Baby

1

"What are you going to do?" My mother asked. We were sitting in my bedroom as I was holding the papers from the doctor. "On this 7th Day of April, 1976 the patient known as Katie Lawrence had a positive pregnancy test." I swallowed hard feeling tears form in my eyes. "I-I wish I knew, mother. You would think since I made an adult decision I would have an adult solution...but I don't." I sobbed setting the papers down before my mother hugged me. I felt as though the worst was yet to come.

My mother rubbed my back trying to soothe my sobs. "Katie, you won't be kicked out if that's what you think. You're still in school, you're sixteen and this definitely wasn't a sixteen year old decision, but-" I laid my cheek on her shoulder sobbing. "I'm so sorry. Daddy is going to be so upset." I said through another hard sob. "I'll tell your father, but you need to work on telling THE father. Is it him?" I pulled away wiping my cheek as I nodded. "He has a game tonight, so I won't tell him now. This game means a lot to him and I know he'll wonder why I won't be showing up."

There was a lot going on in my head. What was I going to say to my boyfriend? He needed to know, too. "If you can and when you two are away from other kids, tell him." My mother was doing anything to comfort me, but all I felt was guilt. I felt guilty for being the first person in this heavily Christian family to be pregnant before getting married, and my mother wasn't going crazy as I thought she would. She stood from my bed. "I'll be leaving you alone. I know you have a lot to think about." I nodded watching as she left my room and shut the door behind her. and stared at the wall thinking over and over in my head of what I would tell him.

I was awoken by my father's work truck coming up the driveway. My eyes shot open and my stomach growled, so I knew I would have to leave my room to eat soon. I sat up in my bed and heard two voices outside which was unusual since my father always came home alone. As they drew closer, I recognized the other person's voice as Prince's and my heart sank.

I stood and opened my bedroom door. "Mom, dad's here with Prince. When he gets in, tell him to come to my room." I spoke so fast I wasn't even sure if she understood me. I sat on my bed and waited patiently for him, hearing the front door open and shut and my mother telling Prince to go to my room. Even without seeing my father or hearing his voice, I felt the tension through the walls. I could hear Prince's boots against the floor before my bedroom door eventually opened. Prince had a worried look on his face as he walked in and walked towards me leaving the door open. It was always a rule my father made that when Prince came over we had to leave the door open...but that never stopped us from doing what he was trying to prevent happening.

"Shut the door, please." I murmured. He stopped in his tracks. "Is everything okay? I saw you weren't at the game and got worried." He turned around and shut the door before sitting in the chair that was by my desk. Prince was wearing bell bottoms jeans, a turtle neck, and his letterman jacket over his turtleneck which was never anything out of the usual. Ironically, he was wearing the same turtleneck he wore the night we conceived this baby. I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Yeah I'm okay.  I've just been a little sick." My heart was racing as the look on his face was so confused and worried.

"Katie, you're shaking." His hand reached over to rub my arm and I looked away. "S-Sorry. Must be the chills from the flu." Prince was watching me and pressed his hand to my forehead before brushing a lock of hair out of my eyes. "We won tonight. I wish you were there to watch me make the winning shot." I took his hand. "Me, too." I couldn't beat around the bush anymore. "Prince. I-" "You know, your dad picked me up tonight." He started laughing which made me smile just a little. "He's really funny. Told me about a comedy special he saw on TV and told me something from it." I was hoping Prince would tell me what it was just so I could think my words out a little more, but he didn't. "O-Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt, baby." I smiled softly and was about to open my mouth when there was a knock on the door.