Thank You Chapet 1 A blood curdling scream woke me up I jumped up from my bed and ran into my daughters room “what’s the matter?” I asked her as I swept her up into my arms “I had a nasty dream Mummy,” she said crying I sat down on her bed with her on my lap rocking her gently “You wanna tell me about it?” I asked she nodded “I don’t want to scare you too Mummy” she said “Ok babe” I said standing back up and putting her down on her bed “Please don’t leave me Mummy”said tears beginning to fall again “Ok darling you wanna sleep in Mummy’s bed?” I asked her she smiled and got up and ran into my room she jumped on the bed and waited for me I got in and she cuddle up to me “Night Mummy” she said closing her eyes “Night angel” I said and went to sleep myself. The birds outside sang their lullaby as the sunlight lit up the bedroom I slowly opened my eyes and let them adjust to the light “” I said gently she stirred and woke up “Morning Mummy” she smiled “Come on get up time for you to get ready for school” she smiled as she rolled off the bed and went into her own room I went into the bathroom brushed my teeth and then went into my room I got changed into my work clothes a just above the knee length skirt which I adjusted to be a little shorter a light pink fitted blouse with the black jacket that matched the skirt I was a secretary at a popular insurance company it was a boring job but it was all that supported me and , I was 18 had a 4 year old daughter I was also single and had to bring up all by myself well at least the job paid well and I was lucky to have it after having to leave school at 14 with no qualifications. “Here sweetheart” I said placing a bowl of coco pops on the kitchen table she sat up at the table “Apple or Orange juice?” I asked as I opened the fridgethought for a second “Orange” she replied I poured her a glass and placed it near her bowl on the table she picked it up and drank from it gratefully “It’s cold” she giggled as she set the glass back down I smiled at her before returning to make her school pack lunch “Mummy will you put my hair up please?”asked as I clipped her lunch box shut “Yeah come here then” I said lifting her up onto my lap and picking the hair brush up from the side as I scraped her hair back I felt a lump on the side of her head “Where did you get that bump from?” I asked her “I don’t know” she said touching it “I must of banged my head when I woke up last night from that bad dream” she added “Hmmm” I mumbled and thought no more about it “Ok all set” I said as I shut the front door and walked her down to school “Bye, bye sweetheart have a good day” I said kissing her cheek “Bye, bye Mummy” she said waving her little hand as she ran off to join her friends I went to walk out of the class room door “Sorry” a young man said as I bumped into him “No I’m sorry I should have been looking where I was going” I replied looking up into a gorgeous pair ofeyes he smiled “Well I’ve got to go or I’ll be late” I said and quickly walked away avoiding any more confrontation I’d of melted if I stayed looking into his eyes any longer I walked back home and collected my work stuff I got into my car and drove to work “Hot stuff walking”the assistant manager called as I walked through the main department to get to my office “Morning” I said ignoring his comment I was used him saying this every time I walked past he was a young handsome man withhair andeyes he had power but he was a gentle soul who loved to fool around but he was also the managers son so he inherited the job I got to my office and sorted out today’s insurance details and reports which had been left on my desk. I watched the clock tick by waiting on till I could clock off I’d finished the work but I had to stay until the clock said 3.00 “You busy?”asked as he popped his head round the door “No I’m done why you got some work for me to do?” I asked “Yeah these few” he said handing me some reports “No problem” I smiled taking them “Thanks” he said and left “Oh no” I said looking at the clock which now said 3.30 I was supposed to finish half an hour ago I shut down the computer and locked my office door before running out through main department but I bumped straight into “Sorry I’m late” I said running out “Bye” he called “Bye” I said running down the few steps and climbing into my car I quickly drove to the school and went into’s classroom “I’m so sorry sweetheart” I said hugging her “It’s ok Mummy” she said a little sad as she took my hand and I led her out to the car “What’s the matter babe?” I asked as she put her seatbelt on “Nothing” she said looking down “Is it cos I was late?” I asked her and she burst into tears “Mummy I thought you weren’t gonna come for me” she cried “Honey I would always come for you, you’re my world” I said hugging her “You want to get some ice cream?” I asked her “Before dinner?” she asked looking confused I never let her have ice cream before dinner “Yeah your right how bout we go to McDonalds for dinner then?” I asked she smiled brightly “Please Mummy” she said “Ok” I said and left the school car park I drove into town and rook into McDonalds I ordered her a happy meal and a tea for me I didn’t like eating in these places much but I wasn’t gonna letmiss out on a young childhood habit I used to eat here when I was her age but when I turned 14 I realised I had to eat healthier foods. “Excuse me is it alright if I sit with you but she insisted” the young man I bumped into earlier asked “Amy”smiled happily to her as Amy sat beside her “Sure” I replied and let him sit down “I’mby-the-way” he said holding his hand out “” I replied and smiled at him “You don’t care much for these places either?” he asked “No but I not going to let her miss out” I said “She's your niece?” he asked “No she’s my daughter” I said which surprised him “You look to young to be a mum” he said “Yeah I’m 18 and I don’t want to talk about it” I said “I understand” he said and sipped from his coffee “She’s my sister’s daughter and she’s only 22” he said trying to make me feel better “Oh right so your sister lumbered her on you?” I asked laughing “Yeah” he laughed with me “It’s cool though I love looking after Amy” he smiled “Well we better be off” I said ashad finished as well as Amy “Mummy can Amy come back to ours?”asked “I’m sorry but I have to take her back home”said “Oh”and Amy said and looked down “How about you ask your mum if you can come round on Friday” I asked looking at Amy “Ok” she said smiling “Actually you can ask her yourself she’ll be taking Amy to school tomorrow”said “Ok I’ll do that then” I said, Amy,and I walked out of McDonalds we said our goodbyes and left to go our separate ways “Mummy did you really mean it that Amy can come round on Friday?”asked “Of course I did babe” I replied and as we reached home “Thanks Mummy” she smiled as she ran up to her room to play I went into the kitchen and made myself something to eat I looked up at the clock it had gone nine by now “” I called up the stairs “Yes mummy” she asked appearing at the top of the stairs “Time for you to go to bed” I said and ran up the stairs “But I’m not sleepy”complained “But if I let you stay up you’ll be really tired in the morning” I said “Ok” she said looking at the floor I walked past her into her room “Come on lets clear your Barbie’s up” I said as I picked up the small dolls and put them into the big pink plastic box I pushed it under her bed as she came back from the bathroom after cleaning her teeth “Will you read me a bedtime story?” she asked “What one?” I asked her “Cinderella” she replied “Ok” I said getting the book from the little bookshelf “And they all lived happily ever after the end…” I said as I looked at sleeping I carefully got up and tucked her in I kissed her forehead “Night angel” I said and left the room switching the light off I went into my room and went to bed myself I tired to go to sleep but I couldn’t stop thinking about I drifted off slowly… To Be Continued...