A Kind Gesture

Lesley quietly opened the front door in order not to wake anyone. She hasn't told her mom yet that she got a job and she didn't want to be caught at that spot, but as we all know, things doesn't go according as we always planned.

Quietly closing the door and almost tip toeing upstairs to her room, the lights were switched on. There stood her mom with a cup of coffee, standing at a corner giving Lesley a deathly look.

"Welcome back home, young lady" she said..

Lesley awkwardly chuckled, putting a hand behind her neck.

"I can explain mom".

" Yeah, you better do. Where the hell have you been? Why are you just coming home by this time? Why did I come back home to meet Ethan all by himself with Julia, for goodness sake"?.

"I'm sorry mom, I should have told you".

"Told me what"?.

"Well, I got a job".

"A job"?.

"Yes, a job".

"Why do you need a job"?.

"To support myself".

"What do you mean to support yourself? Don't I take care of your needs enough"?.

"You do and I appreciate it, but taking care of my needs isn't enough. I want to be able to take care of my wants without involving you".

She didn't want to tell her mom the main reason for getting a job, so she just said that.

"Your wants"?.

"Yes, and besides, this job will help me grow up and become more matured a lot. I get to know the feeling of budgeting one's money and not spending it unnecessarily".

"OK, I get what you're saying, but I don't like the hours you close".

" Seriously mom, its literally just 9:53. I close by 9:30, which I don't see anything wrong with. Besides I work part time, after school hours. I think the time's OK for me".

"But...."

"Don't worry mom, I'll be fine. I didn't even come home alone. I was accompanied by a coworker. He lives nearby, so we'll probably be coming home together most of the time".

"That coworker of yours is a boy right"?.

"Yes".

"Phew, at least I feel relieved you're not coming home alone considering how dangerous it is for a girl to walk alone at night".

"I know, that's why I said I'll be fine. I have company".

"OK fine, but what do we do about your brother? You can't just be leaving him home alone and you can't keep on asking Julia to watch over him all the time until I'm back".

"It's high time, you guys realize that I'm old enough to be home alone" Ethan said from upstairs.

"Ethan, how long have you been there" Lesley asked.

"Long enough. Look I'm saying this again for the hundred time, I can take care of myself. I'm literally 11 years".

"No, I do not want you to be left home alone" Sandra said.

"And why is that"?.

"Cause you're not old enough to be alone".

" Mom, I'm 11, I can take care of myself. I'm not gonna be a hindrance to Lesley's job. Once school's over, she'll go over to her job and I'll come home. Besides it's nice having the house all to myself".

"You rascal, seems like you're not even gonna miss me when I'm not home".

"Yeah, I won't".

" Seriously Ethan, you could at least lie to make me feel good even for just a short time".

"I don't want to. And besides it just like they say " Honesty is the key".

"No one says that" Lesley said.

"I know, just decided to say it".

" Whatever. Mom you heard him, he can take care of himself, so I don't see any problem with him being home alone. Just let me keep this job please".

"You kids are growing too fast. Fine, you guys can do as you wish".

"Thank you so much mom. I'll go upstairs then, I'm so tired and I really need to sleep" Lesley said yawning.

"OK, you both should go to bed. It's late".

Lesley closed her locker after taking her books and got the shock of her life.

Julia was literally peering at her, waiting for her to be done with what she was doing.

"Gosh, what's wrong with you"? she asked.

"What do you mean"? Julia replied back.

Lesley jokingly hit her on the arm.

"You startled me".

"Oh sorry. I just wanted to know what you think about the job"

"C'mon Julia, you should rest. Classes hasn't even begun yet and all you're thinking about is what I think about my job"?.

"Just spill the tea girl".

"Fine, it was OK".

"That's all"?.

"What else do you want to hear"?.

"If anyone's mean to you".

"No one's mean to me. They're actually nice especially Spencer".

"Uuuuuuuuh" Julia said giving her a dirty look. "Who's Spencer"?.

"Just a guy I met at work. He's my coworker".

"Andddddd"?.

"And what Julia? That's all".

" I'm pretty sure that's not all. You're leaving out some deets but that's cool. You're gonna spill it one day".

"Whatever Julia, let's just get to class please"

"If you say so ma'am".

Lesley didn't want to tell Julia the full details. She knew Julia would read more into it".

"So I want you guys to read page 14 and 15, that'll be where we'll focus on in our class, OK"?.

" Yes Ma" the class responded in unison.

"And also your assignments carries a 10% of your overall mark, so you should take it seriously".

The bell rang signaling the end of class for day.

Lesley started packing her books into her bags in order for her not to be late to her part time job.

"Where you off to Speedy"?.

"What do you mean where am I off to? My job of course".

"So fast? Calm down girl, everything's not about your job. Won't you at least meet up with your brother before you go since he won't be seeing you till night"?.

Lesley slowed down upon hearing her say that.

" I just don't want to be late since I want to make an impression on my boss".

"You're not gonna be late".

They stepped out of the classroom together walking towards the exit of the school building.

"Heyyyyyyyyy, Lesley wait up".

They turned back, seeing Rodney and Nathan jogging towards them.

"Hi girls" Nathan said waving at them.

"Where you've been"? Julia said hitting him hard on his back.

Nathan was shocked by her actions as he didn't know they had reached that level to the point of her hitting him.

" Oh c'mon, don't look at me that way. We're friends with Rodney which automatically makes you our friend too, so yes, I get to hit you that way".

Nathan looked towards Rodney and Lesley who were quiet all this while. Rodney slightly raised his shoulders and slightly spread out both arms, signalling to Nathan not to look at him as he doesn't understand himself.

"Don't mind her Nathan, she behaves like that sometimes" Lesley chimed in

"No, it's okay. It's just that I've never had a friend hit me like that. She's the first".

" Oh, it's such an honour to be the first person to treat you like that.. You should expect more hitting from now on" Julia said laughing which made Nathan laugh too.

"So where you off to Lesley" Rodney asked.

"Why does all of you keep on asking me the same question, as if you don't know where I go to after school".

"Oh yes, your job. It skipped my mind for a moment. I could drop you there".

Lesley was about to reject his offer when Julia put her palm over her mouth and spoke instead.

"That is so kind of you Rodney, we would love that. You could drop Lesley off at work and just drop me and Ethan at home".

" Sure I could do that. By the way, where's Ethan"?.

"Just a few more minute, he'll be here" Julia said.

Lesley removed Julia's palm from her lips and then whispered to her.

"Why'd you do that for"?.

" To stop you from saying anything stupid. Look it's all being solved. We get a free ride and you don't get to be late to work". Julia replied.

"Seriously Julia".

"Just relax girl".

"Oh, there comes your brother" Nathan said.

Ethan strode towards them.

"Hey kiddo" Rodney ruffled his hair smiling which Ethan liked a lot. "Nice to see you again".

"Same Senior. Why are y'all gathered together"?.

" Nothing serious. Rodney just gonna drop both of us home, and your sister, her workplace". Julia said.

"Really, that's cool. I've always wanted to get in your car again" He said excitedly.

"And today's your lucky day. C'mon, get in everyone" Rodney replied...