"Max open up!" Leila banged her door at 6am in the morning.

"Leila what are you doing?!" She asked underneath her breath as she opens the front door. "The kids are sleeping, what do you want?" 

"Max?! Did you actually forget what day is it?" 

"Monday, why?" She answered somehow bewildered.

"Oh my freakin' Gosh! It's the New York Fashion Week! I have a lot of things to take with me and I can't carry them all alone. You have to come with me" 

"Oh my Leila, I am so occupied about Danny and Maxi's enrollment week. I just lost my job and I need to go job hunting," she said apologetically.

"Please Max, this would cause me my job," Leila pleaded

With the look on her face she couldn't let her down. This is a very important event for her. This is the gathering of all top of the line designers and make-up artist showing off their anorexic models, well showcasing collections for upcoming seasons. This is her chance to be notice.

Leila has been working so hard to create a name on this field. To become one of the most popular and fave make-up artist in the country. She dreamed of living in Manhattan. To escape from the filthy place where they live in. Just like her, all her life she works hard for a living. The difference is, she is only working for herself. Her family lives in quiet and peaceful life in Jefferson County. It was a slower paced life with lots of beautiful nature to enjoy. She kept her dreams alive and continued to strive for what she wanted, the 3 F's. Fame, Fortune and Flings.

She's incredibly witty and energetic. She's well aware that every time she works with a designer, stylist or photographer for the first time, her head is on the chopping board.

She cupped her face and said. "Besides, you need to chill out and have fun once in a while. This is your chance to meet new guys, a new boyfriend, a new father figure and your knight in shining armor," she said with a sparkle on her eyes.

"Leila that's a very sophisticated, classy , stylish event and for sure no one will pay attention on me. I will look stupid. Leila I won't fit there. I'm not going," Max said and was about to close the door and get back to sleep.

Leila spoke from behind, "Max for an emerging talent like me, becoming the lead artist for this show is a bit like waiting for a rent-stabilized apartment to free up. Makeup legends, will dominate New York Fashion Week. I only get one shot Max," she said pleading.

Max sighed deeply."Okay, I'll come as your assistant. I'll wake up Joanna and ask her to look after the kids while were away." Leila's eyes glimmered and she hugged her like she almost choke. "Okay, I'm going., I'm going if you don't kill me" she said, coughing.

Before Leila walk away and turn her back on her. She remembered and shouted at her in panic. "Leila I don't have anything wear?"

...The night before the fashion week...

"Hello Mom, how are you?" asked Maxine, wariness evident on her voice. 

"I'm good, despite of this burn on my arm. I was frying fish, and I accidentally got a splash of hot oil on my arm," said Mrs. Mason. She's one of finest chef of the King of Belgium.

"Mom please take care of yourself." 

"This is nothing. How are the kids? Honey, is there something wrong?" Her mother asked, her motherly instinct sensing something.

"The kids were fine." Max took a deep breath. "Mom, I just got laid off today. "My last pay check will be release after a month and it's enrollment week now and-" Max's voice trembled, she's speaking and crying in between.

Mrs. Mason cut her off.

"Ssshh, it's okay, I'll be sending money to your account today." 

"Thanks Mom," she replied.

"If you'd only listened to me before, you would never have gone through all this hardship," Mrs. Mason preached.

"I know." Max responded still sobbing.

"I keep on telling you to ask for substantial child-support from their bastard father?" she insisted. They'd been through this topic over and over but Max always resented the idea. She was determined to raise her kids herself.

"Mom, I can do this. I just need to find a better job." She said while sniffing 

"I know that honey. Remember you are beautiful, smart and oozing with confidence," Her mother said to lighten up a bit. " It's their lost not yours"

"Thanks Mom. Thanks for everything. In spite of everything I have caused you. You're still there for me." She let out that big cry she'd been holding back.

"Honey, you don't have to. That's what mothers are for. You know that, you're a mother now. " said Mrs. Mason, trying hard to compose herself. She's always been strong for her children.

 "It takes guts to support someone when they're wrong. And you have done that to me all my life."

"Well, I should get an award for tolerating you all your life. Get some sleep now. 9am here in Brussels, I know it's only 3am there in New York." She said.

"Love you Mom"

"Love you too, honey."

Max's POV

I curled up to my bed and cried myself to sleep after the conversation with my Mom. It's been four years since Richard and I split up. The first year was a turmoil. I was devastated, heartbroken 21-year-old by then, and in between work hours spent nursing my twins and mashed up baby food. 

I can do it, I always say to myself. Day-to-day duties for a solo parent are no different than for couples. Coping with sleeplessness, finding child care, paying bills. But I'm on my own.

I ran away with Richard when we found out that I was pregnant. I had to drop out of school to take care of our twins while Richard continued on his training to become a pilot at US Aviation Academy. Having a baby at a young age was very difficult. Becoming a teen mom can be very hard, you don't have time to hang out with your friends, go to mall and watch movies.

Richard is from a well off family. He managed to support us from his allowance. Most of the time, he is away. He comes home once a week though. We live together, well not so together, for good 3 years. Until I found out that he is hooking up with the daughter of his professor. I don't know if she loves her or just for the sake of passing the training. Nevertheless, I split up with him.

Young love. That's all we had. Immature, fierce and full of lust. I made the choice of running away with him and there's no way out. I stumbled once before but the important thing was that I stood up. I couldn't let those things stop me. The best thing that I could do for my children was to show them that I'll be a strong and resourceful individual.

