Uncharted Fate by Cynthia Racette Page A

give me a job if she could."
    Anna leaned against the counter and folded her arms. "She probably would. She's a wonderful lady. Lucy said you had a family, Mark?"
    "Yeah." His face lit up with a smile. "I have a wife named Stephanie and two little girls. Stacey's two and Megan's eight months old."
    "I can tell you're proud of them."
    He grinned. "Yep, I am." Then his smile faded and his brown eyes clouded over. "I wish I could provide for them better. I try. I don't seem to be able to manage very well though. Shit. All I want is a decent job so I can feed my family. It doesn't seem like it's asking too much, does it?"
    "No, it's not. Don't worry. Something will turn up."
    "It'd better," he said, dropping his head into his hands. "The thirty you gave me is all I have for groceries this month." He noticed Anna glance at the coffee and soup. "Betty lets me have this for free. I know I could come in here every day and she'd let me have it as often as I wanted. I don't want to take advantage that way. I hate having to take it at all. In fact, I'm keeping track of how much I owe her. I'll pay it back some day. I will."
    Anna's throat felt tight. "There are many men who don't appreciate their jobs. All you hear is about how many people hate their jobs. It's a shame because people like you who'd really love to have any kind of job, can't get one."
    "Yeah," he smiled. "Ain't it the nuts?" He stood up quickly, patting the pocket where the money was again before donning a holey, damp denim jacket. "Thanks, Anna. You're a nice lady. I owe you one." Turning toward the door, he waved and said over his shoulder, "Off to the supermarket. Steph'll be surprised."
    Lucy stopped him. "You forgot the lollipops and teething cookies for your girls. Here." She handed him two Tootsie Roll Pops and a packet of the cookies.
    He smiled again. "Thanks."
    She watched him leave, whistling, and stuffing the lollipops in the pocket of his jeans. Lucy glanced back at her and shook her head sadly. Nodding to Lucy in understanding, Anna picked up the empty coffee cup and soup bowl and wiped the counter where Mark sat.
    The next day Anna came home from work to find Mallory sprawled on her bed, crying her eyes out. She threw her apron and cap on the dresser and sat next to her daughter, holding her quivering shoulders.
    "What's wrong, honey? Did something happen?"
    Mallory hunched her body into the bed, pulling away from Anna's hands. "How could you, Mom? How?" She cried harder.
    "How could I have what?” Anna asked, puzzled.
    "Oh, come on." Mallory flipped over, anger temporarily drying her tears. "You know what I'm talking about. Chris' mom. You insulted Chris' mom."
    "Oh, right." Anna's eyes dropped to the lavender gingham bedspread. "You talked to Chris, then."
    "Yes. Except she talked to me. You should have heard what she said to me. It was humiliating. I've only been in that school two years and I have lots of friends. Or I used to have. Everything will probably change now. Word will get around fast. Only the plague moves faster than gossip at school. How could you do it to me?"
    "I didn't do anything to you." Anna frowned. "What I said to Juanita was in response to an insult she'd directed at me. Or don't you care about that? I'll bet your friend didn't tell you the part about her mother talking down to me as if I were working as a slave, did she?"
    "How on earth could she have insulted you?"
    "She made comments about my job. What else?"
    "Oh yes, your job," Mallory snickered. "She was probably right."
    "No, she wasn't." Anna felt furious heat rise to her face. "And I shouldn't have to tell my own daughter this again. But if I have to, I will. Only this once more. This discussion has been happening far too often lately. This is the last time I'm bringing the subject up, and then I want it closed forever. You'd better listen. Do you hear me?"
    Intimidated for once, Mallory swallowed and nodded mutely.
    "Working at Betty's is a decent, honest job. I like