The Day We Met

by Dusti Bowling

  Brittany looked over in our direction. She had a couple of friends with her, making things even worse. I contemplated diving under the table, but Brittany glanced over at our booth just as Heather was handing her a flyer, so I stayed where I was as she leered at me.

  “Would you and your friends like to donate some food or money to our food drive? It’s for a good cause,” Heather said. She continued explaining our cause to them, even though Brittany looked completely bored and her friends stood there rolling their eyes. Heather must have noticed this but continued anyway. “It’s for the homeless shelter on Hanover Street. You must know it—Fishes and Loaves.” She smiled at them warmly, and I felt overwhelmed with love for my friend.

  “We’re really busy,” Brittany finally said. “But I’ll make a donation.”

  “Really?” Heather asked. I was sure she didn’t mean to look quite as astounded as she did.

  “Of course,” Brittany said, walking over to our table. I braced myself for the confrontation.

  She continued to leer at me as she reached into her wallet and pulled out a nickel. “Here you go.” She plopped it into our can with a loud plink.

  “Thank you,” I told her, my face burning.

  She leaned in closer to me. “You really are a church geek.”

  She leaned back, but before she could walk away, I said, “Thank you for the compliment.” And I meant it.

  Chapter 18

  Amazingly, I made it to the last day of school with only Algebra and English to make up. Considering the circumstances, my teachers had been kind enough to give me incompletes so as not to let it affect my GPA, but I wouldn’t end up being one of those lucky seniors who got to leave school after lunch. Instead, I would have two math classes and two English classes—not exactly my dream senior year. I wouldn’t complain, though. I knew I was fortunate. Mr. Jaworski had graciously let me by with a B, and I received a simple pass in ceramics—no grade. I did get a C in history, but that was the worst grade I had received during my high school career. I hoped I would be able to make up for it the following year. So, at thirty-four weeks pregnant, I was huge and hot and miserable. And done with school. It was a relief.

  I don’t know why, but on the last day of school, amidst all of the rowdy celebrations and inappropriate shenanigans going on, I wanted to see Aidan one last time before we parted ways forever. Even though I knew he didn’t care, he was the father of my baby whether I liked it or not. Plus, I was still debating whether to tell him the baby was going to die instead of being adopted.

  I wandered through the hallway, looking for Aidan while kids stared at my bulging middle. It was as though, no matter how often they had seen my belly—and everyone knew I was pregnant—they still couldn’t help but stare at it, like it had some freaky alien-clown head growing out of it.

  I didn’t find Aidan that afternoon and I left school disappointed, feeling as though I needed some closure I hadn’t yet received. I rode the quiet, empty bus home. I guessed most everyone had after-school plans, parties, celebrations. I, on the other hand, was going home for a nice microwave dinner and a movie alone.

  Not only was it my last day of school, but it was my parents’ anniversary as well, and they would be going out to dinner at their favorite restaurant as they always did when this day rolled around every year. I didn’t want them canceling their plans to sit at home with me. I would feel too guilty if they ended up eating frozen pizza and watching a terrible movie on my account. Besides, I was looking forward to an evening of solitude.

  I stared out the bus window, shifting in the hard, uncomfortable seat. My overalls were tight around my middle, and I rubbed my belly. The baby made a faint kick, and I smiled. “Oh, hello there,” I said and continued rubbing my belly.

  I proceeded to have my daily conversation with my son about the day’s events. He listened about how I couldn’t find his dad at school, and how I didn’t know why I felt this sudden urge to say goodbye to him and to tell him the truth about the baby. Maybe it was for the baby’s sake. Or maybe it was because I wanted him to share in my heartache. Even if he knew, though, would he be heartbroken? I doubted it.

  “Lenna!” the bus driver called from the front. “Earth to Lenna!”

  I glanced up and saw we were at my bus stop. I grabbed my green back pack and waddled down the center aisle of the bus. “Oh, sorry Mr. Noyes,” I said. “Have a nice summer.”

  He eyed me. “You too, Lenna.” He gazed down at my belly. “And good luck.”

  I smiled. “Thanks. I’m sure I’ll need it.”

  I made the short walk down the street to my house and stepped inside the door to the sounds of my mother clicking down the hallway in her high-heels. “Scotch tape! Scotch tape! Scotch tape!” she blathered in a nonsensical way.

  “There’s some in the junk drawer,” I said, already rummaging through it. I pulled out the Scotch tape and threw it to her. She flew to the kitchen table and finished wrapping a small white box. I set my backpack on the table and asked her what was in the box.

  “A new watch,” she said. “A nice one!”

  I raised my eyebrows at her and smiled. I walked to the fridge and started pulling out snacks—a container of strawberries, a string cheese, and a chocolate milk. I also fetched a bag of crackers and some cookies from the pantry. Yes, that was my afternoon snack.

