Take your kids to work (1)

"Put it on young lady!" Vivian shouted at Natasha but the girl gave her a hiss!

"Never!" Natasha tossed her Barbie doll at her mother and ran out of the bedroom door but Vivian was close behind.

"What's wrong with it? Pink is your favourite." Vivian said as she chased the girl into the kitchen, Natasha grabbed a can of beans and threw it at her," Natasha!"

"Its ugly! I won't wear it!" Natasha climbed over the counter, hopping into the living room.

"It's not ugly. Its new and nice." Vivian went into the living room, mindful of something else being tossed at her, and was hit by a couch pillow.

Natasha looked at the floral, pink and white striped dress her mother wanted her to wear, it had no straps and a zip on back, with long pink sleeves that ended with wrist ruffles. Vivian had bought the dress for 'Bring your kid to work day', along with clothes for all her kids, except for Nicholas who was staying at home till his head injury was fully healed. The other kids had put their clothes on with no argument, but Natasha practically screamed at her when she saw the dress.

"It looks like it belongs on a witch!" Natasha screeched and threw more couch pillows at her, which Vivian accepted with bitter grace. Nikki, Nikolai and Nicole sat on the same couch, handing Natasha the same pillows to throw at her.

They thought this whole situation was funny!

"Kids can't you help me? We're going to be late at this rate." Vivian asked her boys but they shook their heads, Nicole even clapped his hands in cheer.

"I will never wear that dress. Never, not ever, ever!" Natasha threw another pillow and Vivian dodged it, but it hit Nicholas who had come up behind her.

"Ow." Nicholas sighed," Are you still refusing to wear your dress? You are making too much noise, I can't sleep."

"It's eight o'clock in the morning." Nikolai said and Vivian gasped, as she looked at clock on the wall.

"Oh, we're going to be late!" Vivian tossed the dress to the couch," Natasha wear what you want, I need to shower fast."

"Yes!" Natasha raced to her room as Vivian raced to the shower, Nicholas just shook his head and got himself a cup of water. Nikolai kept glaring at him, but he payed no mind.

"Big brother." Nicole said and Nicholas came over and patted his little cheeks," Big brother stay home?"

"Yes, I am staying home." Nicholas gave a small smile.

"Lucky you." Nikolai replied," We have to dress up like this and you get to stay behind and watch whatever you want all day. Not fair."

"Hmm, maybe. But I will sleep more than watch television." Nicholas said softly and left to his room.

"Prick." Nikolai muttered under his breath.

"What's a prick?" Nikki asked him.

"It's...a dumb selfish person. Like him." Nikolai huffed sourly.

"But big brother hurt his head, that's why he can't go." Nikki replied but Nikolai didn't care, he just thought the whole thing was unfair.

"Dick." Nicole tried to say what Nikolai said.

"It's prick, not...that." Nikolai tried to correct the four year old but Nicole just smiled.

"Ugh, nevermind." Nikolai rolled his eyes and that's when Natasha came in.

Natasha wore a pink crop top, dark blue jeans, a leather jacket, pink sunglasses and a scrunchy in her hair. She gave a smug smile and hopped onto the sofa, putting her sunglasses onto her forehead. Nikki and Nicole were surprised and admired her clothes whilst Nikolai raised a hand and smacked her head.

"What are you wearing?" Nikolai demanded and she pouted.

"My clothes." She replied.

"You look dumb. " He crossed his arms," Mom will tell you to take them off."

"No, I look great and she won't say anything. She doesn't want to be late. You should have done what I did, then you wouldn't look like...that." Natasha pointed at his clothes in disgust.

Nikolai wore a white long sleeve shirt with blue and black stripes, black loafers and brown pants. The boy in question looked at his clothes and scowled, then he reached over and pulled out two buttons.

"What are you doing?" Natasha shouted and he gave her a devilish smile.

"It's ripped, I guess I should change." Nikolai chuckled as he raced to his room.

"Dick." Nicole said softly and Natasha gave her baby brother a confused look. Where did he learn that word?

"Can I go change too?" Nikki asked with a smile and Natasha shrugged her shoulders, which Nikki took as a yes and quickly raced away.

