Daily Flash Fiction Challenge

"Ok sweetie," I said turning to my daughter, "you remember what to say, right?"

"I'm not a baby momma," she huffed out, "I got this!"

"Yeah, so you..."

She sighed, rolling her eyes, "I tell whoever it is to come back later, when you're home... no, I can't open the door... no, I'm not sure when that'll be... yes, he's a skeevy old..."

"Amber!" I whisper yelled. It's not like the rent was all that late, and it was payday at the end of the week, I'd settle up then.

But it was waaaay too early for me to be dealing with her attitude on top of the ceaseless hammering on the door.

"Look," I reasoned, "I know you don't like lying... just keep it simple, k? Just tell them I'm not here and to call back later."

She frowned, but I couldn't help but smile as I listened to her rehearsing as she walked to the door... nor laughing at the teenage snark in her voice as she called out, finally stopping that bloody knocking!

"I don't know, alright?", she finally yelled, "Look, she said she isn't in right now so you'll have to come back later!"

The colour drained from my face as I played her words over in the silence that followed, knowing I was busted even before the knocking resumed.

Shooting her the stink-eye, I wandered to the door like a prisoner marching to the gallows, plastered on a solemn smile and swung the door open wide.

Confusion rippled over me as I stared into the empty corridor.

"Got you good momma!" Amber cried, unable to hide her mirth as she held out an envelope for me.

"Kids," I said with a fake grimace of my own, "can't live with 'em, can't sell 'em on Ebay."

(300)