It's now 1999. I'm going to be a junior in college soon. I just finished my sophomore year. I also work at a local newspaper. I am a writer and I write editorials.

One day in April I am just leaving work when my boss calls me into his office.

" Mallori, I have a great opportunity for you" he says with a big smile.

" I'm listening!"

He laughs. " OK, well this new magazine needs a writer to write about groups and stuff" he pauses. " It pays really well and you'd love it!"

" OK, that's great!"

" One catch"

" Uh oh"

" It's in Florida"

" Oh"

" I know you don't want to move Aurora away from your parents. But this job will be wonderful for you"

" I know" He tells me more about it and it sounds all good. And I know I can't pass it up. When I tell my parents about it all they don't want to be away from Aurora, but they say it's a great opportunity.

So in a month I have plans to move to Florida and live with Rae and B in their 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom house in Florida. They are so glad Aurora and I are moving in. They just have to get used to living with a baby. She is only 15 months old.

In early June we are on a plane to Florida. When we get to the airport in Florida and B and Rae are waiting for us.

" Oh goodness" they gush over Aurora. " She is so pretty! You are so adorable!" She has big, gorgeous brown eyes like Alex, and auburn hair like me. But you can see both me and Alex in her. And we are constantly being commented on how pretty she is. We have to get all our luggage. We have the moving van take it to the house. That's where all of our things are like the rocking chair and crib and stuff. All of our clothes are in the van too.

We get the car seat into Rae's Corvette and drive to their house. It's a really nice house. It is a 3 story house. In the front yard the yard is nice and trimmed. There are a set of French doors in the front. Big front window. Inside there is a staircase that leads to the 4 bedrooms upstairs. A really nice kitchen and living room. There is a den with a computer and some recording equipment.

" Let's show her the rest of the house" B says as she scoops up Aurora. All 4 of us head upstairs. We go to two rooms right next to each other. One is mine the other is Aurora's. They show us where everything is.

All the moving guys get all of our stuff in the house and set things up with no extra charge. Then we begin to unload all the clothes and stuff. By the end of the day we are all done, amazingly.

Around 9 after we eat some McDonalds for dinner.

" Well I have to go give her a bath" I say. We go up and start the bath. When she gets in we start singing. She giggles and splashes in the tub.

" Ok time to dry off!" I say as I wrap her up in the towel. We get her pajama's out and get them on her. " Jammie time!" I say as she starts to giggle. After she's all dressed we go downstairs to say good night.

" Mal your mom and dad are on the phone" Rae says handing me the phone.

" Hello?"

" Hi, are you guys doing OK? Where's Aurora?" my mom asks.

" We're fine, we just got out of the tub. Wanna talk to her?"

" Yes!"

" Baby doll, come here, Grammy and Grandpa want to talk to you" She smiles at those names. She giggles and smiles. Then we say we have to go. She says " Bye-Bye" and I say bye and we hang up.

" OK honey, say night to Aunty B and Aunty Rae" I say. B comes over and gives her a hug and says good night, Rae does the same.

I take her upstairs and get in the rocking chair. I sing her a little lullaby.

" Good night baby" I say. " I love you" I give her a kiss and lay her in her crib.

" She is a wonderful baby" B says when I come back downstairs.

" Yeah, she is" I say. " But she has her moments!" I laugh.

" So, are you doing Ok?" Rae asks.

" What do you mean?"

" Are you doing OK?" B says. " You know, being a mother, working, school?"

" Yes, I'm doing fine. I love Aurora she is a great baby. She is my world. I love her"

" We know. And you are a great mom" Rae says.

