Chapter Five: Welcome to the World

Mary’s eyes went wide and she swallowed hard, “E-expecting? As in expecting a child?”

Amary blinked, “Yes, expecting a child. Why, is there something wrong?” Amary’s expression turned from cheerful to downright worried. “Did something happen to you? Were you not wanting a child?

               Mary breathed in shakily, “N-no, nothing happened to me. I just wasn’t expecting to be pregnant is all!” she laughed nervously, hoping to reassure Amary. Apparently Amary saw through her bravado and respectfully stepped outside of the exam room.

Mary clutched the hem of her shirt for a few minutes before finally getting up. She paced quickly around the room . She hadn’t completely lied; she hadn’t expected to be pregnant, true, but did she want the child? Would she even have time for the poor thing? Perhaps . . . perhaps it would be better if I didn’t bring it into the world . . . but would she really be able to kill a part of her? Wasn’t this what she wanted—a family? A dysfunctional family, but a family nonetheless.

Moments passed. The clock on the wall sounded with an almost agonizing tick, tick, tick, tick. Mary sighed and came to her decision. She would keep the child.

Mary told Amary her decision and then went home.  Her small home seemed emptier than ever, but her mind seemed more crowded than it ever had been before. She paced about frantically; she couldn’t think straight.  “What am I going to do? I can’t take care of six animals and a baby alone!” The more she paced, the more frantic she became. “I’ll have Kanoa move in with me!” but that thought was eliminated without a chance. Kanoa hadn’t wanted a child in the first. Another problem arose, how and when would she tell Kanoa? Would she tell Kanoa at all?

               Mary needed to release her stress, and she knew one good way to do it. The cool night air kissed her skin gently as she stepped outside and to the stereo. As soon as she began moving her muscles, her mind began to clear. Her thoughts slowed as she was able to think of rational solutions. Speaking with Kanoa at the moment won’t make anything better . . . I’ll still need help though. I could always ask Li. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind . . .

               Bright and early that morning, Mary called Li and asked if she would like to come over. “I would, babe, but I gotta go to work. I’ll come over later, ‘kay?” Mary agreed and then hung up.

She sighed, “What am I supposed to do all day?” The only form of entertainment she had was a stereo. Mary rubbed her chin and thought about a chess table she saw on sale at the nearby consignment store.

After changing into something a bit more presentable, Mary went and spent a day out on the town.

               Chess wasn’t as easy as her parents had made it out to be. Mary was smart though and soon her movements became more fluid. Soon, the chess pieces began turning into actual people, and Mary was planning her strategy. Soon, her little strategy became more complex until she had formed a plan that would require an entire armada.

               What she had been planning was all at once lost when a little boo came from behind her. Mary nearly jumped out of her seat. She turned around and let out a long sigh, “Geez, Li, don’t do that.” She couldn’t help but grin.

                Her friend snickered, “Why ya so nervous, Scary Mary? Masterminding you plan to take over the world?” Li grinned from ear to ear.

               “Of course I am, and the first one to become a mutation is you.”
                “Why me?” she cried.

               “Because you made me forget my plan!” both of the girls laughed at the same time. Mary stood up and hugged her friend happily.

               After their giggles subsided, Mary looked over her friend and rose an eyebrow, “Nice swimsuit. Isn’t it a bit late for pool parties though?”

               Li shrugged, “Better late than never. So, I see you have a little baby bump going on. Who’s the daddy?” Mary blushed and then told her the whole story. Li’s eyebrows rose. She pouched Mary in the forearm, “You scandalous dog, you! Going out and having drunken escapades and you don’t even invite me! Hmph, I guess karma’s teaching you a lesson.” Li crossed her arms and looked away, but turned back to Mary in a heartbeat. “What’s the dealio other than your baby bump? I know you have something more urgent to tell me about.”

               Mary rubbed the back of her head, “Well . . . I’m going to need help. I can’t do this all on my own, and I was wondering if you would like to come and stay with me. Rent’s free; you can even quit your job. All I need you to do is babysit and take care of the house.”

               “That’s all? Well, Miss Mary, you have a deal!” Li spit in her palm and then held it out to Mary. All she could do was laugh.

* Nine Months Later *

               Mary was heavily pregnant and expecting to go into labor at any given moment. Li, being the overprotective friend she was, refused to let Mary go out and exercise often. “A lazy mother is a healthy mother!” she would preach.

               “That doesn’t even make sense!”

               “Ah, but it does! My mothers exercised often when she was pregnant and look what happened! She gave birth to a loon!”

               There was nothing Mary could do to convince her friend that she and the baby would be alright if she went out for some fresh air. She eventually gave up and stayed indoors most of the time. One day came though that Mary had had enough. “I’m going out, Li! I’m tired of being inside!” she yelled and pushed her friend out of the way as she stormed out the door.

               “Take care of those mood swings while you’re at it!”

               Mary hadn’t made it far though before a sharp pain went through her bed. “Li . . .” she said quietly.

               “What is it? What’s wrong, Mary?” she exclaimed.

               “I think it’s time . . .” Mary gasped.

               Li blinked, “Time for what?”

               Mary groaned, “The baby, you moron!”

               

               What happened after that was a blur. Li went hysterical and began to lose it. “Come on! We gotta get you to the hospital! Waddle along, Momma Duck,” she said as she prodded Mary in the direction of her car. Once Mary was safely inside, Li sped off as fast as she could in the direction of the hospital. They flew down the main road and soon reached the hospital. When they arrived at the hospital, Li literately picked Mary up and hoisted her inside.

                 After a few frantic hours of labor, the baby had arrived. Amary smiled, “It’s a healthy little boy.” She handed the baby to Mary and smiled, “What are going to name him?”

               Mary thought for a moment. She had thought of a few names, but she had never came to a definite decision. She discussed it with Li (who had insisted that if the baby turned out to be a girl that it be named after her) and finally came to a decision. Mary smiled happily, “Vincent.  That’s what I’ll name him.”

               Li smiled and touched his nose, “Welcome to the world, Vincent.”

               Mary and Vincent had to stay at the hospital another night for safety precautions, but they were able to leave without problems the next day. Mary smiled at her small home. Although it still wasn't much of anything, she still missed it. "Welcome home, Vincent," she said with a small giggle.

               Mary entered Vincent's small bedroom and looked closely at him. When she looked at his cute face and his tiny little fingers, she couldn't believe the thought of abortion had even once crossed her mind. She held him close to her and rested her head against him. "I promise that someway or another . . . I'll give you the childhood I never had, my little angel," but deep inside of her, she somehow knew that she wouldn't be able to keep that promise.