Hood Rats | Sandy Milkovich

Respect the Hutsle

Holly hated the doctor's office, but she hated nothing more than the waiting room at the doctor's office. Sitting there for thirty minutes more than you planned, even if you had an appointment, in a stuffy room filled with screaming children and exhausted parents. It was so much worse at the lady doctor office, because every other woman was holding a crying baby or complaining of pregnancy symptoms.

The seat next to her was taken up again when her mother sat back down with a paper cup of water from the cooler in the corner. The woman sighed, content. Holly had no idea how she could look so relaxed with the toddlers practically crawling over them.

"I'm sad that your dad can't be here, but at least you get to see your little brother or sister! Isn't that exciting?"

"Mmhmm." Holly was lost in a sea of confusion in her own head, barely conscious enough to pay attention to her mom's rambling. "So exciting."

Mrs. Everett frowned at her daughter's reaction. He held her hand. "Sweetie, I know this is all a very big change for you, but it's going to be great."

No, it very much wasn't. Her mom having a baby when Holly was already half way through highschool was not going to be great. At least if she graduated with a baby on her hip, it wouldn't be her own. 

It didn't matter that Holly didn't want to answer, because a nurse called them back, away from the chaos in the waiting room. Mrs. Everett grinned at her. "It's time!"

She wasn't sure why this was so exciting, it was only her mom's hundredth time getting an ultrasound and they couldn't even tell if it was going to be a boy or girl yet. The whole pregnancy had been labelled high risk because of her age, so they were being a little excessive with the exams.

The nurse led them into a sterile room with the standard reclining bed in the middle and an array of machines next to it. "So, Mrs. Everett. How's baby this week?"

The paper lining of the exam bed crinkled under her floral skirt. A hand rested on her lower abdomen. "Baby is good, but I'm getting morning sickness really bad."

The nurse clicked her tongue. "It is getting to be that phase."

Holly tuned out all the talk of the baby by then and was focused back on the messages popping up on her phone. Diego was texting her about getting breakfast at the diner Rory was working at. Although there was nothing strange or inherently flirty about the message, it made her heart flutter. Those butterflies were immediately stomped out when a second text came up from Rory.

They had been distant since she got back and Holly couldn't really put a finger on what it was. At first, it was Sandy, but she hadn't been around for weeks and Rory was left a lot jumpier than usual. Maybe it's because you slept with her brother, she thought, inwardly kicking herself.

"Honey?"

She looked up from her phone. "Hmm?" 

Her mom was laying farther back on the bed and the nurse had already pulled the ultrasound machine around. "Come look!"

She walked around the opposite side of the bed, not sure of where she was supposed to be or look. The nurse came over and lifted the edge of Mrs. Everett's blouse carefully to reveal the bare skin there. 

"Alrighty, this is going to be a little cold, but bare with me," the nurse told her, uncapping a bottle of light blue gel. 

Her mom jumped a bit when it was applied, reaching for her hand. This time Holly held it, squeezing back gently as they waited for the machine to be properly set up. "This is weird."

The nurse shot her a smile. "Well, take note, because you'll be in your mom's place one day."

Once again, Holly scanned over the scene. She wasn't sure she ever wanted to go through all the hassles of pregnancy. Besides, she barely had plans for after school, let alone children.