People, I am stuffed. Two Thanksgiving dinners in two days! Stuffed. And tired. Zzzzz.
Before I veg in front of the boob tube, though, it's time to share the second installment of Tragic Love Friday. Last week, we learned about Jenna's knack for seducing her best friend's boyfriend and becoming pregnant with his illegitimate child. Now it's time to tell you (wait for it) the rest of the story.
As before, personal commentary appears in brackets.
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CHAPTER ONE - JENNA (CONTINUED)
When I was younger, I often thought about the time I would become a mother. Now in a few months, I'd be holding my baby, touching her, loving her. The doctor who was taking care of me hadn't said so, but I was positive that David and I had created a daughter.
"Mommy," I whispered. The word rolled off my lips, and I smiled. "Jenna Meddows is a mommy-to-be." [Do pregnant women actually talk like this? Please hit me upside the head if I ever talk like this.]
Somehow, my mind drifted off to Kayla. My smiled faded into a frown. Boy, I thought. I sure messed things up with her.
We used to share everything, and do everything together. Hours were spent talking about nothing.
Since my parents were away so much, I was always at Kayla's house. Her family was like the one I'd always wanted. Besides Michael, she was someone I felt I could always trust. [Does this mean you'll screw him over, too?] That started to change when she started having problems with David.
Kayla would tell me that David told her that he felt the two of them weren't the same, and that he wasn't happy in the relationship. They were on the verge of breaking up, and my friend was desperate. So she asked me to talk to David.
It hurts me still when I remember how heartbroken Kayla was. "Please! Won't you talk to him for me?" she'd pleaded. "He'll listen to you. You guys are friends. Please, Jenna, I couldn't stand it if I lost him." Then she'd cry helplessly, and I'd feel guilty that I didn't want to do it. I hadn't wanted to get in the middle of everything. In the end, though, I gave in. "Thank you so much. You're a real friend," she'd said.
Some friend. I did meet with David. He told me that he and Kayla had lost that spark that kept love alive. [What does that even mean? My inner V.C. Andrews is, like, totally taking over here.] A few days later, he broke up with her. The next few weeks were spent handing Kayla Kleenex and helping David get over the guilt of leaving my friend. After a while, though, the sparks that left Kayla's and David's romance came into our friendship. [Obviously that's not the only thing that "came."] [Ba dum bum ching!] We had a few dates without Kayla's knowledge, and that was all it took. We were falling in love.
Then, somehow, she found out. I will never forget that day. She looked so angry, so hurt. "You back-stabbing lying little bitch!" she'd screamed. "How could you go after my ex-boyfriend? As soon as he dumped me, did he go to you? Did you both laugh at me?"
"It wasn't like that!" I tried to tell her, but she refused to listen. "Liar! You betrayed me! I hate you, Jenna! You hurt me. Thanks for being such a GREAT best friend."
I felt tears slide down my cheeks and I shut my eyes, trying to block the memories, but there was so much to remember, too much to forget. [So deep!]
Cassie slowly became cool towards me and became better friends wth Kayla. Michael was great, though. He supported me, and didn't judge me harshly when I told him I was expecting. He's truly my best friend. [That's cuz he knows you're easy!] I've told him things that even David doesn't know. [Like how to wear a condom?]
I finally calmed myself down. Stop thinking about your mistakes, I told myself, and focus on the future you'll have with David and your baby.
That thought put me in a deep sleep later that night.
CHAPTER TWO - DAVID
The sunlight that came streaming through my window woke me from a deep sleep. "No," I moaned, pulling my blanket over my head. I didn't want to get out of bed. The past few weeks had been so crazy, and it would stay that way till the baby was born. Now that school was out, I would be able to work full time. I'm a cashier at McDonald's. I know it's not the best job in the world, but all the money I make is put into an account. That way, when Jenna and I are married and are living with the baby, we'll have some money to start us off with. And since Jenna didn't work, I provided our money. That was why I often worked overtime and was always available, just in case my boss called and offered me a few hours of work. I took whatever I got. [You got that right, buddy!]
I yawned, stretched, and slowly got out of bed. As I entered the kitchen, I saw Cassie sitting at the table, flipping through the paper and drinking coffee. She looked up as I sat down. "Hey. What time did you get home from work? I didn't hear you come in."
I raised an eyebrow. "Good morning to you, too, sis." I tapped her coffee cup. "I sure could go for some of that right now." [Am Mickey D's overlord! Do my bidding!] My sister rolled her eyes. "How could I turn down such a charming invitation?" But she still poured me some. "You never answered my question. How late did you stay out?"
"I sipped my coffee. "My shift ended at 12:00, and then I went drivin' around."
Cassie sighed. "You work too hard, David. Mom's always complaining that it's like she doesn't even have a son." I laughed. "Doesn't she wish!"
Our mom is a social butterfly. She flits here and there, makes an obligatory appearance at home, and then she's off again. It's no secret that she sleeps around. She's been like that ever since our dad died of a heart attack 3 years ago. [Is David's life story tugging at your heartstrings yet? Because he's one of my favorite characters. That's exactly what I was aiming for.]
Cassie looked sad. "You don't need her. You have Jenna, and you have a baby on the way. You'll be leaving soon, and I'll be stuck at home with dear old Mom."
I smiled and grabbed her hand, giving it a good squeeze. "Don't worry, sis. One day you'll find someone who you'll love forever." [I think I meant to say, "who'll love you forever," but I was too lazy to white it out and redo it.] I laughed. "You've got a lot of time to find him, though. There's no rush."
