Regrets

Spending Sprees

Leo sighed as her dad held the front door open for her. It was Saturday and she had nearly less then a month before the baby was due and now almost none of her clothes would fit her so she had to wear maternity clothes. They still hadn't do any shopping for it, so today her parents had taken the day off work so they all could go into town to get everything they needed.

"I don't know, by the look of that list I think we might need an extra car." Tigerclaw joked to the two women.

"Well we have a lot to get, there's: diapers, baby grows, crib etc." Alopex chuckled. "Oh, did you get the address?" She asked her husband.

"What address?"

"The address of the people selling the stroller; we'll go there before we head to the stores so we don't miss it."

"Why do I have to have a second hand stroller?" Leo asked as they got into the car.

"Because by the time I've paid for all this it'll be the only thing I'll be able to afford."

"Having a baby is very expensive, Leona. We're going to have to be very careful, especially with our salary." Alopex added.

"Well, Grandma says it's bad luck to buy stuff before the baby's born." Leo smirked.

"Well Kitsune should think before she opens her mouth." Tigerclaw glared as they pulled out of the driveway. Alopex just laughed at the both of them.

"Don't worry, Leona, you're going to be fine; and the baby's going to be fine."

"Yes and I'm going to be broke." Tigerclaw mumbled. "So let's hurry before you two add anything else to that list. There's only so much my wallet can take."...

******

After picking up the baby stroller the Saiyo family went straight from Manhattan to East Village to go to the 'Pink Olive'. It was the biggest baby store in New York City. As Leo and Alopex tour through the store Tigerclaw trailed behind with an annoyed look as he tried to convince the two girls to find the cheapest things on their list.

The first thing they bought were lots of baby clothes; they got: 8 onesies, 8 undershirts, 8 one-piece pyjamas, 2 blanket sleepers for winter baby, 3 sweaters or jackets, 3 rompers or other dress-up outfits, 7 socks or booties, 3 hats, no-scratch mittens and a nice fleece suit since the baby was due in winter. They also bought: a car seat, bouncer and high chair.

Next thing on their list was stuff for the nursery, they had bought: a white crib, a firm, flat mattress that fit snugly in crib they had bought, a rocking chair, a baby monitor, a nightlight, a dresser, a toy basket, a changing station and a diaper genie.

Leo also knew that sleep was going to be a precious thing, both for her and for the baby. Too help everyone get some much-needed shut-eye they bought: 3 washable crib mattress pads, 4 fitted crib sheets, 6 soft, light receiving blankets and 2 heavier blankets for the colder climates.

For the bathroom and the changing station they had gotten: a diaper bag, diaper cream, unscented baby wipes to cause less irritation on the little one's skin, soft washcloths, 3 large boxes of disposable newborn-size diapers, a baby bathtub, baby soap, baby shampoo, 4 soft towels or hooded baby towels and a gentle laundry detergent.

Last, but not least, was stuff for feeding the baby, Leona didn't know whether she would be happier either breastfeeding or bottle feeding her baby so they bought: 10 bottles and nipples, a breast pump, some milk storage bags, nursing pads, nipple cream, a nursing pillow, a bottle brush, a dishwasher basket for small items, 8 bibs, 3 burp cloths and 2 pacifiers.

After the large spending spree, Tigerclaw's nightmare was finally over as they paid for it all and loaded it into the car before heading home...

******

Blanche Y'Gythgba sighed as she trudged through the streets to the local store. She was a 60 year old mutant salamander who was the local grouch with a big mouth and walking stick, she was the mother of Thorrak and she had a granddaughter named Mona Lisa who went to the same school as Leona and Raphael.

Suddenly she noticed the Saiyo family getting out of their car.

"If you get any bigger we'll have to pull you out with a crane." Alopex laughed as she helped Leo out the car while Tigerclaw went to get the baby stuff out of the trunk.

"Mom..." Leo moaned playfully.

"I'm only joking." She smiled at her daughter.

"At little help here ladies." Tigerclaw growled at them as he tried to carry all the bags at once, and failing miserably. The girls laughed before his wife went to help him.

But across street, Blanche frown and shook her head at the family before continuing walking down the street...

******

Soon Blanche arrived at the store and went straight to the counter where her friend and the store own, Rita, was.

"You know Rita, you get to my age and you think you've seen it all, but no, that just takes the biscuit." She started, clearly distressed.

"Sorry Blanche?" Rita asked, really confused.

"Yes, that's what they should be, sorry, ashamed. But no, there they are, the Saiyo family, treating their pregnant teenage daughter as though she's just won first prize." The elderly woman spat.

"Uh what can I get you, Blanche?" Rita asked nervously as she constantly looked over Blanche's shoulder nervously.

"Oh I don't know, I don't even know what I came in for I'm that upset. I mean I'm not naive, I accept that sort of thing goes on nowadays, but that doesn't mean you have to have it shoved in your face every time you walk down the street!"

"Blanche..." Rita warned.

"It'll mean another father unknown on the birth certificate, another child growing up without a father; mind, they do say children learn by example." She nodded, not really paying attention to the human woman.

"And what do you mean by that!"

Blanche whipped around and saw a very angry Kitsune. She had just come in to get some milk since they had ran out and she had heard every little nasty thing Blanche had said about her family. But the old salamander was fazed.

"Well I don't know why you're getting so upset, Kitsune. Last I check your daughter doesn't even know who her father and Leona isn't even their flesh and blood; it's stands to reason I'm not blaming her, your little granddaughter didn't stand a chance."

"Oh so now you're going to sit in judgement?"

"Ha! Don't flatter yourself, I wouldn't waste my time. May the lord judge between you and me!"

"So now your going to throw the Bible at me?!"

"I didn't know you were religious, Blanche." Rita said.

"Well normally I can't be bothered with it. But the Bible does provide a blueprint for living, a moral code, for those folk who need it!" She shouted at the two women.

"Don't you dare lecture me about morals, Blanche!" Kitsune warned the old woman. "At least I don't have a son who slept with a gold-digging slut who later dumped their newborn daughter in the subway and then disappear without a care!"

"How dare you! My son made a mistake!"

"Well so did Leona! Or are you so stupid that you think she got pregnant on purpose!"

"No I don't think she did but if she had an ounce of dignity in her she would have gotten rid of that child when she had the chance!"

"Right, that's enough Blanche!" Rita suddenly shouted as she got from behind the counter and opened the door. "Get out! If you want a public row do it in the streets!"

"Streets?" Blanche glared. "Why stop at the streets? Why not just go straight to the gutter? Because that's were that family belongs?" She spat at Kitsune before leaving...