The Life And Times Of Rachel Grape

Two Lines

While Westin was hating his life at the mall, Rachel was standing in front of the pregnancy tests. Bernice Smith was working. She was sort of a town gossip. Rachel's hands were shaking.   "This town will talk," she told herself,   "This town will talk."    She wanted to cry. She grabbed a test, went up and paid for it and she went back to the shop.   She went into the bathroom, the one her parents used to fool around in when it was Lamson's and opened the test,   She peed on the stick and within seconds, the plus was blazing.   She bit her lip.   While she was doing that, the new Christian couple was at Farrell's sipping phosphates.    Westin had to listen to how " zany"her roommate Katie was and he kept saying, "I don't give a rat's ass.  I would rather be sitting with Rachel Grape in the shop.  I'd rather be defiling her  in the back yard than with this loon."   For a moment he thought of her. 

    She was exiting the bathroom.   Her mom saw her ghost white face and she went over and hugged her girl., it will be okay.   We will have this baby together and we support you,   Rachel cried.   Her dad came in to pick her up and they told her the news.  He just hugged her.  He was a grandpa.  He was just not ready to be a grandpa to this baby.   Hendidn't say much, he looked at her.   Arnie looked at her.   She did tell Arnie she would walk all day with him on Saturday, but she wanted to be alone.   She was pregnant.  She was alone.

    It was a warm October day but a front was to move in.    A front was moving in on the Grape family.  When she got back from walking the fields, her dad asked how she was and she managed an "okay".  He said, "Your mom and I will do everything to make sure you and this new baby are loved."  She smiled.  Arnie was tired from his walk with Gilbert. He was asleep.  "It's homecoming.  Thought we'd go to dinner beforehand."   She smiled and went out to the tv area and watched a movie.  She's fell asleep. She awoke in time to go to the Ramp. It wasn't as good as it used to be.

They drove to the olds high school. It had been there since the 1920's. There was talk of making a new one . They needed a more modern school. A few girls from Rachel's graduating class were there. They asked Rachel how school was and she said, "I decided to take a semester off." Jana said, "I think that is smart. I do not know what in the hell I am doing." Amy asked about "the boy" she saw me with. I said, "History". They laughed, "You are so pretty. You'll find another in no time." She thanked them but blinked back tears when she walked away. The girls said, "She's gained a few pounds." The popcorn was good and she and Arnie had a good time. It was hot, like in the high sixties. Her mom and dad watched the game. Their team won. Bonnie looked beautiful on the homecoming court and Rachel was proud of her.

In the suburbs, Westin was watching a wholesome movie with Rebekah. He kissed her on the lips. He slipped her the tongue. She sucked at it. She said, "I cannot wait to tell the girls on the floor I have a boyfriend!" He smiled uneasily. All he wanted to do was break up with her, go find Rachel and take her far, far away. "I will kiss you on your penis when you are ready." He told her, "Let's wait.  I'm don't want to rush things."  He thought to himself, "I don't want to emotionally involve you in case I want to dump your ass."  He could NOT get Rachel's crying face out of his mind.  Why couldn't he have stood up for himself in front of his mother?    Halloween 2005, when Sophie defied her mom and she tried to kill herself.  

     "I was thinking tomorrow we could get a sody again," she said.
"I am going to hang out with Gavin.  It would have to be in the evening."
"Maybe we could get a hotel and have sex.  I want you."
"Let's wait sweetie."
"Of course.  That is why I want to marry you."
"Whoa!"

    Something inside of him raged.  He kissed her a few more times and then went home.  There she was with her bright red hair on the couch.  He wanted to pull that freshly colored hair across the room.  He wanted to beat her against the newel post. 

    "So, how was it?"
"She was just a ray of sunshine, mom."  He was being sarcastic.
"I am just pleased as punch you are dating a moral girl.  You didn't your winkerdill in that Grape girl's puss, did you?"
He did not answer.  He wanted to tell he the truth.  "I did and I have no regrets."  

    "Mom, I am tired and I want to go to sleep.  Gavin and I are going to the range tomorrow.  Yes, I am seeing Rebekah before she goes back to school."
"Fine by me, but Gavin is a bit worldly."  Gavin looked like a young Johnny Depp.  Gavin was his best friend from home. 

   The Grapes got home.  Rachel went in the bathroom off the top of the stairs and washed her face.  As she did that, Gavin opened his fake social media and looked at that fresh face, the one that was just washed.  He cried into his pillow.  How was he ever going to win her back?