128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rcyPE81pT
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXKl1gA1tx
Neveah
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4q4p3ZO5o
My Mama told me I'd lose my head if it weren't attached. Today has been one of those days. First, I ran over a plank of wood that punctured my tire. My Papi, my hero, came and changed the tire and switched cars with me so I wouldn't be late for work again. He was going to take my car to the shop to get new tires for me.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlBAN73cen
I get my ass to work just in the nick of time, and I run to my nursing unit as rounds are about to start. I get my assignments and find my best friend Henry at the coffee kiosk. He looks me up and down and shakes his head.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBmxYsHZ23
"What?" I ask him taking the coffee he offers me.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpN8lltWCgs
"Bitch, you got two different shoes on!"
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhKMlgXaRq
"No, I don't…." I say, looking down and seeing clear as day. One blue and one black nursing clog. "Oh fuck!"
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeclJFLiHRP
"Did you get dressed in the dark?" He laughs.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2I8lb3vAus
"Shut it up! I have extra clothes in my bag with sneakers.”
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkerbPrgirm
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBPMszAXpU
"That's right. You're only working four hours today."
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4vThyopgl
"Yup, it's my besties' birthdays today!"
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduPu7xUqO1
"I'll try to make it by later, but if not, tell my besties Happy Birthday."
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uvhwZwWX8
"I will," I say with a smile, and we go to our separate departments.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ567y5RjmPX
My shift went without a hitch except for Mr. Jones getting naked multiple times during the day. Working in the memory care unit can be entertaining and heartbreaking all at the same time. I redress Mr. Jones for the fifth time this shift, and I look at the time, and it's the end of my shift. I run to the time clock and tap my badge against it to clock myself out. I run to the locker room and get dressed. As I walk out, I see Henry and wave goodbye to him.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYe41T5Pcz
I meet Papi in the parking lot, and he tosses me my keys, and I toss him his keys. I get in my car and adjust my mirror, seeing my smiling twin besties.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdc4javdFj
"Mommy!" They both squeal out.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwAoaD2kzx
"Babies, how was school today?" I ask, noticing a note safety-pinned onto Norah's shirt. "Norah, what did you do, Mija?" Her eyes fill with tears as she grips another paper in her hand. I take the sheet from her tiny hands. It's a flyer for the Father/Daughter dance next month. My Papi took her last year, and they had so much fun.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1Benx6roK
"Nowah, hitted Twabis," Noah says, touching his twin sister's arm.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdCKlQelTm
"Norah hit Travis," I repeat.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7fqz0zQic
"That's I say, Mama," Noah says,
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNk3Cl0Pap4
"Why did you hit Travis, Norah?" I ask, and again I get crickets from her: Norah's protector, Noah, chimes in again.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbH8tugfsd
"She hitted him 'cause he said Nowah can't go to the dance, 'cause her don't have a daddy," he says, adjusting his eyeglasses. That little boy Travis is a little shit! Kids can be so hurtful, no matter the age.
"Norah, it's okay Papa can take you. Remember what I always tell you?"
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLAltmoVeT
"Yes, Mama. We have a super Papa." Norah says, and I finally get a smile from her.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡro8bzgTBkq
"He gots superpowers, right Mama?" Noah says.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtecaGByGR
"Right!" I yell, making them giggle. "Where are we going?"
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZVcQBg4kq
"To the doctors," they both say.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpN5Dm2fEu
"What’s going to happen there?” I ask.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSK0Rye0xzy
“We gonna get shots,” Noah says sadly. I have prepped them every night for the last two weeks.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YZTckKfy7
“It’s so you don’t get sick, honey,” I say, noticing him drifting off to sleep. “Oh, no, you don’t. Noah, wake up! Where are we going after the doctors?”
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoH3CQbHmW
“The Trampoline park!” They scream out.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpk1HxwxRhd
“For what?”
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RWZ00rXyt
“Our birthday party,” Norah sings out.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7USCvJKrK1
“How old are you today?” I ask. They have the biggest grins, and their matching blue eyes twinkle in the sunlight. I look at my dark brown eyes and back at their light eyes in the mirror—his eyes.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kQxpSTxVR
“Four!” they squeal, holding up four fingers. I pull into the parking lot of the pediatrician's office, and I see the fear in their faces.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvkLiRAulj
“It’s okay, my loves. It’ll be over so fast.” I open the backdoor, and they unfasten themselves, and I help each of them out of the car. “Ready?” I ask, and they nod as I take them by their hands and lead them into the office.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDz9X9EQvn
We checked in, and I was informed that Dr. Reyes had an emergency and had to leave for the day, but they could squeeze us in with another doctor. We’ve never seen Dr. Jones before, but I’m worried about Noah. He’s been falling asleep a lot and seems tired all the time. I want to make sure he’s okay.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSHmRp5L82
“Anything concerning you today, Mama?” Dr. Jones asks.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdE3tdRzZK
“Yes, Noah. He seems tired lately and falls asleep everywhere, including at school.”
