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Building Yourself Up and Falling with Grace

Narrator.

“Ash,” Andy called out from behind Grace as soon she left the bedroom. Andy knew exactly what to do to get his way.

“Yes, dad?”

“How would you like to come live with me for a while?” Andy asked, anxious at how this might go.

Grace sighed silently as Ashton’s face glowed with glee. Grace knew she had just lost the fight. Grace knew Andy would get his way eventually. There was no point fighting, especially not with Ashton. However, Andy and Grace’s argument was nowhere near over.

“Really?!” he screeched, jumping up from the carpet and his toys.

“Uh huh,” Andy confirmed. Ashton began jumping around the room. Grace rubbed her forehead. She was nervous for the future, like all mothers occasionally are.

“That’s what mom and I were talking about in there. Would you like to come home with me, Ash?”

“Yeah! We could be a family!” he rejoiced.

Grace glanced at Andy. Was that what he wanted – to be a happy family? She couldn’t envision it at all. She wanted to, but she simply couldn’t.

Ashton went running around the motel room grabbing this and that to pack. Andy could tell Grace wasn’t happy with his interference but he couldn’t understand how she could be content with the life she was living. He just wanted to make things better for Ashton.

He had checked the train times and there was a train coming in just under an hour that would take them to the desired stop. He strolled into the bedroom where Grace stood, folding Ashton’s clothes into a bag. He noticed she hadn’t changed out of her outfit. He sat on the bed as she stood by its side, placing a t-shirt in the bag on top of the blankets.

“I hope you’re not wearing those harlotry clothes there,” Andy spoke softly. He knew what he’d said earlier had hurt her feelings so he used an innocuous tone. She didn’t turn to look at him, placing another top on the pile.

“There will be some friends over and stuff for dinner, too,” Andy added.

“I’ll need to buy some then. I don’t have anything suitable,” Grace said quietly.

“That’s fine. We’ve got nearly an hour before we have to be at the train station,” he smiled at her but she didn’t notice, folding away, not meeting his eyes.

“Let me get the stuff from the bathroom,” he tried to make himself useful, getting up, grabbing the toiletries bag from the top of the dresser and sauntered into the en-suite.

Andy’s voice echoed slightly from the tiled room as he asked what the hotel supplied so he wouldn’t collect it. Grace told him to pack every product in the bathroom.

Five minutes later, Grace had packed all of Ashton’s clothes and was doing her own. Her wardrobe consisted of: two pairs of sweatpants, two black t-shirts and one padded singlet. The clothes she had in relation to work consisted of: one long coat to cover everything getting to and from work, four chemises, hosiery and various sets of underwear.

“The hotel doesn’t supply its residents anything? Not even shampoo and conditioner?” he asked, surprised, as he sauntered out. It was a very cheap hotel but even the cheap ones supplied little bottles of hair product, soap and towels.

“I have a deal with the owner. He doesn’t supply anything but towels and tea and coffee,” Grace replied, placing another pair of the lacy underwear in the bag.

“Why? That is ridiculous” Andy said, angry the hotel wasn’t providing for its guests but also angry at Grace – for choosing to live at such a hotel with their son.

“He gives me this room for free,” Grace replied, grabbed another G-string to place in the carrier. Andy didn’t want to look at the garment in Grace’s hands so he looked at her face that only glanced at him. “In return, we have a water, gas and electricity limit. If we go over it, I pay for the room’s usage,” she explained.

“Would that mean you may have to pay more than the room costs?”

“No, we’ve only gone over a few times. It’s always the electricity – mainly in either winter or summer due to heating or cooling.” Andy nodded. “The hotel owner decides the limit based on his profits – so he is never losing money – but it’s always been reasonable and generous considering he’s letting us live here for free basically.”

“Do you give him anything else in return?” Andy said suggestively, laughing a little at his joke. He was trying to lighten the mood because the atmosphere was still tense and serious.

Grace looked back down at the bag in front of her, zipping it closed slowly. Andy’s making fun of her upset her and it irked her something such as a simple joke would do so. Andy sighed, knowing it offended her whether she managed to hide it or not.

“I’m sorry,” he apologized. “I know that was out of line. It’s your business what you do. I’m only concerned about your prostitution because of Ashton and his innocence. But apart from that, whatever you do with others isn’t my business,” he said gravely.

“Thank you,” Grace’s voice was quiet as she dragged the bag to the door of the room. Andy followed her, expecting more of an answer to what he just said. Ashton was looking at a children’s book on the couch and smiled broadly at them. They got back to the room where Grace did extend her response.