  “We could only get reservations at Eleanore’s for five o’clock, and it’s already…” She looked up at the clock. “Oh my gosh! It’s already three forty-five.” She finished wrapping the box and clicked all the way upstairs, leaving me to my snack.

  My dad walked in the door a few minutes later, and I wished him a happy anniversary, craftily hiding the gift my frazzled mother had left on the kitchen table. I ran it up to her and she told me to stick it in her purse as she primped herself in the mirror. She already had on the new red dress she had bought for the occasion and a gold necklace, but no earrings. She wouldn’t be caught dead without earrings. She always said it made her feel naked.

  I narrowed my eyebrows at her in suspicion. “Mother.”

  “Yes?”

  “Why aren’t you wearing any earrings?”

  “Oh, I just don’t feel like wearing any tonight.”

  “You little sneak!” I cried out, pointing at her.

  “What?”

  “You found dad’s present!”

  “What?” She brought her hands up to her chest, trying to look innocent and failing miserably.

  “That’s why you’re not wearing earrings. You’re waiting for your new ones.” I stared her down. She turned away from me sheepishly. “Shameful,” I hissed at her.

  “Oh all right!” she cried out. “You know I could never wait to see them. For goodness sake, he bought them two weeks ago! How could I wait two weeks?”

  “Shameful.” I shook my head.

  She changed the subject as she teased her large brown curls with a round brush. “So what are your plans for tonight? Are you doing something with Heather?”

  “No, she’s going to graduation.”

  She applied some deep red lipstick to her lips. “You don’t want to go?”

  “Wow, mom. That color’s pretty racy. You don’t want your date to get the wrong idea.”

  A small smile twitched at the corners of her deep red lips. “You didn’t answer my question.”

  I shook my head and toyed with the jewelry in her box on the counter. “I just don’t know.”

  “Do you want us to stay home?”

  “No!” I insisted. “No, I’m looking forward to some time alone without the dreary shadow of school hanging over my head.”

  “Well, just call if you get lonely or need anything.”

  I rolled my eyes at her. “I think I can manage being home alone for one evening.”

  She ran her hand over my hair. “I know you can.”

  “Let’s go!” my dad called from downstairs. My mom grabbed her compact, shoved it into her purse, and headed out of the bathroom
.

  “I hope dad doesn’t see through your fake surprise when you open his present,” I said, still standing in her bathroom and fiddling with her jewelry.

  “Don’t worry.” She wrapped a red shawl around her shoulders as she walked back into the bathroom. “I’ll act just as surprised as I did when I opened your Mother’s Day gift.”

  I shook my head. “Shameful. Just shameful.”

  ~ ~ ~

  I popped my pot pie in the oven and looked over the movies my mom had rented for me. “Ugh,” I said to myself—a bunch of romantic comedies. What could she have been thinking? I sat on the couch and flipped through the channels, but nothing good was on. I paced around the house, restless and bored.

  I looked at the clock—six thirty. They were probably still at dinner, and I hated to bother them, but graduation started at six. It was my only chance.

  I picked up the phone and dialed my mom’s cell. She answered after two rings. “Lenna,” she whispered. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine. Can I borrow your car?”

  “What for?”

  “I want to go to the graduation ceremony.”

  “My keys are on the key ring.”

  “Thanks. Are you having a nice time?”

  “Yes,” she whispered. “I have to go.”

  “Okay,” I whispered. “I love you.” But she had already hung up.

  ~ ~ ~

  I made it to the gymnasium around seven, an hour into the ceremony. The large door I entered through made a loud clunk that echoed throughout the gym, causing several people nearby to look in my direction. I shrunk against the wall, hoping to make myself inconspicuous behind the people standing along the foul line of the basketball court.

  I listened to the person speaking at the podium. It was Madison Newberg, the Valedictorian. She was speaking about bright futures, college, and exciting high school times. I yawned and wished she would hurry; my back was already aching from standing there. I scanned the crowd in the bleachers. I saw several kids from school, a whole lot of parents and grandparents, and some of the school staff.

  I spotted someone waving at me—Heather. She was sitting next to Will, who was sitting next to Stephen Canfield and Jeffrey Birch, his new friends. He looked over at me. I gave him a dirty look and turned my attention back to Madison, who was now speaking about how much she would miss high school.

  When Madison had finally finished her speech and about ten more people had made speeches and all the names had been called, including Aidan’s, and all the hats had been thrown, the people sitting in the bleachers flooded onto the basketball floor. A booming roar of congratulations reverberated throughout the gym as cameras flashed and hugs were given. I watched the scene, detached and on a mission.

