As The World Turns

MARSHALL’S POV>> ((Some info on ages: Hailie is 6, Marshall is 28.))
((MARCH 31st 2001))
I got into my car after dropping Carrie off. She’s pretty cool. Now off to Kim’s how fun. I let out a sigh as I pulled out of the parking lot. I arrived at Kim’s within 20 minutes. I went up to the door and knocked. “What?!” Kim yelled at me as she opened the door.
“I’m here to pick up Hailie! Do you mind?” I asked irritated.
“Daddy!” Hailie shouted running towards me.
“Hi baby,” I said picking her up. “Why is she up so late?” I asked Kim as she started to walk away, “Kim!” I yelled.
“Well I thought since you were gonna pick her up, she might as well stay up,” she said shutting the door in my face.
“Bitch,” I whispered. Hailie giggled and gave me a big hug, I hugged her back.
“Daddy, I’m tired,” Hailie whined as we got into the car.
“I know baby. We’ll be home soon,” I told her as we pulled out the driveway. Hailie ended up falling asleep on the way home, damn it Kim, she could have slept for a few hours till I came a got her. I carried her into the house and set her in her bed, taking off her shoes; I kissed her goodnight then left the room. I took a shower then went to bed.
(((APRIL 1st 2001 SATURDAY)))
I woke up to a knock on my bedroom door. I looked at the clock it was 9:30am. “Come in Hailie,” I said sitting up. She opened the door and ran over to the bed jumping up on it.
“Morning Daddy!” she shouted.
“Morning honey,” I said giving her a hug. I noticed her arm was bruised up, like someone had grabbed her by the arm hard. “Hailie baby, what happened to your arm?” I asked.
“Mommy grabbed my arm, she got mad at me,” Hailie said sadly toughing her arm where the bruise is.
“That…” I paused; I didn’t want to swear in front of her. “Hailie go to your room and pick out come clothes, I’ll be there in a few ok?”
“Ok daddy,” she said running to her room.
I rolled out of bed, put on a shirt, went to the bathroom and then headed downstairs. I put on some coffee before pulling out my cell and calling Kim. “What?” Kim answers
“Good morning bitch,” I said angrily though my teeth.
“Excuse me?” she says snotty.
“I said hi bitch, what the fuck did you do to Hailie?” I questioned.
“Nothin” she said in her bitchy way.
“What do you mean ‘nothin’? You fuckin grabbed her, she told me you did!” I yelled getting more irritated by the minute.
“What the fuck she….” Kim started talking
“She’s what?” I asked cutting her off.
“Nothin, but I didn’t grab her,” she insisted.
“Kim. You’re fuckin lying to me,” I said trying to be calm.
“I’m not lying!” she screamed.
“Whatever. If you’re not lying, why would Hailie tell me that you grabbed her really hard leaving a bruise?” I questioned trying not to yell….she remained silent. “Kim…”
“What?” she asked like she didn’t even hear what I said. I let out a loud sigh.
“I didn’t grab her that hard,” she lied.
“Then why the fuck does he have a goddamn bruise!?” I yelled loudly.
“Fine! I did grab her but I had a good reason!” she yelled back but louder, I had to hold the phone away from my ear.
“What the fuck Kim? There is no reason to be grabbin a child like that,” I said pissed, I wanted to punch someone’s face in.
“Yeah, she was crying for you,” she said sounding jealous.
“I wonder why,” I said as if she was stupid.
“Well…” she started I cut her off.
“Well… nothin bye,” I said hanging up the phone before she had the chance to say anything back. Sometimes I wish I could just take Hailie and never let Kim see her again.
Kim tried to call back but I didn’t answer. What the fuck is with this crazy bitch, she must be snortin her cocaine again. I sighed as my phone rang a fourth time. “Stop fuckin calling me damn it!” I yelled then hung up.
“Daddy!!” Hailie yelled as she entered the kitchen, I turned around and looked at her, she had dressed herself, she put her shirt on backwards, and I had to laugh to myself. She had jeans on, and a long sleeve pink shirt that said ‘Diva’ on it. “Daddy, I dressed myself.” she giggled. I shook my head and smiled.
“Ok, that’s very nice baby but let Daddy fix it then we can go out for breakfast,” I said smiling at her.
“Ok Daddy,” she said. I fixed her clothes, and then ran upstairs to get dressed myself. It took me a while to find some clean clothes that actually looked good together. I still had some laundry to do. I slipped on a pair of gray sweats and a black t-shirt with a red Shady sweater. I went downstairs; Hailie was standing in the living room waiting for me.
“Ok ready?” I asked her.
“Yeah!” she said running towards the front door. I got an idea, to invite Carrie.
“Wait! I’m gonna invite a friend of mine,” I said pulling out my cell.
“Who you gonna call,” Hailie asked sitting on her little pink chair.
“You’ll see, she’s a beautiful young lady I met yesterday,” I said, she smiled.
“Ok Daddy,” she said staring up at me. I dialed Carrie’s number and waited.