I had to collect myself from our split up and move out of his house. We crashed in to Leila's apartment in Brooklyn. She's my bff since grade school. She works as a freelance make-up artist for various top of the line brand of make-up company and get to meet celebrities and famous people. Lucky her. She gets to places she wanted to be. Meet people from different walks of life. Learn new things. She has her whole life ahead of her. Single and free…

It's was safe neighborhood, cheap and it's just a 1 hour to travel to Manhattan by train. She was kind enough to keep us until I found myself a job and move to the other room just 3 doors away from her. 

After a week of job hunting I find myself working as a wet nurse. A women who breastfed other babies. I always considered it sort of peculiar but eventually I accepted the offer because I'll be able to take my children with me and take care of them while nursing the others. It wasn't strange. It felt really normal, really natural. I was starting to see just how beneficial this would be, and wondering why more women didn't do it. Sisters, mothers, aunts, even grandmothers breastfed babies who needed to be fed. In ancient cultures, it was common to breastfeed any child you knew who needed to be fed! 

Unfortunately, I didn't last that long in that profession. Two months after, the owner of the center fired me after I refuse to wet nurse a 15 year old boy. He is special, fine! But that's a freakin' 15 year old grown up special kind of child that will have access on my breast. That's a hell no. Well, I take back what I said it wasn't common to breastfeed any child you knew who needed to be fed! 

In 4 years, I jumped from being a dishwasher, laundry attendant, amusement park attendant, movie theater usher, zoo keeper, a bar singer and lately a cashier at Blockbuster Video. Just until today actually. I stayed there for a year and a half. Due to cost cutting measures the management decided to lay off some of their people. I'm one of them.

I never get to have a decent job to provide for my children. It's enrollment week for Danny and Maxi and I'm jobless. I don't know what to do next. 

Mom never failed to help me. After a series of sermon she was always there to rescue us. After all the hurt that I inflicted on her she's always been supportive and loving.

.....NYFW......

This special event is held in Manhattan's Bryant Park. There are lots of parties and celebrations during New York Fashion Week.

It gives some of the most prestigious designers the chance to showcase their latest collections for fashion buyers and merchandisers, fashion journalists, celebrities and other notable fashion trend setters. This event also means money for Leila, fame, connection and boys, of course! She gets to date the most dashing, sexiest and hottest models of the runway.

Leila made her wear one of Marc Jacob's designer dress. She handed her the modified edition. Blue short dress, instead of the Mandarin collar and short sleeves she made it tube like dress with ruches , frills paired with a western buckle boots. She did her hair and make-up too.

Leila has several designer dresses given to her by her client models. The old and not so in design. Still those are designer dresses! From McQueen to Givenchy. She has grown to be a wardrobe stylist as well that's why there is no doubt that she could turn the outdated design into the most fascinating work of art. Leila told her not to care if people may tagged her as Faux pas, it's fashion week, It's a celebration of creativity. 

"There you go." Said Leila and gave her a handheld mirror. She even tap her shoulder and said she's a genius. "Who would have thought that you're already a mother."

Max stared at her reflection. She looked like beautiful goddess with creamy, milk colored skin that has a slight tan on some parts and a near flawless complexion. Her hair falls in ringlets down her back and over her shoulders flowing smoothly. Her eyes are a blue like the early morning sky. She has a light, pink beauty blush on her cheek, an inch or so below her eye. Her waist, although not bone skinny, is neither chunky nor fat nor is it what one would consider thin. Her legs are very shapely, strong for she work so hard. Her shoulders are very nice, small and precise. Her upper arms are a little meatish though not fat or anything, whilst her lower arms are delicately thin. She has a very admirable beauty and a tender, time bearing face.

She was stunned from what she saw.

Leila peeped on her back and said, "Now tell who's not gonna go for a shag tonight", Max poked her in the head.

Max's POV

We arrived at the Bryant Park and headed immediately towards the backstage. Leila offered me a beer and had me sat down with a giant pile of buffalo wings, which can only mean one thing…It could have been the Fashion Week!

 "Just stay here okay and don't touch anything and don't do anything foolish yet," she said. I felt how pressured she is, she's even knuckling her fingers.

"Okay" I nodded anxiously. 

"You'll be fine just enjoy the show and watch my belongings. I'll get back to you later". She said and hurried to the pack of anorexic goddess waiting for their faces to be painted.

She could turn models into gypsies, fairy look-alikes, and sixties It girls that shows arresting glam-rock eye or a twisted, neon-accented up-do. She can do everything. 

New York Fashion Week is such a glamorous façade but I am no way glamorous. I didn't even think I could carry my dress. 

I've noticed some people started to turn their eyes on me. I gave them a timid smile and short hi's and hellos. I don't know what that look on their eyes meant but I started feeling eerie. How could I enjoy the show if I am here backstage?

I looked outside and my jaw automatically dropped when I saw Tyra Banks sits front row, Victoria Beckham, Heidi Klum and I guess some popular people that I actually don't know. Aside from those pretty people and some surprises there were many looks that had set my heart racing. 

I strolled outside. It's hard not to notice the characters that flock to NYFW. Fashionistas across the city are puckered up. This event is like an air-kissing love fest I thought to myself. They have mastered the art of no-contact kissing.

Choreograph a perfect air kiss and you're smart, worldly, confident and charismatic. Screw up and you're an amateur. I dare not to.

I was looking around in awe like a dumb ass. This night is so startling, there's nothing like entering for the first time to the Fashion Week tent.

After series of beer my bladder got so full, I could hardly breathe. I look anywhere for the sign of this way to the comfort room but I can't see anything. I am so dead shy to ask anyone. 

I almost fell over when accidentally I stepped into someone's foot.