The Alpha's Rose

ROSE POV

            “Mama, it’s really cold out today.” Maddie says with a puff of frost.

            “Yes, baby. It really is.” I reply back through my almost frozen lips.

            We are walking hand in hand down the snow lined city street from our one-bedroom SRO apartment toward Maddie’s school. It is below freezing outside, and the wind feels extra biting today. The trees that we pass are all frozen and bare. Their branches are filled with ice, making them sparkle in the morning sunlight. It is quite a beautiful sight. But all the newly fallen sleet and snow during the night has caused the sidewalks to become extremely treacherous, especially considering the tread on both of our shoes is practically non-existent. The snow is piled high from the snowplows clearing the streets, making it difficult to get around, but we are doing our best.

           Maddie is bundled into a coat that is a size too small for her and wearing my mismatched gloves, hat, and scarf. I’m bundled as best as I can in a few layers of holey shirts over my work clothes. We only own one set of winter accessories, which I made Maddie wear. I have no issues with giving our warmer things to my daughter; I do what is necessary to give her everything that I can, as any mom should.

            “Mama, don’t you need your gloves? Especially since you don’t have a coat. Your fingers are blue.” Maddie asks.

            “No baby, you keep them. I’m fine.” I state while trying to keep my teeth from chattering.

            “But Mama, you’re so cold.” Maddie argues. “It’s not good for you to be so cold.” She’s such a little caretaker despite her young age.

            “Exactly honey. You need them more than I do. You stay warm, I’ll be fine,” I reply back and Maddie just sighs. She knows she won’t get anywhere arguing with me, so it’s really a moot point.

            We walk another dozen or so blocks until we get to her school. Zeus’ Academy for the Gifted. It is a private institution that caters to extremely gifted children, be it academic or artistic. Maddie has already exceeded all expectations anyone has ever had for her. She is only 7 but is in her seventh-grade year. My beautiful, kind, caring daughter is a literal genius, and I will do everything within my power to keep her in this school. Yes, it is very, very expensive, but Maddie is worth all the sacrifices I have to make to afford this education.

            When we arrive, I walk her inside to the school foyer to give her a hug goodbye. Oh, it feels so nice and warm inside the school. I am not looking forward to my continued walk to work.

            “Have a great day, sweet pea. Learn lots and lots. Come home and tell me all about it. Remember, I love you, bigger than Pi is infinite.” I tell her and kiss her cheek. She never gets embarrassed by my affections in public and I love that about her. I hope she never gets embarrassed by me, but I know she probably will. I’m not looking forward to the rebellious teen phase.

            “Thanks Mama. I will and I want to hear all about your day too. Love you too, bigger than Pi is infinite,” she replies and kisses my cheek in return. “Oh, here,” she says as she takes off the gloves, “you need your gloves. It’s too cold to not have some. Maybe we can get me a pair soon?” I take the gloves and swallow back a tear before I can answer.

            “I’ll see what I can do about that, okay?” She nods and trots off, waving and smiling at me as she goes. As she turns the corner into the hallway that leads to the cafeteria for her breakfast, I let the tears I was holding back silently fall down my cheeks. I try hard to provide for her, but the obscenely expensive school tuition takes all I have in pay every month. My second job at the diner pays our rent and everything else. We just don’t have anything leftover at the end of the month. I even take the free school uniforms and shoe hand-me-downs that a few moms bring in, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to afford to clothe Maddie.

            “Rose?” Melinda, the front desk employee catches my attention.

            “Yes, Melinda.” I answer as I walk up to her. She is quite a beautiful woman, really tall, in her mid-20s with strikingly high cheekbones and honey blonde hair that flows in gentle waves just past her shoulders. She has kind eyes and a gentle smile for me most days, but the look on her face today tells me that this conversation won’t be a good one. Great. Just what I need.

            “I have a notice for you from the school board. I’m so sorry, but it looks like tuition is going up again next term.” She says as she hands me an envelope with my name on it. My heart sinks as I read the notice. Maddie’s tuition is going up an additional $2000 per semester. And this semester is nearly over. I don’t have much time to prepare for the rate increase. Shit! I don’t have another $300+ each month, nor is there enough hours in the day or week to work more. My hands begin to shake, and I know tears are freely flowing down my cheeks. I can’t stop them.

            “Thank you, Melinda. Do you know if there are any new scholarships or financial assistance available for gifted kids? Anything else that could help me out? Or maybe a payment plan to extend into the summer?” Melinda has helped me in the past by informing me of scholarships and grants to apply for that I didn’t know about. It is how I managed to handle the last tuition increase. She knows I am a single mom trying to provide the best education I can for my gifted child. We haven’t fully discussed all the sacrifices I make; Melinda doesn’t pry, and I love that about her. But she’s not stupid. I’m sure she’s figured out a lot. Not to mention, she saw me working my second job at the diner last week when she came in with a really young-looking man for a dessert date.

            “I’m sorry Rosie, but no. There is nothing new, but I will look into it again for you. Maddie needs to be here; I’ll do everything I can to help. I can submit a tuition suspension request to the board because Maddie is the most brilliant child I’ve seen here in a long while. I’ll warn you though, they haven’t approved one of those in years. Mr. Evans is on the board; he and I are good friends; I will ask him personally if there is anything we can do to help.”

            “Melinda, please don’t get yourself into trouble doing anything that you shouldn’t or by giving me and Maddie special treatment.” I say, concerned for her job.

            Melinda just waves away my concern and heavily rolls her eyes, “Please, they wouldn’t fire me for going to bat for someone worthy of it. Besides, this place would crumble without me!” she says with a wink. “Oh, and I knew I would see you today, so I brought this for you.” From behind the counter, she pulls out a long, puke green puffer coat with black gloves, hat, and scarf. “I know it’s not great to look at. Well, it’s ugly as sin, but it’s warm and I know you need a coat. I will take it as a personal offense if you refuse.”

            I look at her in confusion. Melinda smiles back warmly at me. This woman has been my saving grace on multiple occasions and today is another one. “Thank you,” is all I can say. As a point of pride, I want to refuse her generous offer, but my frozen body says otherwise. I take it and put it on. It is so warm, I might not be able to remove it, I just want to snuggle into it and stay there.

            I give Melinda a big hug and turn to leave. As I walk through the doors I turn around and wave at her. I don’t have many people willing to speak up for me or even care about me, but she has proven, on more than one occasion, that she is one of the few and I intend on keeping her in my corner. I’d consider her a friend if I had time for friends.

            My additional 30-minute walk to work is much more tolerable with my new coat and winter wear. I get several weird looks from people passing me. This puke green color is really fantastically ugly, but at least I know no one will try to steal it. My last coat didn’t even come close to this one in warmth, but it was black and was stolen by a homeless man last winter during my walk to work. He tried to mug me at knifepoint, but all I had was my coat, so that’s what I lost. It also earned me a black eye and a cut along my cheek from his knife because I didn’t have any valuables. My “punishment” as he called it. I have a large, wide scar along my left cheek that is my daily reminder to be more diligent about my surroundings.