Shell Manage
Ally grew up in a childrens home, and for as long as she could remember, there were always other kids like her and the caretakers around. Life hadnt been kind, but shed learned to stand up for herselfand for the younger ones. She had a fierce sense of justice and couldnt bear to see the weak bullied. Sometimes she took the brunt of it herself, but she never cried. She knew she was suffering for what was right.
Her name had always been Albinia, but at the home, theyd shortened it to Ally. The day she turned eighteen, she was sent out into the world to fend for herself. At least she had a tradeshed trained as a cook and had already been working as a kitchen assistant in a café for a few months. They gave her a room in a hostel, but it was a grim sight.
Around that time, shed started seeing Victor, who was three years older and worked at the same café as a delivery van driver. Things moved quicklysoon, she was living with him in his one-bed flat, left to him by his grandmother.
«Albinia, come stay with me,» hed said. «Whats the point of that hostel room? The lock doesnt even work properly. Needs a proper fix-up.» She agreed without hesitation.
She liked Victor because he was older, more serious. One evening, they talked about kids, and he shrugged.
«Cant stand the little ankle-biters. Nothing but noise and trouble.»
«Victor,» Ally said, startled, «but if its yoursyour own flesh and bloodhow can you say that?»
«Whatever. Drop it. I said I dont like em, end of.»
His words stung, but she pushed the hurt aside. If they got married, kids would come eventually. Maybe hed change his mind by then.
At the café, Ally worked hard. She could even cover for the head cook, Valerie, when she called in sick with a «headache»though everyone knew Valeries real problem was the bottle.
«If you mess up one more time, youre out,» the manager, Max, warned her. But Valerie was a brilliant cook, and the regulars loved her.
«Your chefs top-notch, Max,» friends would say.
So Valerie clung to her job, gritting her teeth through the warnings. She knew they only kept her because she could cook. And shed noticed how quickly young Ally picked things up, cooking with heart. Max had started keeping an eye on her too.
One day, Ally overheard him talking to the floor manager.
«Valeries out if she skips again. Allys young, but shes got the knack. Shes not spoiled, shes reliable.» His voice faded as they walked off.
Ally blinked. So Max had been watching her. She felt bad for Valeriekind but ruined by her habit. She kept the conversation to herself, not even telling Victor.
Time passed. Valerie finally went on a week-long bender, and Ally took over. Not a single customer complainedno one even noticed the change. When Valerie stumbled back, she was a wreck: shaking hands, dark circles under her eyes, barely able to lift her head.
Max walked into the kitchen. «Valerie. My office. Now.»
She was sacked on the spot. Later, Max came back out.
«Ally, from today, youre head cook. Youve got talentroom to grow. Dont let me down.»
«Thank you,» she stammered, nerves fluttering at the responsibility.
But she was thrilled. The pay was good, and at her age, she was already running a kitchen. She swore to herself shed prove Max right.
That evening, Victor brought home a bottle of bubbly.
«To your promotion,» he grinned. «You did it, Ally. Got what you wanted.»
But as months rolled by, he never mentioned marriage. Theyd been together nearly three years. He didnt drink, was usually behind the wheel, never raised a hand to her. There were squabbles, sure, but they made up fast. Still, he never brought up weddings. She wondered, though.
«Maybe if I got pregnant,» she thought. «Then hed step up.»
She remembered his warninghow he hated kids. But they hadnt talked about it since. She knew now wasnt the timeshe was just finding her feet.
Then came the day she realised she was pregnant. A doctor confirmed it. She was overjoyed.
«Youre glowing,» Victor said when he got home that evening.
She smiled. «Theres a reason. Im pregnant.»
His face darkened. «I dont want it. Get rid of it, or get out. I told youI cant stand kids. You knew. Now deal with it.»
His voice was ice. Hed never shouted, but the coldness terrified her.
«Where will you go?» he added. «Youve got no family. Think about it.»
The next day, after her shift, Ally packed her things and left for the hostel. She stood before the peeling door marked «35» in smudged marker. With a shove of her shoulderthe lock was brokenshe stepped inside.
The room smelled of damp and dust. The ceiling flaked, dead flies littered the grimy windowsill. A rusty bed frame held a stained mattress, a rickety table sat crooked in the corner.
She set down her baga few clothes, some books, plates, and mugs. Her hand rested on her still-flat stomach.
«Well manage,» she whispered.
Next door, a drunk neighbour shouted obscenities. She flinched.
«Welcome home, Ally,» she murmured.
The shared kitchen was worsecracked tiles, a wheezing fridge, cockroaches skittering by the bin.
Back in her room, she bolted the door. The ache in her chest threatened tears, but she swallowed them. Instead, a strange freedom settled over her.
Victors words echoed: «Where will you go?»
Well, here. To this room. Hers. Shed make it work.
She cleaned fiercely, scrubbing until the window gleamed. The next day, she bought bedding, towels, a new lock. Slowly, life took shape.
At the café, a new waiter, Timothy, started. Quiet but watchful. One evening, he walked her home. She offered tea out of politeness, but then she saw the look in his eyesand panicked. She was pregnant.
Yet he kept coming. One day, he said, «Marry me, Albinia. Youre alone, so am I. Ive got an old gran in the country, but no one here. I love you. And your baby.»
She thought of Victor. How different they were. Timothy was warm, steady.
When her time came, he waited at the hospital, then raced home to repaint the room, set up a crib. When she returned with their son, the place was transformedclean, bright, balloons everywhere.
She barely recognised it.
Timothy had done all this. For her. For them.
