“What’s important now is that you find a job,” said Rachel. “Your grandmother can see the kids off to school.”

Nardine looked blankly at the carpet and breathed through her open mouth.

“Did Mr. Andrews offer you the position?” said Rachel.

“He said that if I could do those morning hours, then he would give me a chance.”

“Well then, you need to get back over there and tell him you’d like to take the job.”

“I’m sorry, Miss Lopez. I am just not a morning kinda person -”

“Neither am I. But I still get up and go to work.”

“That’s you, all right? I ain’t never claim to be perfect or nothin’ like it.” Nardine balled her fist and rabbit-punched her own thigh. “Why you gotta press me like this?”

Rachel stared at her a bit harder now. Nardine looked away. She was too thin and had bad color and foul breath. She was irritable. These were signs that she was back on drugs.

“It’s hard,” said Nardine, her voice trailing off.

“I know it is,” said Rachel.

I fall down too. I fail, just like you.

“Miss Lopez, I don’t know if I can do this.”

“You can try. Now, you need to get yourself to work. And there’s something else.”

“What?”

“You have to get over to the clinic.”

“Again?”

“You have to drop urines regularly. You know this. You haven’t done it for a while.”

Nardine lowered her head and began to cry. Her shoulders shook and tears dropped into her lap. Rachel allowed her to cry without comment. It could have been an act or it could have been real. It made no difference, really, in the end.

“Mommy, why you sad?” said the daughter.

“Just play your game, girl,” said Nardine with an angry slashing motion of her hand.