Chapter 1

"Mom, you have no right over me! I'm eighteen!"

”Of course… But remember, you're under my roof! I pay the bills, not you! So, you do what I say!”

”Oh very interesting! You mean the men who had been seeing you through the years… They are the ones paying your bills, not you!”

Out of anger, Juliana asks”Excuse me, what did you just say?”

”You heard me right! Those men I see you with are the ones paying your bills!”

 It took next-door neighbours to stop the altercation between them.

”Calm down, Keisha,” said Monique, a middle-aged chubby woman.

”Why should I, when my mom is just too authoritative for my liking?”

”You'd better leave my house! Stupid girl! Just good for nothing!!” Juliana shouted. 

She was being held by Theresa, another neighbour of theirs and a close friend.

”Mom, you're a liar,” Keisha thundered. ''You told me you don't know who he is!” 

Tears were coming down down her cheeks.

”Juliana, watch what you say to your daughter,” Monique urged. 

She attempted to gently walk Keisha out of the scene.

”How is it your business, Monique? Can you learn to mind your business? This is between Keisha and I! Back off!”

She eventually succeeded in walking Keisha to her apartment

”How the hell did I conceive this liability of a daughter? I've been working my whole life to ensure her wellbeing. Is this what I'm being rewarded with? Very obstinate girl! I wonder why I had to open my legs for that man in the club. I blame it on the alcohol!”

Juliana didn't care about the kids in the neigbourhood listening to what she was saying. She yelled to the point Theresa had to get her attention.

”Do you realize your daughter is with Monique? She isn't here trading words with you. Don't you realize the kids are watching and listening to you utter those obscene words? Learn to comport yourself!”

That got Juliana upset. ”Who are you to talk to me that way? This is between my daughter and I, not you!”

”I know. But, as concerned neighbours, Monique and I had to come over to your apartment to ensure what happened doesn't get out of hand. We saw you slapping Keisha. She didn't respond. You could have inflicted more injuries than her already-swollen face!”

”Again, how is that your concern? Keisha stays in my apartment. I pay the bills. She has no right to object to what I say. How I get to pay the bill is my headache, not yours!”

”Did you just hear yourself? Well, who am I to invade your privacy?” 

Theresa expressed her disappointment.

”Hello kids, everything is going on fine. All… will be okay.”  

Theresa saw the false smiles on their faces. The four kids walked away. The only boy, named Davin, was shaking his head as he joined the rest to walk to their respective homes. Juliana showed indifference.

Theresa stared at Juliana with contempt. 

Unbothered, Juliana yelled, ”Where's Keisha?”

”I told you she's with Monique.” 

Juliana stood up and marched out of her apartment. Juliana knocked on the door of Monique's apartment with unease.

”Yes, who's that?” Monique shouted. 

It was obvious she knew the person at the door was no other than… Juliana

”The door is opened,” Juliana said.

” You're such a disgrace to yourself!” Juliana pointed at Monique, who looked disappointed.

”Hey girl! This's not your place! This's mine! I decide what happens!'' Monique warned. 

Keisha looked at her mom with a scornful look.

”So what? I won't blame you. I blame the shit of a daughter who is always not helping matters!”

”Mom, I'm not that shit of a daughter who isn't helping matters! You're fond of calling me names but have you noticed you're a glutton?!”

”Are you calling your mom a glutton?”

”Yes, you are! Since you could call your daughter shit, then I will call you, my mom, a glutton.”

”Oh Keisha,” Monique said, sounding alarmed. 

”Let me hear again what my daughter called me. Keisha, are you saying I'm a glutton?”

Keisha didn't bat an eye. Yes, you are, since you called me SHIT!”'

”Okay. I agree! I am a glutton but when I was your age, I lived alone, had men who I had children with. I had four kids! Four, Keisha! Four! Sadly, they died but you were the only one that survived! You just summoned the temerity to call me glutton???'' Juliana was shedding tears.

”Why have you chosen to be funny as that?”

Juliana wiped the tears rolling down her cheeks. 

”She'd been this funny since I was seven years old!” Keisha said, staring at her mom in disgust.

She frowned at Keisha, pointing at her. ”Keisha, come with me, right this moment!”

”To do what?” Keisha asked.

”You will get the answer soon.”

”Mom, if you can't tell me why I should follow you, I'm not leaving,” Keisha insisted, standing with her hands on her hips.

”If you don't come with me right this minute, I will go right out here and take your things out of my house!”

”Did I hear you say that to your only surviving daughter?” Monique asked. 

”Yes, you heard me correctly. I'm not repeating myself. Keisha, as I leave Monique's apartment to mine, if you don't come along with me, consider yourself not living with me again.”

”Keisha, you know I've done my very best. She still remains your mother. Go and resolve your issues, your differences with her,” Monique advised, seeing Keisha take her leave. She stared away from Juliana.

”That's what I wanted you to tell her,” Juliana said, still looking angry.

”I hear you,” Monique reacted.

Monique slammed the door behind them.

Back in the day, Juliana, Theresa, and Monique were escorts. They grew up in the slums with no education and parental attention. They ventured into the underground world of prostitution, drugs, and stealing. After years of giving away their youthful exuberance, they rented apartments with little savings made, though in the same Amber but a different locality. 

Sadly, Theresa and Monique weren't able to give birth due to series of abortions but Juliana had four kids by four different men but committed to Mother Earth three of her children, having Keisha as the surviving child. Her carelessness, due to excessive alcoholism, smoking and doing all manner of drugs, were caused behind the untimely deaths of her three other children.

Unknown to Juliana, Keisha had been sleeping around with other men, getting pimped to men in Amber's highbrow areas, since the age of 15. Her attractive ebony physique made Keisha appear mature and one of the most sought-after girls. Anthony, a young pimp who inherited the venture from his father, was responsible. She was able to save a huge amount of money that would see her through college where she would gain admission to study Business Administration.