The day started off normally the way it had many times. Only difference was the faint nervousness linger almost at the bottom of my stomach. I had no money put aside to pay for the room that my children and I had called home for the past month and half. After the house we had been renting had gone into foreclosure this was the next best option. Those twenty-four hundred dollars we received from the bank seemed like chunk change after being consumed by a $1400 motel bill, along with the many expenses of raising six children alone.

My story was the story of many single mothers across America, but as I sat deep in thought, on the city bus, I tried my best to hide it. Two years had gone by, since I had received child-support from any of the kid’s fathers. Besides being alone in this current circumstance I was the sole financial breadwinner for this family; which scared the heck out of me. Nothing mattered more to me than providing the children with a home and at least some security, even though this home was a temporary one.

Work welcomed me with a very slow day that day. I think I did three customers by six o’clock and by then I had called every soul in my contacts list, desperate to borrow some money. To my dismay no could spare the $30 that I was short of. After breaking down, I briefly told a co-worker about what I was going through and she tried her best to put on a good face. I could only imagine the thoughts running through her mind. I leaned back into my chair allowing my mind to drift while I struggled to remain positive and not lose control. I needed to pay for the room before eleven o’clock tomorrow morning or my kids and I would be on the streets!

I got off the bus at around 9pm very much in a daze, the way I had spent the whole day. Determined and still full of hope, I refused to accept the fate that seemed destined to greet us the next day. I dug into my uniform pocket and searched for my phone. After a quick glance, I saw that someone had texted me. It was Ruby. She and I had been friends for the past nine years and although the friendship had been turbulent, we somewhat understood each other. My text earlier to her had garnered a response. She had the money and could lend it to me. Mind you when I sent that message it was purely out of desperation and I didn’t really expect a reply, but I thought I’d give it a try anyway. To my surprise my old friend came through and unintentionally saved the day.

A sense of gratitude and relief suddenly came over me. I looked up to the sky and thanked God that for at least one more day, the children and I would have a home.