Five minutes later Vivian rushed out wearing an ankle length tight black dress, golden hoop ear rings, a curly black weave and faded blue stilettos.

"Okay, I'm ready. Let's...go." Vivian looked at the kids sitting on the couch," What are you all wearing?"

Nikolai had put on a black t-shirt and black and red shorts with small leather gloves he got last Christmas. Nikki wore a blue and black oversized t-shirt, with jean shorts and sneakers, whilst Nicole wore a blue t-shirt and brown shorts. Nikolai gave a smug smile and pointed at Natasha.

"She started it. She said we can wear what we want." He replied.

"No I didn't. He's lying." She scowled.

"Are too."

"Am not."

"Liar."

"You're the liar!"

"Quiet!" Vivian shouted and the two twins just glared at each other silently,"We don't have time for you all to change. So, come on. Let's go. Wait!"

Vivian rushed to the bedroom and came out with a black hoodie, and shoved it over Natasha's head, forcing her to wear it.

"You're not going out like that, it's chilly." Vivian said and before Natasha could protest, she rushed them out of the house.

Nicholas opened his bedroom door and looked around.

"Finally." He muttered softly. He walked into the kitchen and pulled out a bowel of apple slices and sat on the couch, TV remote in hand. He was going to spend the day watching television, like the eight year old he was.

However, he was going to be watching the Education channel, like the little adult he was.

...

Three years ago, Vivian had gotten a job at the boutique called 'Enchanted.' Mariah had helped her get the job, the managerr being an old friend from France who moved to the States. Being an eighteen year old with little credentials, Vivian had pushed herself hard, brutally at times, to rise from 'The coffee girl' to Assistant manager.

Was she proud of herself? Hell yes!

Did she want her kids to be proud of her too? Absolutely!

Would she act really cool and impressive to show off? Well...of course!

Enchanted was a fashion design company started by Mrs Robinson, a former stay at home mom with a mildly rich husband, who decided to start her own company. They owned a four story building near downtown, which was their main office. Vivian worked in a branch stationed in the, ironically, Robinson Mall.

Vivian arrived with her kids on the bus, having no car of her own or even have a driver's license. Mariah often offered her car and even a ride, but Vivian refused, claiming she would drive herself eventually.

"That old lady smelled." Nikki said pointing to the old lady sitting by the bus window.

"Excuse me?" The old lady, who had the window open, looked down at the mother and four kids," What did your son just say?"

"You smell like garlic and old bread." Nikki said honestly and Vivian covered his mouth while giving a nervous smile.

"Have a nice day." She said as the bus drove on," Kids, can you please, just for today, try really really hard to behave?"

"But mom, I was being honest. Like you told me to." Nikki was confused," Should i lie?"

"No, lying is bad...but sometimes saying something, anything, can be bad too, especially if it hurts the other person's feelings." Vivian patted his head.

"Can we go now? You're late!" Natasha pulled her mother's hand and Vivian got pulled along, Nicole clutched in her other hand and giggling happily.

"I can't wait! I can't wait! The clothes! I always wanted to see them!" Natasha felt unquestionable excitement as she pulled her mother into the mall," Which way?"

The mall was a bustling place, even in the morning. There were the morning shoppers, eager food enthusiasts waiting for the food emporium to open and the mall employees getting to their jobs. A 5 story structure of glass and stone outside, with a stylish design inside, the mall had the goods and services wanted by most of its customers.

Plus, it came with great work benefits.

"Follow me kids, let's go. Natasha, Nikolai, watch your brothers when we get in there. I'm might get busy, and you two will have to be responsible." Vivian spoke calmly," Can you do that?"

"Isn't that what we do at school? Especially after the termite thing he did?" Nikolai asked and pointed at Nikki with a frown," It won't be hard."

"It will be harder, school is more safer than here. Alot of strangers, kids, remember to only go where I can see you or where you can hear my voice. Okay?" Vivian looked at them, especially Nikki. After the cemetery incident, she was keeping a close eye on him.

"Yes mom." Nikki and Nikolai replied.

"Yes mommy... we're here!" Natasha almost squealed as she saw the boutique. " Enchanted. It's so cool!"

"It's just clothes." Nikolai mumbled and Natasha gave him a deadly glare.

