Marli pov
It's been a lot to think about lately. The house has been silent as well and awkward. We've been doing good at avoiding each other.
I'm not mad at my parents, I'm just uncomfortable. It's awkward. It's awkward being around them and them knowing I'm pregnant.
Today, I was going to Jahsai graduation. He came to pick me up. I rushed out the house quickly, so that my parents didn't have time to speak to him.
"Hey babe." I said getting in the car and kissing him.
"Wassup ma?" He said as we drove.
"I'm good, uh I told my parents about me being pregnant."
"Oh shit how that go?"he said briefly looking at me.
" Dad said he was gonna kill you. Mom called me dumb, but they apologized for their anger then respected whatever decision I make."
"Damn, but what's your decision? "
"I don't know part of me wants to keep it, but I'm thinking an abortion." I said waiting to see his reaction.
"What you think?" I added.
"I'm mean an abortion might be the right choice." He replied.
I shot him a look and said,"And why is that?"
"You know why...Us being in different states. You in school, me in college. It won't make sense."
"I'll move with you and do high school online."
"Not in a dormatory."
"You all of sudden got all the excuses in the world.when last week it was all 'my baby is having a baby.' Bullshit."
"Marli as good as you think this may sound, you gotta be real with yourself. A baby is not needed right now. I'm bout to be living in a place where if I wanted you to stay I'd have to sneak you in. It's not the time."
"Alright cool." I said irritated. I just spent most of the ride looking at the window.
"Let's drop the attitude before we get around my people." Jahsai said once we made it to the graduation.
"I'll show my ass instead." I sarcastically said as he side eyed me.
He went off to where the grads were while I went and found his family to sit with them.
I sat next to his mom. She sat and talked to me. She's always been nice to me. She knows I'm pregnant as well and she's on the fence as well. She wants a grandchild, but she knows this not the perfect time so any decision she's ok with.
We watched Jahsai cross the stage, then went out to eat with the family, I got to meet his aunt, cousins ,and grandparents. They were nice to me.
"You must be special because you're the first girl he's ever brought around us." Jahsai's grandmother said smiling at me.
"Thank you, that's what I'll like to believe." I replied.
"She's such a sweet girl too." His mom added.
"How long yal been together?"His aunt asked.
"A month. But we've known each other for years, in passing, we'd always talk to each other." I said.
"Cute. And you're pregnant, Yal jumped right into it. But that's ok, baby's are a blessing. I can't wait for the new addition."she said.
That literally caught us off guard. I froze for a second. Jahsai shot a look at his father for telling his sister the news. His mom ran her hand through hair.
I get telling your sister news, I tell Keiko bout everything, but when your sister is messy. Yea no. We didn't want no one to know because abortion was an option.
"Oh sweetie you're pregnant. Congrats.Jahsai why you didn't tell me?"his grandmother said.
"Oh uh no-" I said before Jahsai cut me off.
"We wanted it to be a surprise and we wanted to wait til the first trimester to be sure." Jahsai said.
"So yal are keeping it?" His aunt said.
Ouu this lady is messy.
"That's their business, Kendra." His mom blurted.
"I'm just asking, my bad."she replied.
"How Ron doing? How many years he got til he out of jail?" His mom said.
I tried not to laugh as his aunt reacted to her being messy back."You know he got 5 more years." She replied.
"I forgot oh. Well free him til it's backwards I guess." His mom said back.
" Isn't your dad Keith Powers?"Jahsai cousin asked.
"Yea." I said.
"Yea I'm sorry but that man is fine." She replied as I awkwardly smiled. This is the most awkward dinner I've been at. I was ready to go.
I mentally clocked out. Everyone talk amongst themselves. I was now more confused on if I was keeping this baby or not.
I spent time with Jahsai and his friends until it was my curfew. He dropped me off and left.
Walking into the house, Mama and dad was sitting in the living room watching tv.
"The boy who's supposed to be the father of your child is not even man enough to come in here and talk to us." Dad said as I headed to the stairs.
"What is there for yall to talk about?"
"Don't talk smart to your father ." Mama said.
"I'm not tryna be smart." I replied.
"It's common courtesy. "
"Oh cool."I responded heading up the stairs.
"Did you set the appointment up? We'll take you." Mama said.
"I haven't yet." I replied.
"What are you waiting for? You tryna keep it now?" Mama asked.
"Waiting for a decision to be made." I said.
"Who's making the decision?" Daddy said.
"Me, it's my body."
"And your life. Make the right decision."Mama said before I went upstairs and walked off to my room.
Decisions Decisions Decisions.
