Short Story
Her sixth child was delivered at her home on Mother's Day. She was alone in the house. There was not enough money to transport her to the health clinic 10 miles away. Her 35 year-old body had borne all there children who hardly knew their daddies. She was isolated by most of her family for bearing kids and been unmarried.
The Mother's Day birth bore little significance. She was alone. Her 60 year-old mother tried contacting her in the early stage of her latest pregnancy but was told she was tired of people judging her. The young woman always blamed her baby daddies for being irresponsible and not wanting to take care of their kids. But she hardly waited much before accepting another man in her life. She was upset with her mother who advised her that she also needed to take responsibility for her actions. That she couldn't internalise.
A day after the child's birth there was a knocking on her door. She drew the curtains and peered through her apartment. She quickly shut the curtain. Her mother and father stood outside. They waited for a few minutes. there was no further response. They knocked again. Their daughter was adamant she wasn't going to open her door.
A light shower descended from above. Her parents stood their ground. They had no umbrellas nor raincoat. The showers became heavier. Her parents were drenched by now. They were still unmoved. Their daughter peeked through the curtain and saw her parents still standing outside. To the top of her lungs, the young mother shouted at her parents and asked them to go home. They still stood there.
A neighbor who overheard the young woman's cry became concerned. She stepped out and asked the drenched couple what was going on. They refused to answer. The neighbor returned to her apartment and called the cops. The peace officers arrived shortly. They asked the couple to explain what was happening. They told them that they were were visiting their daughter but she wasn't opening the door. The officers called out to the resident. She opened the door and explained to them that she didn't want to speak to her parents. Her mother sneaked behind the officers and entered the apartment. She handed her daughter an envelope with cash. She told her that she wasn't there to judge but to just let her know how much she and her father loved her. Her parents left. The young woman broke down crying. The cops left. © Wallace Paul May 2024.
The Mother's Day birth bore little significance. She was alone. Her 60 year-old mother tried contacting her in the early stage of her latest pregnancy but was told she was tired of people judging her. The young woman always blamed her baby daddies for being irresponsible and not wanting to take care of their kids. But she hardly waited much before accepting another man in her life. She was upset with her mother who advised her that she also needed to take responsibility for her actions. That she couldn't internalise.
A day after the child's birth there was a knocking on her door. She drew the curtains and peered through her apartment. She quickly shut the curtain. Her mother and father stood outside. They waited for a few minutes. there was no further response. They knocked again. Their daughter was adamant she wasn't going to open her door.
A light shower descended from above. Her parents stood their ground. They had no umbrellas nor raincoat. The showers became heavier. Her parents were drenched by now. They were still unmoved. Their daughter peeked through the curtain and saw her parents still standing outside. To the top of her lungs, the young mother shouted at her parents and asked them to go home. They still stood there.
A neighbor who overheard the young woman's cry became concerned. She stepped out and asked the drenched couple what was going on. They refused to answer. The neighbor returned to her apartment and called the cops. The peace officers arrived shortly. They asked the couple to explain what was happening. They told them that they were were visiting their daughter but she wasn't opening the door. The officers called out to the resident. She opened the door and explained to them that she didn't want to speak to her parents. Her mother sneaked behind the officers and entered the apartment. She handed her daughter an envelope with cash. She told her that she wasn't there to judge but to just let her know how much she and her father loved her. Her parents left. The young woman broke down crying. The cops left. © Wallace Paul May 2024.