water on the stove and washed her body. She put on her uniform and walked to the train station. She swiped her metro card and it read insufficient Fare. It was only then that she realized that that twenty dollars was to refill her card to get on the train.

She sighed and began to walk to work. She knew she was going to be late.

"You're late again Pinnock. What's your excuse this time?"

"I don't. . . I don't have one sir."

"You come into work late one more time and you're done. I don't care if you're late by a minute or a millisecond you're fired. You got me?"

"Yes sir"

"I want this entire school cleaned." Leigh-Anne nodded.

She started in the cafeteria as it was in the lowest floor. She had to clean an entire four level high-school. Thankfully the students weren't in this week. She began cleaning. She didn't mind it but this amount of work in such a short amount of time was overbearing. Once she got started she was moving at a decent pace.

Four o'clock came around In no time and Leigh-Anne was almost finished with the last few classrooms on the top floor. She was exhausted, she didn't eat all day, and barely slept last night. She needed a break. Her phone was ringing nonstop and she finally decided to pick it up.

"Where are you?"

"I'm at work Perrie"

"Okay well, can you drop your location or something."

"For what?"

"You forgot to pick up our daughter from school thats what for."

"Holy shit!"  Leigh-Anne had no idea it was this late.

"Yeah, yeah. I'll do that." She hung up sending Perrie her location. She mopped over the floors and put her cleaning cart back. She waited outside and saw Perries sleek black car pull up.

She walked over the the passenger side but got in the back when she saw someone sitting there.

"Hey baby"  she kissed Jesys forehead.

"You smell mommy" she said quietly pushing Leigh-Anne away from her. The smell of the cleaning products were burning her nose.

The rest of the car ride was silent and once Perrie pulled up in front of the apartment building Leigh-Anne got out with Jesy.

"Thank you"

"You're welcome. Jesy I love you, I'll see you tomorrow"

"See you tomorrow mama, bye miss Jade!"

The woman in the passenger seat waved at the well mannered girl.

"I'm going to go take a quick shower and then you can tell me all about your day."

Leigh-Anne went into the bathroom taking a shower while Jesy opened her lunch bag. She at one cookie at lunch and saved the other. Putting on her cartoons

Leigh-Anne came out dressed in her pajamas.

"How was your day, baby?" She asked sitting next to her daughter.

"It was okay.I can't wait for us to go together. There was a huge peacock mommy. He was really pretty and um. Yeah"

"Thats it? There was only a peacock"

"There was other stuff but I wasn't really interested."

"Why not?"

"Daniel" she said quietly.

"What happened with Daniel"

"He called me a bum. He said I'm homeless. And that I stole my lunch,everyone believed him mommy. Im not homeless and you paid for my food." She began to cry. Leigh-Anne pulled the girl into her lap wrapping her arms around her. Kids could be such dicks sometimes.

"Dont worry about what he says, did you tell your teacher?"

"No. Because then he would've called me a snitch."

" I will have a word with your teacher. Tomorrow  morning. You don't have to worry."

Jesy nodded.

"I saved this for you mommy, you didn't have breakfast" Jesy held out the wrap for Leigh-Anne.  There were a few bites taken out of it.

"I told you to eat everything bub."

"I know but we weren't allowed to eat at the zoo so I ate a little bit on the bus and Mama brought me McDonald's after-school."

"You ate?"

"Yes, and then we went to the park and I played with mama and Ms. Jade."

"Did you have fun with mama?"

"Uh huh she was on the phone so Ms.Jade played with me."

"Thats very nice of her."

"Yeah, she's really nice."

They talked a bit more and then Leigh-Anne went into the kitchen devouring the wrap. She was starving.

"Jesy?"

"Yes mommy."

"I'm going to lay down for a bit, I'm really tired"

"Okay. Goodnight mommy"

"I'm not going to bed. Just going to get a little rest." Jesy nodded and Leigh-Anne inflated the bed laying down. Soon as she closed her eyes she fell asleep. She was tired she slept to about ten PM.