"Just clothes? Then walk around naked!" She hissed," Clothes are very important. Barbie had tons of dresses and always looks good."

"So?" Nikki asked his sister.

"So, if I look good, then just like Barbie, I'll meet my Ken and fall in love too." Natasha smiled widely.

"Ewww. Gross." Nikki made a disgusted face.

"Kid." Natasha huffed as they entered the boutique.

A large two floored boutique, it had style and a rich design. The walls were an apricot cream, the floors were a combination of wood, velvet carpeting and stone. Various employees walked around, looking at fashionable outfits, helping customers and talking about the the latest trends.

Vivian walked upstairs, arriving in a lounge where young and amazingly dressed people were organizing clothes for sale. The longue was spacious, with two velvet sofas, a fluffy couch, a long table and clothes racks with lovely and incredible clothes. There were posters of fashion shows the boutique had provided clothes for. Natasha looked as if she was in paradise, her little brown coloured eyes stared in wonder, and pure delight.

"There is my office, kids." Vivian pointed to a desk office with see through walls made of sound silencing glass.

Vivian's office was chiq, with five framed photographs of her kids, a laptop and plastic rose plant. There were two cabinets behind her with numerous files, orgenized in alphabetical order. There was even a bowel of mints on the desk, that Vivian had placed there yesterday in preparation for the kids coming.

"Sweets!" Nikki rushed to the bowel of mints, his hands grabbing them like a pirate who found gold.

"Mom, I hate this photo." Nikolai glared at the photograph of himself eating a cake at his first birthday with Vivian. He had had tears in his eyes, since it was his first time having a birthday party.

"Well I love it," Vivian smiled as she ruffled his hair and tried to stop Nikki from stuffing all the mints into his mouth.

"Vivy! You're here!" The door to the office opened and all the kids moved behind their mother.

A tall Caucasian woman with blonde platinum hair, faded blue eyes and sharp cheeks stood in the doorway. She wore a black business jacket, a light white shirt with a frill collar, black pants and faded grey heels. Her aura was intimidating and abrupt, as she was herself. This was Suzanne Emerald, the manager of The Enchanted branch in Robinson Mall and Vivian's boss.

"Sorry I was late Miss Emerald." Vivian apologized but Suzanne was not even listening.

"Who's are these?" Suzanne pointed at the kids as if talking about stray pets that got into her house.

"These are my kids, Natasha, Nikolai, Nikki and Nicole." Vivian said softly.

"Your what? But they're white," Suzanne raised a brow,"I'm guessing adopted?"

"No, they're mine. My babies, through and through." Vivian replied with a forced smile.

"That girl looks seven years old and last I checked, your resume says you are now 22." Suzanne folded her arms," So, you had children when you were 15?"

"I'm sorry, but that is personal information." Vivian replied and Suzanne gave a small smile.

"I am close." Suzanne sighec as if bored by the whole conversation now," Look, we got a new Autumn shipment, I need you to help Matthew organise it, before lunch."

"But that will take hours, I still have my kids to watch." Vivian said and Suzanne waved her hand dismissively.

"You brought them here, so deal with them. I hope no one else brings their dirty brats here," Suzanne turned around to leave," Oh, and if they damage anything, it's coming out of your salary."

"Dick" Nicole said suddenly.

Suzanne stopped and looked at the boy and then at all the kids,"Make sure I don't notice them till days end." With a hair flick, she was gone.

"Which one of you taught your brother that word?" Vivian asked when they were alone.

"She did." Nikolai pointed at Natasha.

"No I didn't!" She said defensively," He tried teaching Nikki and Nicole heard it."

"I said Prick, not Dick!" Nikolai shouted.

"It's your fault!" Natasha shouted back.

"No it's not!"

"Quiet!" Vivian slammed her hand on the desk and silence reigned,"I'm disappointed in both of you for cursing around your brothers and at each other. So, as punishment, you will stay in the lounge for two hours, and babysit your brothers."

"No! All the clothes! It's not fair!" Natasha cried in misery.

"Why do I have to babysit?" Nikolai frowned at the injustice.

"No arguments, and no nothing. Come on." Vivian sighed as she led them away.

This was going to be long day for sure.