Lee’s sports car pulled up outside a little home. Like all the other houses on the street, it was run down and shabby looking. She knocked on the door.
A woman opened it and look over the well dressed person at her doorstep.
Lee took off her sunglasses. “Hi… I’ve come to talk to you about Shayne.”
The woman started to cry. “You’re the police, I knew something bad would happen… oh, my poor baby!”
“No, I’m not the police, and your daughter is fine,” Lee huffed, impatient, “she ended up on my door step, hysterical.”
“Oh, my poor baby, she’s going through a rough time. She’s going through this phase…”
“Mrs. Denkins, your daughter is not going through any phase, she’s a lesbian. That is not going to change… what she needs is her family, what she needs is support.”
Suddenly, a man came to stand in the doorway. “We don’t have a daughter.”
“John, please,” Shay’s Mum cried.”
“Be quiet, you old bag, she is never setting foot in this house again.”
“Has he always been a fucking bastard? How could anyone have wanted to conceive a child with this intolerant inbred!” Lee shouted.
The old guy stepped forward, his face inches from Lee’s. “You get yerself off my property before I kick you off.”
Lee didn’t back down and handed Shay’s mum a card. “It’s my address. She’s staying with me, so please go over and sort this out. She is not my problem.”
“And as for you,” Lee stepped closer and the man backed away, “you ever lay a hand on your daughter again, and I’ll report you.”
He looked surprised.
Lee put her glasses on and got back into her car.
That night, Lee worked on her laptop, occasionally lifting her eyes to see Shay just flicking channels
“Shay…”
Shay turned the TV off and went into the bedroom. Lee closed her laptop and climbed into bed with her. “Hey,” she said, rubbing Shay’s arm.
“She hasn’t called. Why? I didn’t do anything wrong… I can’t help being the way I am.”
Lee just held her until she fell asleep.
Next day
Shay was making herself useful while Lee was at work. She had cleaned the apartment and done the laundry. She heard a knock on the door and went to answer it.
“Mum…” They hugged. She noticed her mum was carrying a bag.
Lee waited outside for a lift when the doors opened and she nearly collided with a woman.
“Mrs. Denkins, its good you’re here. Isn’t Shay up there?”
“Yes, she is, Lee.”
“And so why are you two not leaving together?”
Tears started to well in Shay’s mother’s eyes. “He won’t let her back in the house, and I don’t want to see her on the streets. You seem like a nice, decent person, Lee, if you could just let her stay…”
“What… no way! You can’t just dump your problems on my door step, no fucking way. What am I suppose to do with a teenager?” Lee ranted.
“Please, you can help her through… what ever she’s going through.”
Lee threw her head back in disbelief. “But I’m not her mother”
The woman touched Lee’s arm. “Just be firm… set some ground rules. Make sure she does her homework and doesn’t stay up late. I really appreciate you being understanding about this.”
Shay’s mum left and Lee got into the lift, she screaming to nobody. “I don’t want to be understanding…. I want my fucking life back.”
Lee opened the door to see Shay leaning against the wall on the other side. Lee stepped forward and kicked a bag.
“Lee, I’m so…”
“Shut up, Shay… just shut up.” Lee stripped and climbed into her shower, leaning against the door. She saw Shay looking at her and turned around to face the shower head. She liked the openness of her apartment, but now all she wanted was a room with no views to hide in.
Lee and Shay were eating dinner together.
“So… I was wondering how I get to school tomorrow…. You can drop me off or something, could I also get a lift to soccer practice?”
Lee picked up her dishes and dumped them in the sink. “I don’t fucking know… I don’t know Shay, I have no fucking idea, and I’m not your fucking soccer mum either. I’m never going to get laid again.”
“Lee I’m sorry… please”:
“I can just see it now … bringing home women and having to make up some explanation about you.”
“I’m a burden, I’m sorry.”
“Stop saying you’re fucking sorry… it’s your god damn inbred parents’ fault.” Lee groaned. “But I bet you love this. Living my lifestyle”
Shay’s tears fell freely with each passing insult. “You don’t have to, I don’t want to stay here with a self centered, egotistic bitch”
“Fine, you know where the door is, Shayne,” yelled Lee.
“I hate you…. I wish I never met you,” screamed Shay.
“Now you’re getting it,” Lee yelled back.
Shay ran out of the apartment and Lee retired to the couch and turned the TV on. She tapped her foot impatiently “Oh, for fuck’s sake…..“
Lee grabbed her coat and head outside, looks up and down the street wondering where she was going to start looking. She then heard sobs from down in the underground parking. Lee heads down and finds Shay against wall distraught
Lee closed her eyes and took numerous deep breaths. “Shay…”
“Leave me the fuck alone.”
“Shay… I apologize, I was out of line. This situation isn‘t your fault.”
Shay got up. “No…. it’s yours…. If you hadn’t taken me home, if you hadn’t come into my life…”
Lee dropped her head. “I agree that I don’t always think about the consequences of my actions, but none-the-less, you, little miss trouble, are my burden to carry and I will accept that until your parents come around.”