When she got up she saw that Jesy was cuddled up next to her sleeping. She got up making her dinner.

"Come, get up babe."

Jesy whined turning the other way.

"You need to eat"

"I'm sleepy mommy"

"I know you can go back to sleep after you eat." She pulled the girl up leading her to the small glass table.

Jesy laid her head on the table. She wasn't hungry, she just wanted to sleep.

"Eat a little bit for me please."

"Jesy" She tapped the girl.

"Eat babe" jesy picked up the spoon lazily spooning food into her mouth.

Once she ate a decent amount Leigh-Anne sent her back to bed. Leigh-Anne cleaned up the kitchen and living room. She shouldn't have taken that nap. Her sleep schedule was all over the place and she was going to be even more tired at work.

The next morning was a struggle. She woke Jesy up earlier because she had to leave for work earlier since her job was walking distance.

"No mommy please" Jesy was on the brink of tears.

"You can sleep a little before school after you eat breakfast baby." Leigh-Anne got out of the shower putting on her uniform.

She got Jesy dressed since she wasn't doing it herself. She and Jesy began to fifteen minute walk to her school.

Jesy began to drag her feet not wanting to walk anymore. She was dragging behind Leigh-Anne. She lightly tugged on Jesys hands to that she would pick up her pace.

"Pick up your feet babe"

Jesy stopped walking.

"I can't! I dont want to walk anymore mommy." Jesy sniffled. Leigh-Anne picked the girl up. She couldn't be late and risk getting fired. Once to the school building she put the girl down.

"Go get on line for breakfast." She told her. She spotted her Teacher sitting at the second grade table.

"Can I talk to you please?" Leigh-Anne asked the woman.

"Yes. Is everything okay?"

"No, One of your students is picking on my daughter. "

"Do you know who?"

"Daniel"

"Which one?"

"I don't know, but he's calling her names and making fun of her."

"I will definitely talk to him about it."

Leigh-Anne told Jesy to come over to her.

"Tell your teacher his name bub"

"Daniel K."

"Okay. I will talk to his parents. Thank you for letting me know." Leigh-Anne nodded thanking the woman.

"I love you. Have a good day." She kissed Jesys cheek.

"Love you too mommy. Want some?" She held the bagel up to Leigh-Anne.  She took a small bite waving at Jesy leaving the school. She rushed to work. She was half an hour early. She went into the closet where her cleaning cart was and sat down with her back against the wall. She closed her eyes hoping to get some rest. This lasted about twenty minutes until the door was opened.

"What the hell Pinnock!" She looked up seeing the principal.

"I'm sorry, my shift hasn't started yet, I was just trying to get some rest sir."

"Rest at home. I asked you to clean the school. You cleaned the classrooms and hallways. The gym and locker rooms are a mess."

Leigh-Anne got up brushing her clothes off making her way to the gym. She cleaned the huge gym sweeping the trash from under the bleachers and sweeping the wood floors before mopping. Something that should take her about an hour max took her about three. She half assed the locker room.

It was about two thirty when her boss asked to see her.

"What are you saying?"

"I'm going to have to let you go"

" I was early."

"Yeah but you sleeping on the job, coming in late and stealing things." Leigh-Anne did take a few rolls of tissue.

"Please. I won't do it anymore. I have a child I have to provide for"

The man stared at her. He didn't really care.

"I cleaned this entire fucking place for you. By my self. You work me more than you should and pay me less than Twelve dollars an hour . I'm tired because I'm overworked. I come in late because I can't afford a bus or train pass and yes, I stole some tissue. Maybe if you paid me I wouldn't have to steal. I'm so fucking tired of you and this bullshit.You want me here seven days a week. I dont even get to see my kid. I see her for a few hours when I get off and half the time I'm too exhausted to spend time with her. I have to hold her and listen to her cry because kids are calling her bum at school. She's seven. She's seven!! You know what fuck you and fuck this job."

