Hell is for Children

Brilliant Disguise

After arguing with Corinne for a solid fifteen minutes about how there was no possible way she was pregnant, she realized she had gotten to the point where she was just trying to convince herself. The two girls drove in silence to Melvald's drug store, both too nervous to start the conversation back up. When they arrived the town's main street looked desolate, all thanks to the new Starcourt Mall. Joyce Byers green Pinto sat out front. 

"Fuck. Joyce is here. I cant buy one now she'll blab to Hopper" Diana said, putting a hand to her forehead, exasperated. 

"What about a disguise?" Corinne offered half heartedly. 

"A fricken disguise? Really Corinne?" Diana snapped. 

"Sure! Here" Corinne reached into her bag and pulled put a scarf and large glasses. Diana pursed her lips. 

" Joyce may be a little eccentric but she isnt blind" Diana said, putting the scarf over her head anyway. 

The two girls slunk into the store, which was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Joyce was in one of the aisles pricing items. 

"You buy it for me" Diana begged, stuffing a ten dollar bill into Corinne's hand. Corinne rolled her eyes. 

"Why so she can tell MY mom that IM pregnant? No thanks" Corinne snapped handing her back the money. 

The two girls scurried back outside and nearly bumped into a middle aged woman on the sidewalk. 

"Im so sorry" Diana apologized, walking past with her hands up, the head scarf blowing in the wind behind her. 

"Hold on" Corinne said then took off after the lady. 

Corinne returned, a plump, friendly looking older lady in tow. 

"She agreed to get us the goods" Corinne said matter of factly, smiling with pride. 

"Oh my god" Diana huffed. "I need...well ya see.. I need a.." 

"Pregnancy test. Its ok dear, your friend told me all about it" the older lady grinned. 

Diana shifted, embarrassed, then handed her the ten. Diana leaned against the car as Corinne stood by the window, watching. 

"Ugh whats taking so long?" Diana huffed, crossing her arms. 

Corinne had her face almost pressed against the glass, her tall frame highly noticeable through the window. "Shes talking to Joyce" 

Diana side stepped up beside Corinne, standing a foot shorter than her friend. 

As the girls watched on, Diana noticed the older lady say something to Joyce, nodding her head in their direction. Joyce turned and made eye contact with Diana, her eyes going wide. 

"Fuck! We've been made" Diana gasped, scurrying back to the Chevelle. 

"No. No I dont think so, here she comes anyway." Corinne said as she too trudged back to the car. 

The lady emerged carrying a small paper bag, handing it to Diana. 

As she went to take it the lady grabbed her arm that was resting on the car door frame. 

"Wheres the father , Dear?" She asked. 

Diana stared up at her through her dark sunglasses. 

"Hes uh...around" she mustered. 

"The lady stared almost blankly at Diana, like she was looking right through her. 

"Well, Im sure he'll know soon enough. Hey you never know, maybe he already does" the lady gave her the same creepy smile Billy had, causing Diana to shiver. Diana practically had to rip her arm away from the lady as she started the car. As she directed the car back in the direction of home, the lady watched on, her cringey smile never fading as Diana watched her in the rearview mirror. 

                 

                           Billy sat in the basement of the Brimborn Steel Works, looking on to all the others he and Heather had managed to create. He heard a clink coming from upstairs, then he saw a small plump woman descend. 

"Did you see her?" He asked. 

"Yes. She was at the store. We engaged. She had me purchase something for her" the older lady explained. 

"And what would that be?" Billy demanded. 

"I believe they called it a pregnancy test" she replied. 

A dark smile crossed Billy's face as he looked through the small window. The sun would set in a few hours, and he would go to her.