" Thanks. And my job, I love writing, I want to sing again. But I love my job. Writing my opinions and such. Speaking of which, I have a meeting with my new boss, so he can meet me"

" That's great"

The next morning I'm awake by 7 a.m. because Aurora decided she wanted to wake up. I get up and take her downstairs. We watch TV for a little bit. I make her some breakfast. We sit down and eat. I am getting ready while Aurora plays in her playpen right next to me. She sits quietly playing with her toys as I get dressed and do my make up and hair. Around 10 I'm ready. Just as Rae and B are waking up. We are downstairs watching cartoons when they finally come downstairs. My meeting is at 10:45.

" Ok, here is a list of directions" I say handing them a list. " If you have any problems call me on my cell. I will be back no later than 1" I pick up Aurora and give her a big hug and kiss. "Bye honey! Mommy will be home in a bit. Be good for Rae and B!" I hurry out the door to my car that was brought down here.

" OK, he will see you now" Mr. Lee, my boss' secretary said.

" Thank you" I say as I walk into the office. He stands up. He is a middle aged guy, about 35 or so.

" Welcome Mallori" He says. He has a warm smile. " So you are the one from Colorado Mr. Smith recommended?"

" Yes sir" I say.

" Well we'll love to have you on our team" He explains what my job will be.

" Well, I'll need Tuesdays and Thursdays off, I'm in school. Well starting in August."

" OK, that's manageable" he says. " Also, Mr. Smith mentioned you had a daughter, and that you were going to want to be able to leave around 5:30 so you can be with her at night"

" Yes"

" That is wonderful. I understand totally, and you will be able to"

" This is wonderful. Thank you so much!"

We shake hands and I leave. I get in my car and drive home. When I get home it's about noon. Rae and B are feeding Aurora lunch.

" Hi honey!" I say as I run over to her and give her a big kiss.

" Mommy!" She shrieks.

" So how'd the interview go?" B asks.

" Well it wasn't exactly and interview because the job is already mine" I explain. " He just told me what I would be doing. Really nice guy too, I mean he is so nice about me having to have a flexible schedule because of Aurora and my school"

" That's great!"

" Yeah I know. I'm going to love working there" I say. Then I remember.

" What about her?" I ask. " What am I going to do about day care? I start in 2 weeks, and she needs to be somewhere"

" Well...I know someone" B says. " Rae, you know Veronica?"

" Yeah"

" Well she has a 2 year old son. She takes her to a friend's day care. I bet Aurora can go there" B suggests. " She lives like maybe 10 min from here"

" OK. How do you know her?" I ask. I am very protective about my daughter.

" She is someone I work with" B explains. Her and Rae both work at an 18 and over club. " She is the person who owns the club. I will talk to her tonight when I go in to work."

" Thanks"

Two weeks later I am getting ready to go to my first day of work. I am awake way before B or Rae. I get Aurora ready and we drive to her new sitters house. Around 7:30 we get there. The lady's name is Betty. She is a super nice lady and instantly loved Aurora, and Aurora loved her.

After I drop her off, I go to work. As soon as I get there Mr. Lee calls me into his office.

" OK, well we have your first assignment" He says with a grin. " I think you might like it"

I smile. " OK, I'm interested!"

He laughs. " OK, well, we want you to write an editorial on your opinion of a concert and after meeting the band. So really a review."

" That's so cool! I get to go to a concert and meet a group!" I say.

" Yeah, you have 3 tickets. But only you can interview the group."

" OK. I'll get a sitter for Aurora, and my 2 friends can come with me. Then they can get Aurora after the concert. Is the concert early or late?"

" It's about 5 o clock. You'll interview them before the concert"

" Oh, well I guess they won't have top get Aurora." I smile.

" OK. But you will have the pass to get backstage"

" OK. When?"

" The concert is tomorrow"

" Oh, have to work quick!"

" Yeah" he says then laughs. " Would you like to know who the group is?"

I laugh. " Oh yeah. Might help"

" OK. Ever heard of the Backstreet Boys?"

" I've heard some of their songs"

" OK. So tomorrow!"

" OK. Thank you Mr. Lee"

" No problem"

Home
Hosted Stories
Chapter 3
CHapter 5