"You will be paid through the rest of the month"

"Fuck you" Leigh-Anne spat. Knocking the cart of supplies over and brushing past the man.

She wiped her face and left to go pick up Jesy.

"Wheres mommy Jesy?" The girls teacher asked.

"She's coming."

"Is everything okay at home Jesy? You were awfully sleepy today and Mommy is late a lot"

"She works far miss"

"Should I call your mama?"

"No. She's coming."

An hour and thirty minutes later Leigh-Anne walked into the classroom. She was sweaty and out of breath.

"Mommy!" Jesy ran over to Leigh-Anne hugging her.

"Go get your things baby" Jesy got her bag walking back over to her mother.

"Bye miss"

"Have a good day"

"You too. Thank you so much" Leigh-Anne said, taking Jesy's hand.

"Are you okay mommy?"

"Yes babe. How was school"

"Good. Daniel didn't pick on me today"

"Thats good baby."

"Can we still watch the incredibles today?"

"Sure. Once you finish your homework. Mama is coming to get you at seven."

"Okay" Once home both of them showered and Jesy started her homework. She was almost done as she was working on it in class.

"Im finished !"

"Let me see" She handed the paper to Leigh-Anne.

"Very good. Good job."  She looked over the paper. Jesy smiled, putting the paper into her folder, running to get the incredibles DVD. She sat with Leigh-Anne watching the movie.

Leigh-Anne was on her phone trying to find places that were hiring near her.

"Saw that mommy?"

"Uh huh, it was so cool" Leigh-Anne said, assuming one of the characters did something superhero-like.

Jesy nodded. Once that one finished she out on incredibles 2. Leigh-Anne got it for her birthday. She couldn't get the girl much but Jesy didn't mind. She watched the movies multiple times a week. She just liked to spend time with Leigh-Anne. 

She tapped Leigh-Anne who was curled up on the sofa sleeping with her head resting on the arm of the chair  

"What's wrong bubba?"

"You can sleep mommy." Jesy told her. 

"I'm up babe. Just resting my eyes." She cuddled Jesy waiting for Perrie. Who came knocking about twenty minutes later.

Leigh-Anne opened the door for her.

"Go pack some clothes while I talk to mommy. Okay?" Jesy nodded, going to get her bag that Leigh-Anne packed for her.

"Is this really where you have her? This is the fucking slums Leigh-Anne. Blood splattered all over the stairwell and drug bags and capsules. I don't want her seeing this everyday."

"Perrie I'm not in the mood for your shit today" Leigh-Anne had enough on her plate. The last thing she needed was her ex wife to start pushing her buttons.

"Why didn't you tell me that you're living paycheck to paycheck. If you can even call it that."

"I'm doing the best I can! Maybe if you could step up and be a mother things would be different."

"Step up and be a mother?"

"Yes. Step up and be a mother. I don't even ask you for much. You make six figures and all I ask for is three hundred dollars for your daughter. You couldn't even do that. You never want to spend time with her and now that you're with your little girlfriend you want to play mommy. You want to play house so you want her. It's not fair to her. Don't do that to her."

"I'll take her shopping this weekend, it's not a big deal. Calm down" Perrie smiled.

"I'm not joking. It's not about the money Perrie. You can't buy her a bunch of stuff and expect her to forget that you walked out on her."

"You broke up with me."

"You cheated on me! I did everything right and I was still not good enough for you!!"

"Mommy?"

"Yeah baby?"

"I love you. And I'm going to miss you."

"I'll miss you too, baby. Be good and remember your manners. Yes?"

"Yes mommy."

"Good, I love you and I will see you on sunday"

"Monday" Perrie cut in.

"Sunday. I will see you on sunday."

"I'll drop her off to school, you can pick her up"

"No, I'll take her to school. I want her here Sunday night"

"That's too bad. She's not just your child. Come on baba" Jesy hugged Leigh-Anne tight. She didn't know if she wanted to go anymore. This would be her first time alone with Perrie for an extended period of time.

"Mommy. I don't want to go" She whispered to