“Hello?” a young boy answered. I assumed that it must be Michael.
“Umm, is Carrie there?” I asked.
“Yeah, Mommy!” he yells. “She’s coming,” he said into the phone.
“Hello?” Carrie answered.
“Carrie it’s me Marshall,” I said feeling like a dork.
“Hi!” she said, she seemed to be excided that I was calling. It made me smile.
“Hey, I was thinking, Hailie and I were gonna go to Perkins for breakfast, you and Michael wanna come?” I asked, figuring that she would say yes.
“Sure,” she said. I smiled.
“Ok, I’ll pick you up,” I said.
“Do you remember where I live?” she asked.
“Of course, how could I forget,” I said, I felt like a dork again. “So I’ll be there in like 20 minutes,” I added.
“Ok see you later, bye,” she said.
“K, bye,” I said and hung up the phone.
“Can we go now?” Hailie whined walking though the kitchen doors.
“Yes, I’m gonna pick up Carrie first,” I said.
“Ok,” she said while opening the door into the garage. I opened the other door with the button in the car. We headed over to Carrie’s….
CARRIE’S POV>>>
“Mommy? Who was that?” Michael asked.
“My friend I met yesterday, I think you know who he is,” I told him. He looked at me funny; I was waiting for him to ask who it was.
“Who?” he asked getting excided, I laughed slightly.
“Eminem,” I said. He smiled.
“Wow, Eminem,” he said smiling. I nodded.
“Yes, but call him Marshall,” I told him, he nodded.
“Ok, what did he want?” he asked.
“Oh, we’re gonna go out to eat,” I told him knowing he would like that idea.
“Yay” he said, smile getting ever larger. “Is he your boyfriend now?!” he asked. I gave him a funny look.
“…umm…just get ready,” I demanded. He ran over and grabbed his sweater.
“Ok I’m ready!” he said showing himself off.
“Umm honey? Don’t you want your shoes?” I asked him.
“Oh, I forgot,” he giggled running over to the door where his shoes sat.
Just then the door bell thingy buzzed. I walked over to the buzzer still trying to put my earrings in. “Come on up!” I said pushing the button letting them in. He arrived up within about a minute. “It’s open!” I yelled towards the door, the door opens and Marshall and Hailie came walking in. Michael runs to the door smiling.
“Hi, you must be Michael,” Marshall says kneeling down at Michael’s level.
“Yes, and you’re Marshall and that’s, I don’t know who she is,” he said pointing to Hailie. (lol cute)
“Yes, I see your Moms been talking about me. This is my daughter Hailie,” he smiles at Michael, Marshall stands up and gives you a hug.
“How are you?” I asked him, he smiled slightly.
“I’m fine I guess, had a fight with Kim this morning,” he said, he seemed irritated. “How bout you? This is Hailie,” he said placing his hands on her shoulders. She sort of back up closer to Marshall.
“I’m good so far. Hi Hailie,” I said smiling. Hailie remained silent.
“Say hi Hailie,” Marshall demanded in a way.
“Hi,” she said shyly.
“Ok ready?” he asked opening the door.
“Yep,” I said following him out the door, locking it on the way out.

((AFTER BREAKFAST AT THE PARK>>>))
We took the kids to the park so they can work off some energy. I sat down on a park bench, so did Marshall, he kept his hat on so it hid his face. It was silent for a long time, like we didn’t know what to talk bout. “What happened to Hailie’s arm?” I questioned confused, she has a bruise.
“Kim happened. Hailie was crying for me and Kim got pissed,” Marshall said, he seemed very mad.
“What a bitch,” I said.
“Yeah, she is,” he said.
“Hey! I know someone who could baby-sit Hailie she baby-sits Michael all the time,” I said with a smile.
“Ok, can I meet is person?” he asked smiling knowing the answer all ready.
“Duh,” I said playfully.
“What’s her name?” he asked.
“Liz,” I replied while staring at the kids, they were swinging together.
“Well they bounded quickly,” Marshall said pointing to the kids.
We went to go meet Liz about a half hour later. “Damn, I haven’t been down here in awhile,” Marshall said looking around the 8 Mile trailer park. “Brings back old memories,” he added.
“It creeps me out,” I said. He laughed.
“It’s not that bad, just a lot of kids, old people and ok yeah there is some creepy guys,” he laughed. I shook my head and pointed to where Liz’s trailer was.
“Yo! I used to live in that house!” Marshall said like he was shocked.
“Liz is a stalker,” I joked. Marshall looked at me funny. “I was kidding,” I told him. “She doesn’t get out much, she’s kinda shy,” I said. Marshall nodded as we got out the car.
Introduced Marshall and Hailie to Liz. Liz seemed to really like Marshall; she kept staring at him until I gave her a death glare. We talked for a while, a few hours passed.
“Hey you guys wanna go eat at Applebee’s?” Marshall asked.
“Sure,” Liz and I said at the same time.