Trying to recover from all that had gone before , I thought Naw , it cant get any worse, this is time for change. I got up earlier than usual to wash the windows and changed my cheap terylene, well it made me feel good , even if I didnt have much in the house , to at least keep it clean, I hurried to get them all sparkling trying to listen to the wee trannie for the time, Id got from my pals catalogue. before getting the weans up for school, I felt a headache coming on, but dismissed it , as firstly didnt have money for medicine of any sort and mammys werent allowed to be ill.... I got the wee ones Rice Krispies sorted, and shouted on the weans that it was time to get up... they seemed more tired than usual,, the wee lassie they youngest sneezing and coughing. "mammy Ive got a sore head".... the two boys ran in to the living room in their jammies , waiting to see if she would be allowed off school, I stared at her with a bit of sympathy on my face, but didnt want her to be off as she liked school , and Id also been pulled up by the school for my oldest son being off so much , as he had asthma attacks a lot, ..although sometiimes I think he was pulling the wool over my eyes, to get staying in his bed... I said "now come on the three of you , eat your Krispies and get your clothes on... their jumpers all pressed were hanging near the second hand gas fire, the weans tried to move the clothes drier as they were cold, and I warned them to be careful... the house was always freezing, and I couldnt afford fires in the rooms, so they crowded round with their wee bowls to eat their breakfast "mammy dae ah hiv tae go to school" said the wee lassie... looking pale. "Go back to yer bed hen" I said in low voice as if the other two wouldnt hear me... " We re no feeling well mammy" the two boys chirped in, "Get yersels ready , NOW, " I tried to say with authority in my voice, and the two boys hurried to get their school jumpers on, I gave them their 10p for school and got their bags from the lobby press..... Leaving them to the door I kissed them both and told them to mind crossing the one street and to get the lollipop woman...Just then two older women walked in the close,, I glanced up and recognised one from Bridgeton where I use to live,, a nice wee woman but shed hit the booze badly due to her man battering lumps out of her on many occassion, Ashamedly I pretended not to know her, looking away quickly and trying to close over the door. I always waved to the weans at the window as they past the footbally pitch of a garden... and then I heard my name being called "Is it you Irene?" I could feel the panic inside me making my stomach churn.... "Oh didnt see you there I said, what are you doing here? I muttered not really wanting the answer..... "Oh my pal here Terry is moving in next door to you, is that no great" I was feeling lousy by now with this heavy cold and tried to smile....."Its freezing out here , the wee alkie woman said " looking at me pitifully, I twigged that they were looking for a howff and thought NO way never ever will I be exploited by neighbours, so I said I wasnt feeling too good and Id see them later... I had only got the door shut and walked up the lobby to see the the wean, when the door rattles again..... I opened in , this time didnt even try to smile, "Aye Mamie, what is it" I asked, "Kin you come in fur a minute and help us put up some curtain springs as Terrys legs and back are bad and she canny climb.... I said my wee lassie wasnt well, and I had to see to her.... "Uch she ll be fine fur a wee minute this wulnae take long" this wummin Terry said,,, I told my wee lassie reluctantly that I would be five minutes and for her to lie up on the couch and relax...... I walkled in the empty cold house and looked around, no ladders, all I could see was a long curtain wire, some old curtains and two four cans of Super Lager..... I looked up and said , "thats to high for me , and you dont have ladders" "Uch never mind said Terry, it diznae matter, dae ye drink Irene?" "I dont have the money to drink " I said...... " Uch dont be daft , we have three cans said Terry, .... "Hiv you tumblers in the hoose "..... I saw what they wanted, they wanted in my house to site and booze,,, quick as a flash I said, sorry have to go and see to my wee lassie.... "OH kin a use yer lavvy said Terry ".... I looked at her and told her she had a toilet in her own house.... "Aye but theirs nae lavvy paper " she said, "Well wait and Ill get some I said " running from one door to the other to retrieve a toilet roll for her....her face looked angry as if shed been scupperd, I handed it to her and walked away closing my door over.... Things wouldnt get better as Ill tell in the second part of this story.......