A Perfect Mistake

Chapter 21

Before I know it, it's the first day of school.

Eva and I are juniors now.

Mitchell is a freshman at Dover University.

If Lorraine didn't come out so soon, I would have attended school for a couple months. But because Lorraine is 2 weeks old, I can't go to school anymore.

"Mom, can you watch the baby while I go to school and talk to the principal and the guidance counselor about my situation?" I ask Mom hopefully.

"Cassie, I wish I can but my shift starts at 8:00 this morning," Mom replies guiltily. "I'm sorry."

I sigh. "It's fine. I'll just take Lorraine to school with me."

"Okay, sweetie. Well, I better get going now. Good luck, sweetie, and I love you!"

"Thanks, Mom, and I love you too."

Before Mom leaves for work, she says goodbye to Lorraine with lots of kisses.

I smile. I'm thankful that Mom loves Lorraine so much. I know her being a grandmother at 39 years old isn't ideal, but she's still extremely happy to have a granddaughter.

I change Lorraine's diaper and dress her into a light blue and white plaid dress and little blue socks and white sneakers.

I strap a gray baby carrier onto my chest and put Lorraine in it. After I make sure she's safely secure, I head to the kitchen and make her a bottle of warm milk.

"Time to go, sweetie," I coo to Lorraine.

I ride my bike to school and arrive at 8:10, only 10 minutes late.

I enter the school and head to Principal Avery Jones' office.

"Hello, Mr. Jones," I greet formally, entering his office.

"Oh, hello, Ms. Somers," He says, surprised.

"Um, this is a long story," I say, chuckling.

"Well, take a seat and you can explain it to me," He says, pointing to the black leather chair.

I sit down and make eye contact with Mr. Jones.

I inhale and exhale. I count from 1 to 10 and 10 to 1. Then I start to explain:

"Well, back in March, I conceived a baby with Mitchell Smith. In April, I found out that I was pregnant with the baby. I went to school at the end of the year, but I didn't tell anyone. 3 weeks ago, I gave birth to her very early. But after a week of intensive care, she got perfectly healthy. And, now, she is 3 weeks old and...yeah."

Mr. Jones' skin is pale. I guess he's shocked that I, Cassie Somers, out of all the girls in the school, would be a teen mom.

"Okay, I assume that you want to talk to me about your education?" He guesses, peering uncomfortably at Lorraine.

"Yes." 

Lorraine starts to cry, but I rub her soothingly. She stops crying.

"Well, you'll have to drop out of school," Mr. Jone says. "You can be homeschooled or you can do  online school. Which of those options do you want to take?"

"Online school. I think that's the easiest and most flexible way."

"Okay. Agreed. Starting next week, you'll attend Dover High School's Online Program." Mr. Jones says. "You'll take US History, Advanced English III, Spanish III, Algebra II, and Music. You must participate in your courses 4 hours a week. Every assignment is due on Sundays. For the SATs in the last week of school in May, you'll go to school to take it. Same with midterms and final exams. Got it?"

I nod my head. "Got it. When should I return to public school?"

"How about senior year?"

"Okay, sounds good."

"You'll start online school tomorrow. Any questions?"

"No, sir."

"You may go now, ma'am. Good luck with the baby and your education."

"Thank you, sir."

I stand up and exit the principal's office.

I'm aware that the stats of teen moms' graduating high school is very low, but I'm determined to  graduate high school no matter how hard it will be.

I need - I absolutely need - to continue my education and succeed.