Short Story by Rhema Bingham

Chapter 1:

[09/03/15 – 20:34]

It’s finally happened! I’m pregnant, 4 months I am. We have been trying so hard but we’ve just never been lucky enough.  But my time has come! I’m going to be a mother, introduced to the life of parenting. It’s almost scary. A rush of emotions enter my body as I picture my life in 5 months with a little boy or girl in my arms. It’s so exciting! I, Kiera Johnson, am going to have a baby. That sounds so weird! It’s still a shock, I mean I only found out earlier today but I can’t believe I didn’t discover it earlier. I’ve done pregnancy tests numerous times during these previous weeks but it always came up negative. It just doesn’t make sense.

It’s completely life changing starting a proper little family but it makes things easier now that Alex and I are married. My mum thinks I’m growing up too fast and that 22 is way too young to be giving birth but I’m an adult now, I can make my own decisions right?

My thoughts are disturbed by a loud knocking. I jump up and make my way to the front door, looking through the peephole before opening it just to be safe. With a loud sigh I opened the door to my mum. I couldn’t deal with the lecture right now… “Hello, darling! How are you… and the little one of course?” She looked down at my stomach. “We’re fine mum, and you?”

“Oh, I’m great. Felt any movement yet or just a whole load of pain? I told you not to go and get pregnant so young. It’s a hard job and there’s no quitting, no resigning and no retiring. There’s no getting out of it now.” Here we go.  What did I say! Every time she walks through that door, all she gives me is a hard time. I don’t need this right now.

“Mum just give it a rest. It’s not as if I didn’t plan it. I’ve been wanting a baby for ages and here it is. My wish has come true! So will you just leave it please? I’m pregnant okay. I’m not having an abortion, I’m not giving it up for adoption either. Its mine… ours, mine and Alex’s and it’s going to stay that way.”

She seemed to think it was some kind of game, it wasn’t. This was my life and it was going exactly the way I wanted it to and I would appreciate it if she would butt out for once!

“Put the kettle on love. Where’s Alex?”

“At work. He said something about needing to add a few touches to his new website and then he’d be done.”

“Why couldn’t he do that here?”

“Because he wanted to do it in his office, besides it’s more peaceful there.” I stood leaning against the kitchen counter waiting for the kettle to boil, listening to my mother drone on about how she’s had enough with my dad and that she’s thinking of filing a divorce. I think she’s over-exaggerating but it’s up to her what silly decisions she wants to make… I walk over and place her cup of tea on the coffee table. “So how has he dealt with the news then?”

“Who?”

“Alex, dipstick.” I hated it when she called me that, I’m not a dipstick but maybe she could be a bit more precise on who she’s talking about. There are over a million “he’s” in this world, I didn’t realise I had to automatically know who she was talking about. It annoys me, it does. “He doesn’t want it. He says he wants me to have an abortion.”

“What? Are you being serious?”

“No”

“Don’t bloody do that, Kiera!” I laughed and watched her drink the rest of her tea before taking the cup from her hands after she’d finished. I came and plonked myself down next to her on the sofa and switched the T.V. channel over, there was nothing on at all of interest. I turned to my mum who was sat staring at my hint of a bump. “My girls all grown up now. Married at 21, pregnant at 22. You’re not my little baby anymore.”

“Oh mum.” I leant in and gave her a hug and at that exact moment my husband walked through the door. My mum pulled away and got up to greet him. “Hi, lovely. I just came round to spend time with my two darlings, three now that you’re here. I’m so happy for you both. The only thing I’m not keen on is me being a 39 year old grandma!”

“Mum let Alex get through the door at least!”

“Aw it’s alright Kiera. How are you Madi?”

“I’m alright lovely. Excited for little one to be born? I’ll be round here every day from the minute you bring him… or her home.”

“Err Kiera, you haven’t told her yet have you?” Oh Jesus. I can’t do this right now, I can’t tell her. Alex and I have been planning on moving, but not just down the road or to another town. We’re planning on moving to America… the end of next month. The hard thing is going to be explaining it to my mum. It’s going to break her. Her husband has been completely avoiding her and now her only daughter is moving to the other side of the world. Could it get any better for her? Either way I have to do it. I have to tell her, and now. “What Alex? Tell me what.” He nodded at me

“Well mum the thing is when we do bring the baby home you won’t be able to see him or her the minute we get back well becau-

“Oh I see, you’ll need a bit of space. That’s fine darling I’ll give you all the space you need when you get back. I understand.  You’ll need a lot of rest.”

“No, mum it’s not that. We er, were moving.”

“Oh I see. Well that’s fine I can help you. I can drive to and from with boxes, I’ll even help you pack to keep all the stress off your mind. Although it’s a bit of a silly thing to do when you’re pregnant but it’s quite a good idea. Fresh start.”

“But mum the thing is I’m not so sure you can drive.”

“Don’t be so silly. I have a car don’t I? You’ll be in your new home in no time!” I glanced at Alex then down at my stomach before making eye contact with mum again. “So you’ll drive us to our new home.”

“Sure I will.”

“In America?” She stared at me with confusion written all over her face. This is where it all began to sink in. Maybe it isn’t such a good idea after all. I mean leaving my mum, my dad my country? It’s a little bit too much but the flights are already booked… one way. There’s no turning back. I have to do this.

“W-what do you mean in America. Kiera don’t be so pathetic! You are not moving to America, especially whilst you’re pregnant for heaven’s sake! This is ridiculous. I thought you were a mature adult? Clearly I thought wrong.”

“Yet again you’re judging me and my actions without even knowing any facts! I’m moving to America whether you like it or not mum okay? I have had to put up with you and your childish bickering for 22 years! I’m not going to let you ruin my life and stop me living it the way I want to. I am an adult. Yes a mature one and it’s pretty rich coming from the woman who was knocked up at 16! Excellent role model you are!”

“HOW DARE YOU! I may have had you young but that never stopped you having clean clothes on your back, food in your stomach and a roof over your head did it?! You are the most ungrateful person I have ever known and then you go and get yourself pregnant but wait for the exciting bit… the baby won’t even be able to see its own grandmother because the parents dragged it then over half way across the world even before it was bloody born!”

“Do you know what I’ve had enough of this. Get out of my house now… NOW!”

“Keira-

“No Alex, I’m done dealing with her crap. I don’t want to see her face right now. Just get out of my house.” I watched as she grabbed her car keys off the table before leaving the house, slamming the front door behind her. The pain I felt was indescribable and being pregnant too. I can’t put myself through that again. It’s too much. I just can’t deal with any of it right now. I have enough on my plate at the moment.

Written by Rhema Bingham (11 years old)

Edited by Skendong.