Having a heart and having a child could either mess up your life or bring you endless joy.
They’ll give you memories to keep until your deathbed, and moments for the grim reaper to use as a distraction while he absorbs your soul.
Couples do not see that having a child is risky. At least, not in the beginning. To them it is more of a chance at a family of their own, and this is the same reason to why Mike and Leigh-Ann had their first kid all those years ago.
“Here's your cup of tea, love,” the latter puts the mug on the table in front of Mike.
“Thank you,” he says. “Where's yours?”
“I'm too nervous to drink.”
“That's also what you said about breakfast.”
“Well, I'm not lying,” she says. “I don't feel like eating or drinking. I honestly don't know how you can.”
“It's because I’m not too concerned about our boy's decision.” Mike says, “As long as he doesn't make a shit one, that is.”
“Watch your language -”
“Kane's soft, Lee - even on the field.” Mike lets loose his opinion which Leigh-Ann has heard a thousand times, “the kid gets knocked over and smiles like he enjoys it. Kane shields the ball like he’s trying to pick the damn thing up.” He tries to continue the rant, “You know what? Ever since he -”
“There's no ever since here,” says Leigh-Ann, with a stern eye on her husband. “Whatever decision Kane makes. You will tell him that it's fine and that you support him.”
“What? Like you'll always be my son?” Mike burns his tongue with a sip of his tea, which annoys him a little more, “if Kane ain't playing varsity football, he ain't a son of mine.”
“This is why I wanted a girl - because she wouldn't have to deal with all the pressure that Kane has to -”
“I do not -”
“You damn well do!” Leigh-Ann tries to whisper, “and if you don't support our boy's decision, regardless if he decides to go to the theatre school,” there's a slight pause as she checks the clock, “then he won’t be the only one not scoring any . . . and I’m not talking about soccer.”
There's a couple of knocks on Mike’s ego as well as the front door. “It's called, football,” he mumbles to himself as Kane walks through the door, rubbing his hands on his pants.
“Would you like something to drink?” Leigh-Ann asks him.
“No, thank you, mother,” he replies. “I haven't had anything to eat or drink since last night.”
Leigh-Ann sneaks a glance at her husband. The kid's nervous, and somehow it's Mike's fault.
“I take it you've made your decision, son,” says Mike.
“Ye . . .” Kane’s voice is lower than his eyes, “Yes . . .”
“Hey,” says Leigh-Ann. “Look at us,” the kid listens to his mother. “No matter what your decision is, we will support you.”
“Ye – yes,” Mike clears his throat and takes another go at the tea. “What she said.”
“This . . .” Kane sighs. Looks to the side, at his father and then at his mother before he lets his words out as quick as possible, “This isn't about my studies - I feel like I'm in the wrong body – and I've decided that I’m going to have surgery to become a girl -”
“That's okay -” the words slide off Mike's tongue as if it wasn’t the correct head doing the thinking, “no matter what, you’ll always be my son -” Wait – What!
. . .
Follow and Join the Journey!
YOU ARE READING
One Terrible Day (Short Stories)
Short StoryJason finds himself in the police station after his ex-girlfriend is run over by a bus. A man struggles to tell his date what he does for a living. A rich man can't seem to understand why women only date him for his money, so he asks Siri. These are...