She rolled her eyes. [Eye rolling is to chapter two what sighing was to chapter one.] "Right. And this is coming from a guy who's expecting a baby in 3 months, AND is engaged!" She stood up and grinned. "Mr. Donovan, I didn't catch your age," she boomed in a deep voice.
I also got to my feet. "Cut it out, Cassie. I've got to get ready for work."
"She wiggled her ear with her fingers. "I didn't hear your age?"
"So I'm only 17. Jenna is, too. We're expecting a child. I think it's only logical we get married."
"Logical?" My sister playfully whacked me in my forehead with the palm of her hand. "You get married for love, silly, not logic." Her tone was gentle. "David, do you love Jenna?"
"That's a stupid question! Of course I do."
"Don't marry her because she's got your bun in her oven. Do it because you'd do it no matter what." [And don't you want to hang this gem as a cross-stitch over the fireplace?]
I laughed at her choice of words. "Nice language." I grew serious. "I don't know what you're talking about, though. I'm with Jenna because I want to be, not 'cause I have to." My sister looked skeptical.
"I know you don't like Jenna because of ... what happened with her, me, and Kayla--"
"You're right," she snapped, cutting me off. "I would never do that to a friend."
"Let it go, Cassie."
"I don't want you to make a mistake. You'd hurt too many people." A tear slid down her cheek. "I can't let go because your my BROTHER, and I care about what happens to you."
"Oh, don't cry, Cassie." I hugged her. "I'm a big boy. If I make a mistake, I can pick up the pieces."
"I guess." She gave me a push. "Go get ready for work."
"OK. I'll talk to you later."
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Tune in next week when I'm not on the verge of passing out at the keyboard. Plus, baby names, coveting, and underage drinking! Who could ask for anything more?
Also, a little belated, but I'd like to dedicate the typing of this story to my sister, Samantha. Partly because she asked me to, and partly because she lists it on her blog as one of her favorite books of all time. Oh yes she does.
For a while there, it looked like today's was going to be another bullshit entry--Luke and I woke this morning to find our wireless modem had no signal, and after a phone call to AT&T's tech support line, we learned it had indeed met its maker. At first we thought we'd have to wait a few days for a replacement and made plans to crash Luke's work (which is fewer than ten minutes away) and publish obligatory placeholder entries for NaBloPoMo, but since the modem had outlived the initial one-year warranty, we were free to hit to Best Buy and spend ninety dollars on a new one instead. Which we did, which is why I'm able to type at you from the work computer in my living room sated with Oreo pudding and Sara Lee cheesecake instead of an empty office building with no windows and probably no snacks.
Anyway, today was busier than yesterday--there was church to attend, Mexican food to feast on, errands to run, computers to reconfigure, and a little napping on the couch to do in between reading pages from The Big Book of Birth, a book I've really come to enjoy. It was tempting to post another quickie update, but you guys have been very patient and deserve better than the crap I've been slinging lately. It still might be crap, but at least not for a lack of trying.
...And on with the Q&A. Wilddreemer wants to know:
What is one thing you did as a child you hope your child doesn't do?
Take one of my shitty diapers and wipe the contents on the walls. Scoop handfuls of applesauce from the jar and eat it with my bare hands. Wet my pants during fourth grade math. "Accidentally" poke my sister with a nail file. Prank toll-free mental support hotlines under the guise that I was a thirty-something corporate professional whose husband just had been caught in an affair with his administrative assistant. Kiss boyfriends in deserted alleys to avoid getting caught by my parents. Scribble in library books. But the worst thing I ever done--I mixed a pot of fake puke at home, and then I went to this movie theater, hid the puke in my jacket, climbed up to the balcony and then, I made a noise like this: hua-hua-hua-huaaaaaaa--and then I dumped it over the side, all over the people in the audience. And then, all the people started getting sick and throwing up all over each other. I never felt so bad in my entire life.
Wait, that last one was Chunk. My bad.
What is the one thing you are looking forward to doing most after finally having the baby, ie. drinking coffee, touching your toes, shaving your legs?
I've never been fond of coffee, I don't care much for my toes, and with careful (albeit uncomfortable) manuvering, I've been able to maintain normal leg-shaving activity, so those are out. So what I do miss? Sleeping on my back. Grooming my lady parts; hell, being able to see my lady parts without assistance from a mirror. Eating cold lunchmeat without fear of poisoning my unborn child. "Enjoying" my husband. Wearing clothes from New York and Company instead of Motherhood Maternity. I'm so excited about banishing my maternity wardrobe to a tupperware bin in our storage unit until it's time to do this all over again.
As much I as look forward to those things, though, I've surprised myself with the realization that, once this is over, I'll actually miss being pregnant. The first trimester sucked major ass--just thinking about all that morning sickness makes me nauseous--and with the exception of our ultrasound and some moderate fetal activity, the second one wasn't much to write home about, either. But the third trimester.... This is where I feel like I've really come to know my baby, experiencing her sharp jabs and gentle, wave-like rolls, rubbing my hands over the protuding shoulder or elbow or whatever the hell happens to be poking me at the moment. This is where Luke and I can talk to her and she can recognize our voices. This is where I know she's safe all the time, where nobody can get to her without my permission.
This is my first real glimpse at motherhood, and I cannot wait for the rest.