Short Story
The test results came back. She was pregnant. At 18, and just graduating from college, she held big dreams. She locked herself in her room and stared at the image in the big mirror. A young graduate, carrying a newborn, felt ambivalent. Her shirt became a comforter and an irritant at the same time. She tugged the tail of the garment, then lifted it. She didn't expect any change but looked anyway.
Her mom suddenly entered her room. The young woman quickly adjusted her posture. The proud mother was ecstatic that her daughter had finally finished college and was even a valedictorian. Who wouldn't be prouder? Mom sat her daughter on the bed. The matriarch told her that she was just on the phone with her best pal, sharing the great news. Her daughter seemed less enthusiastic. Mother continued her bubbly chatter as she forecast the great future for her girl. Her apathy went unnoticed for a while until the her mother saw tears welled in her daughter's eyes. She apologised to her daughter for boring her with her excitement. The girl lied that she was tired and needed some rest. Mom tightly squeezed her daughter hands. She lingered, looked at her child, and left the room.
The girl did not go to bed. She wiped her tears, picked up her phone, and called her boyfriend. He was also 18. There were no tears now. She told him she was pregnant. There was silence from the other end. She repeated the statement. He cleared his throat. His mom called out to him. He asked to be excused to speak to his mom for a minute. She disagreed and advised that he tell his mom he'll talk to her later. His mom called him again. His girlfriend heard the call as it was louder this time. He explained to his mom that he was on the phone with his girlfriend. His mother was angry and asked if his girlfriend was more important than her. He was more confused. He needed his mom's support, yet he had to hear what his girlfriend was saying.
He tried escaping to his room . His mom followed him. Her rant became louder. She demanded he discontinue the conversation. Beads of perspiration seemed to perforate his face. He tried defying his mother. He explained that it was an extremely important discussion he was having. His mother grew angrier. He stood up and faced his mother. She was unmoved. The raging woman asked if her son was going to put her out of the room. He regained his composure and stepped away from her. She asked how he was so daring to walk away from his mother. He explained to her that he had the highest respect for her as a mother, but if she would not allow him some space he would lose that respect.
Meanwhile, his girlfriend remained silent on the other end of the line. Her mother returned to the room. She was not expecting to see her daughter on the phone. She enquired who was the other on her line. She told her it was her boyfriend. Her mother smiled as she admired her daughter's choice. When she attempted to leave the room, her daughter called her back. She clamped up and told her mother she was pregnant. She fainted. Her daughter tried resuscitating her. She told her boyfriend she broke the news to her mother of her pregnancy and urged him to do the same. He stared his mother and loudly announced that his girlfriend was pregnant. His mother was more furious now. She laughed sarcastically, and scolded him that the upcoming child couldn't be his. He promised his girlfriend he was on his way to her home. He told her it was their responsibility and no one else. He dressed quickly, closed the door and jumped into his car. His mother folded her arms, looked at him mockingly and returned to her room.
© Wallace Paul April 2024
The test results came back. She was pregnant. At 18, and just graduating from college, she held big dreams. She locked herself in her room and stared at the image in the big mirror. A young graduate, carrying a newborn, felt ambivalent. Her shirt became a comforter and an irritant at the same time. She tugged the tail of the garment, then lifted it. She didn't expect any change but looked anyway.
Her mom suddenly entered her room. The young woman quickly adjusted her posture. The proud mother was ecstatic that her daughter had finally finished college and was even a valedictorian. Who wouldn't be prouder? Mom sat her daughter on the bed. The matriarch told her that she was just on the phone with her best pal, sharing the great news. Her daughter seemed less enthusiastic. Mother continued her bubbly chatter as she forecast the great future for her girl. Her apathy went unnoticed for a while until the her mother saw tears welled in her daughter's eyes. She apologised to her daughter for boring her with her excitement. The girl lied that she was tired and needed some rest. Mom tightly squeezed her daughter hands. She lingered, looked at her child, and left the room.
The girl did not go to bed. She wiped her tears, picked up her phone, and called her boyfriend. He was also 18. There were no tears now. She told him she was pregnant. There was silence from the other end. She repeated the statement. He cleared his throat. His mom called out to him. He asked to be excused to speak to his mom for a minute. She disagreed and advised that he tell his mom he'll talk to her later. His mom called him again. His girlfriend heard the call as it was louder this time. He explained to his mom that he was on the phone with his girlfriend. His mother was angry and asked if his girlfriend was more important than her. He was more confused. He needed his mom's support, yet he had to hear what his girlfriend was saying.
He tried escaping to his room . His mom followed him. Her rant became louder. She demanded he discontinue the conversation. Beads of perspiration seemed to perforate his face. He tried defying his mother. He explained that it was an extremely important discussion he was having. His mother grew angrier. He stood up and faced his mother. She was unmoved. The raging woman asked if her son was going to put her out of the room. He regained his composure and stepped away from her. She asked how he was so daring to walk away from his mother. He explained to her that he had the highest respect for her as a mother, but if she would not allow him some space he would lose that respect.
Meanwhile, his girlfriend remained silent on the other end of the line. Her mother returned to the room. She was not expecting to see her daughter on the phone. She enquired who was the other on her line. She told her it was her boyfriend. Her mother smiled as she admired her daughter's choice. When she attempted to leave the room, her daughter called her back. She clamped up and told her mother she was pregnant. She fainted. Her daughter tried resuscitating her. She told her boyfriend she broke the news to her mother of her pregnancy and urged him to do the same. He stared his mother and loudly announced that his girlfriend was pregnant. His mother was more furious now. She laughed sarcastically, and scolded him that the upcoming child couldn't be his. He promised his girlfriend he was on his way to her home. He told her it was their responsibility and no one else. He dressed quickly, closed the door and jumped into his car. His mother folded her arms, looked at him mockingly and returned to her room.
© Wallace Paul April 2024