“I do understand where you’re coming from. Ashton doesn’t know anything about my… work,” Grace said, glancing around the room – at anything but Andy.

Andy stepped clear into her line of sight. He didn’t want things to be like this where Grace was uncomfortable. They were still companions and Andy wanted to keep it like that – at least for Ashton’s sake.

“He thinks I work at a house – which, I suppose, I do – but he knows nothing about the sex work. He thinks I’m a cleaner or cook or something. He’s never even heard the word ‘prostitute’, let alone its meaning. You needn’t worry about his innocence,” Grace assured him. He gave a weak smile and nodded.

It wasn’t long before they were leaving the hotel forever.

+++

Half an hour had gone by and Grace was still in the same town square. Where else was she meant to go? It was getting close to 4.30pm now. Grace didn’t have the energy to walk home and had she tried to, by the time she got there, it would be dark and that’s assuming she walks as fast as she did to get there. She knew it would get cold soon, also. Just trying to keep herself busy and not think too much about the situation, Grace walked around the town. Most of the shops were getting ready to close. That didn’t matter anyway because she didn’t have any money; she didn’t have anything on her person.

After circling the square a few times, Grace found she was following her nose – there was something really nice being cooked close by. Her feet were aching like hell again but that wasn’t the thing on her mind – the rumbling of her stomach was. Her bottom lip had copped a serious chewing as panic was setting in again. She was power walking to wherever the source of this scrumptious smell was. It led her to the entrance of a lane that didn’t look very friendly. Shadows were now rimming shapes of things as the dark threatened to take over.

Grace wandered down the passage slowly, looking like a deer in headlights. She found the source of the food. It was a barbeque cooking in someone’s backyard adjacent to the passage. She tried not to feel so hungry but she couldn’t deny that her mouth was watering. Grace had no intentions of gate-crashing as she’d never gate-crashed in her life and she didn’t want to be rude. She looked back at the end of the lane, seeing figures around the entrance. It wasn’t very dark yet but she couldn’t see enough of whoever they were to feel entirely safe to leave that way. She kept going.

The first noteworthy thing Grace passed was a homeless man, slouched against the wall with gray and white, curly hair protruding out from under his ragged green beanie. His clothes were shabby and his eyes were just as gray as his hair as he looked at Grace with amusement and gloom at the same time. Her eyes hit the pavement as she swallowed her fear. He was harmless. She wasn’t frightened of him. She feared she would become like that.



With everything packed, Grace hugged the hotel owner and his wife at the hotel’s reception.

“Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for us,” she told them. “I insist I pay for yesterday and today – to pay for the cleaning and everything of the room,” she stated, dismissing the protests of the couple.

She handed the man the money as Ashton and Andy sat down a few meters away. It was at that point the man asked quietly: “is that the boy’s father?” Grace nodded in response, giving him a look full of hope.

“Are you sure leaving with him is a good idea?” he asked. Grace’s expression portrayed she wasn’t entirely sure but praying it was. His wife took Grace’s hands and held them and Grace was moved by her affection.

“We wish you all the best, Grace,” the woman told her. Grace thanked her and her husband again before picking up her bag and leaving with the boys.

***

Grace kept walking down the passage and hit the jackpot. The first clue was the smell. The second was the other people heading into the building. The third was the sign: FREE meals here. Grace hurried in after the hobos and other smelly homeless people. A few of them pushed past her when she stood and looked around, making a beeline for the long canteen line. Grace soon joined them.

Grace looks around for a menu but there wasn’t one. Grace’s mouth was watering like a high pressure fountain by the time she got even close to the serving counter. As she drew near, there was another sign: If you’re pregnant, please let us know. Grace glanced at her currently flat stomach. Why would they want to know if she – or anyone else – was pregnant or not? Grace got to the front and the lady serving. She looked like a friendly and lovely grandma with her gray and white hair.

“What would you like: chicken or veggie?” she asked. Grace didn’t have to think about her answer.

“Chicken, please.” The lady filled up a bowl with chicken soup and put a slice of toast and butter on a tray for her like everyone else got.

“There you go,” the lady smiled.

“U-uh, the sign asks to tell you if you’re pregnant…” Grace stammered.

She was nervous at the prospect of disapproval but predominantly, rejection. She needed food in her stomach as soon as possible. She hadn’t eaten anything for hours and she was worried about the baby. It took the lady a few seconds to respond, making Grace feel small but she responded with a smile.

“Oh, okay,” the lady added another slice of toast on the plate. “You must look after yourself,” she told her caringly, pushing the tray closer to her.