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaPTxbm8ok
“Seems to me that he may be having a growth spurt. This is totally normal at this age. Let’s check their hearts and get those S.H.O.T.S done,” she says. As she is about to put the stethoscope on Noah’s chest, there is a knock on the door. “Come in.”
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3xTiA6ZRs
“Dr. Jones, there is an emergency call from the hospital.” The medical assistant Jessica says.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRiKhNk0MV
“I’m so sorry,” Dr. Jones says with an apologetic smile.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCBT7IYk07
“It’s okay, go ahead,” I say, and Dr. Jones leaves the room just as I get a text.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgIb39trIM
Henry: I got coverage. I’ll see you at the party.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzIWzrl6gg
Me: Yay, the kids will be thrilled to see you!
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzp8oACDfxV
There is a knock on the door, and Jessica returns with two trays of vaccines.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4K2UPjKVH
“Sorry, Dr. Jones got called away to the hospital. She asked that I give Norah and Noah their vaccines.”
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvaqkdk9PK
“That’s fine. Okay, kiddos, we have to be brave,” I say, picking up Noah first, and he takes it like a champ. Are there tears, of course, but he doesn’t put up a fight. On the other hand, Norah was like baby hulk fighting.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcPc9QwY6J
We finish up and head to the trampoline park for their birthday, and the shots are long forgotten. Henry and my Papi are waiting at the front entrance for us. The kids see Henry, and they tear off into his waiting arms. Henry has been in my life since we were in the seventh grade, and the boys would tease him because he was openly gay. I was his protector, and he was mine when the girls in high school bullied me for having big tits. Oh, how I love him.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARibEXq5DD
I invited all their preschool classmates, and they all showed, making my babies so happy. Even that little shit Travis is here. I fill Henry in on the Travis drama as Papi takes the kids to jump so we can have a little break. Every time Travis would pass Henry and me, Henry would give him the evil eye.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTJTaEsnRw
“Stop, he’s just a little boy. A shitty little boy but just a boy.”
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDANEeH2ypN
“I’ll trip him on the trampoline.” He laughs. “ I remember when you got pregnant with them. It seems like it was yesterday.”
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDXmVzmh5o
“Yeah, it was all your fault,” I roll my eyes and laugh.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnuSvYhJSM
“Bitch, how did I make you lose your virginity to that guy?”
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYNmtl8OWy
“Bitch, you begged me to go to music festival camp to be your wing-woman. Once we got there, you found your prey, and I got left by myself. He got ditched too, so we spent the time together.”
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCioAicFiAe
“Oh, yeah. I forgot about that,” he bit back a smile at the memory.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFclegwR2l0
“Yeah, I was young and dumb. But, look at them. They’re my proudest achievement.”
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMR9P2vOnJX
“I’m proud of you bitch. You did the damn thing. You finished nursing school all while nursing not one but two babies!”
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIg5i6RLIdq
“I needed to do it for them. In reality, I did it to prove that I could do it.” I say, getting emotional. We look over at Papi with the kids jumping. Henry hugs me and laughs. “What?”
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8My5vJqYMl
“Bitch, I hate to break it to you, but those babies look nothing like you. They have light skin tones, blue eyes, and dirty blonde hair. Here you are looking like Selma Hayek. What was his name again?”
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYixqYQuWPS
“I know they look exactly like their father. His name is Tj, or that’s what he told me. When I found out I was pregnant, I was on campus, and I saw him, and he acted like he didn’t know who I was. He said I was batshit crazy, and I slapped him. They don’t need him.” I sigh. “Let’s change the subject,” I say as I see Noah approaching. He looks like he had water poured over him. “Honey, you’re so sweaty.” I notice that he is breathing a bit hard. “Are you okay, Noah?”
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHTR4FCiMH
“I want water,” he starts, and his eyes go to the back of his head. My baby boy collapses in my arms.
ns3.144.200.28da2