Grace nodded and thanked her, taking the tray and looking for a seat. She didn’t want to sit by herself because she knew she’d think about everything and then panic again. She sat down next to a guy that looked around her age. He only glanced at her, then her clothes, before continuing to slurp up his meal.

***

Grace

I stepped out of the changing room at the cozy thrift store in the dress. It was a lovely yellow plaid dress I’d admired for years but never had the courage to buy. I’d spent so much of my time watching what I bought to save for Ashton and buy only what was needed. Now that Andy was offering to help with Ashton’s upbringing, I could afford to spend a little. And, I was not prepared to show up at Andy’s parents’ house in sweat pants and a singlet, particularly when they’re going to have friends over.

“Oh, mom!” Ashton exclaimed, grasping a children’s book in his small hands. “You look like a princess!” he told me and Andy nodded.

“Yes, you do. It looks great on you,” Andy complimented me. I turned by back to him to cover up my blush before looking in the mirror.

“Thank you,” I said, looking at the dress from a side view. I decided it was the one, not to mention we didn’t have a lot of time now. I went to the counter to pay for it and I knew the checkout lady as I bought many things from here previously.

“So, you’ve finally bought it!” she exclaimed as she knew how long I’d had my eye on it. I smiled at her as she bagged the item. “It still looks so good on you,” she told me as she’d seen me try it on before. The deal breaker was the price. It wasn’t expensive but I didn’t need the dress and I wasn’t prepared to pay such a price for something I won’t wear very much.

“Thank you,” I blushed slightly, glancing around to see Andy sitting down with Ashton and looking through children’s books.

“Is that Ashton’s dad?” she asked as I swiped my debit card. I nodded at her. She looked worried as she judged him.

“Is everything okay?” she asked, handing over the bag.

“Yes, he wants to get involved with Ash,” I informed her.

“Don’t let him hurt you again,” she warned me, grabbing a piece of paper from under the counter. “And here’s my number,” she wrote it down and gave it over, “in case you ever want to talk.” I took it and thanked her. I had told her a little of my situation but not in detail. As we headed to our next destination – the brothel – I skimmed over the receipt and saw she’d only charged me half the price.

I hugged my boss and thanked him for everything he’d done for me. If it wasn’t for him, I don’t know where Ashton and I would be. I bid everyone I worked with goodbye and accidentally made a few of them cry. I hugged all of them and got my last pay check, wishing the girls at the desk all the best for the future, and left the bordello.

The thing was I didn’t know what I felt as I walked away – to the train station where Ashton and Andy were waiting for me. It wasn’t relief and it wasn’t disappointment.

-----

After I devoured the meal which was quite tasty, I was sitting around having no idea where to go next. I didn’t want to go back outside into that lane now that it was dark. I didn’t want to sleep on the streets. I’d rather sleep on the floor of this soup kitchen and the fact I had that thought was something I couldn’t comprehend.

Not long after I’d finished, a crowd began to gather around two white doors. I got up and stood on my toes to try and see what everyone was gathering about. The same lady who served me somehow managed to open the doors despite the crowd, holding the doors open for them as they fell in as soon as they got a chance. At that moment, the guy I sat next to grabbed my hand.

“Come on, don’t dillydally,” he said and dragged me in with him even though he had ignored me the entire time I’d sat next to him.

I soon realized why everyone hurried – the lady closed the doors soon after, once the large room was full. Sleeping mats lined the vinyl floor in long rows. Sleeping bags were handed out and I took one gladly, taking a place beside the boy and climbing in. He wished me goodnight before closing his eyes and the lights went out when everyone was settled. I gazed around the grey, humid and stinking room. There was someone a few meters away that obviously hadn’t showered for a few days if not more.

This is not what I wanted. I don’t want to have to live like this. No one does. I knew tonight I had just gotten lucky. What would have happened if I hadn’t found this place? Tomorrow I was going home.

Notes

Hey guys, I've started a CC story and you can read it HERE . I hope you like it and you're still liking this! :D

Comments

Ugh, I was not expecting to see Juliet in this lol. I can't wait for an update!

Mrs.Biersack Mrs.Biersack
1/28/14
This was one of the first fanfics I read on here and I just found it again... It's amazing, I wish you would still update :) This is very original and definitely one of my favorites.
Oh my goodness, I love this story. Update soon.
Holy shit. This story... so many feels. Please, keep writing. Please.
JessiBiersack JessiBiersack
4/4/13
Holy shit. This story... so many feels. Please, keep writing. Please.
JessiBiersack JessiBiersack
4/4/13