  I spotted him through the crowd. He stood with his parents and a small group of elderly people I assumed were his grandparents. I pushed my way through the crowd, a difficulty considering my width, until I reached Aidan’s group. His parents looked alarmed at my sudden appearance, and his mother huffed as though she were about to tell me off, but I ignored her. Aidan looked at me with fear, glancing at his grandparents and back at me.

  Oh, I see.

  I took a deep breath. “Aidan, I just wanted to wish you good luck at college. I really do hope all the best for you.”

  He looked at me suspiciously but gradually seemed to relax, though still on guard. “Thank you. The same to you,” he said flatly.

  I nodded and turned to push my way through the crowds. As I did, I glanced up at the bleachers where Heather had been. She was still there with Will, who was watching me. I glared at him again and pushed my way through the large doors of the gym.

  Begging forgiveness and ignoring him hadn’t worked, so I was trying a new tactic—contrived anger.

  ~ ~ ~

  I didn’t feel like going home to an empty house as I got back to the car, so I drove around for a while until I ended up at a small park a few blocks from home. The sky shone pink with the light of dusk as I got out of the car and walked through the wet grass. The park was quiet except for the rustling of the trees and the movement of the squirrels through the nearby woods.

  I walked around the playground, touching the smooth wood of the swing set, pushing the swings so they moved back and forth with no one on them. I eased myself awkwardly into the tire swing and allowed it to gently spin, remembering another time, another life, when my mom had pushed me on this swing.

  Getting off the tire swing was much more difficult than getting on. I was able to lift one leg out, but once I had that leg on the ground, I couldn’t get my other one out of the hole. It must have been a ridiculous sight as I simply keeled over sideways off the tire swing. I landed on my side in the mulch and rolled over onto my back, snorting at my own klutziness and what I must have looked like. I lay there until a breeze blew the long, graceful limbs of a willow tree into my line of vision.

  I pushed myself off the ground and looked at the tree standing next to the playground. I stood up, brushed the mulch from my overalls, and walked to it. I stood underneath it, running my hand over the rough bark as the wispy branches blew all around me, tickling my face at times. I sat down underneath the tree and pulled my legs up to my chest as tightly as I could, until the suspenders of my overalls dug down into my shoulders. I felt enveloped inside of the willow tree, safe and protected, and it made me think of my baby, also safe and protected inside of me. At least for now.

  If I were a tree, I would be a weeping willow.

  ~ ~ ~

  I was surprised to see Heather’s car as I pulled into my driveway. I parked in the garage next to my dad’s car and went inside through the kitchen where my mom sat, still in her lovely new dress, talking with Heather. They both looked up as I entered.

  “Where have you been?” my mom asked.

  “I stopped at the park.” I threw the keys down on the counter. “It was nice.”

  “Oh man, Lenna. I have to tell you what happened after you left graduation.” Heather looked like she was about to burst from whatever it was she needed to tell me.

  “What?” I took a seat at the table with them, mildly curious.

  “Well.” She raised her eyebrows and leaned in closer, forcing my mom and me to huddle in with her. “We saw you talking to Aidan and how he and his family were so, you know, dismissive of you.”

  I looked at my mom and she gave me a sad look. “I just wanted to say goodbye. I don’t know why.”

  “I understand,” she said, pushing the hair away from my face. “You don’t have to explain.”

  “Anyway,” Heather went on, oblivious to us. “I don’t know what came over Will, but he just freaked out!” She screamed the words freaked out, causing my mom and me to draw back from her in surprise.

  “What did he do?” I asked, not just mildly curious anymore.

  “Oh man. You’re not going to believe this.” Her eyes darted back and forth between my mom and me like she had eaten eight candy bars chased by eight cups of espresso. “He walked straight up to Aidan, in front of his entire family, and pointed to him like this.” She pointed me in the chest with her finger.

  “Ouch!” I cried. “That hurts.”

  “I know,” she said. “Then he said, ‘You are nothing but trash. A real man takes responsibility for his actions. How dare you treat her and the baby that way!’ Then he turned and walked away.” Heather looked back and forth between my mom and me, wild-eyed and biting her lip. “Can you believe he did that?”

  I shook my head. “Why would he do that? We’re not even friends anymore.”

  “Lenna," my mom looked at me in bewilderment, “Will is in love with you.”

  “Totally,” Heather agreed, head bobbing excitedly.

  “Maybe he used to be,” I conceded. “But he couldn’t be anymore.”

  “Why not?” my mom asked.

  “Why not?” I repeated, incredulous. “How about because of this!” I pointed dramatically to my belly with bo
th hands. “And all of this!” I spastically circled my giant bump with both hands.

  “Will has been in love with you since you were little kids. I don’t think it just goes away that easily,” my mom said, tossing her perfectly styled brown curls back.

  “Oh!” Heather burst out. “That’s not all. After Will left, Aidan looked like he was going to die and his grandma started crying and his grandpa started yelling at Aidan’s parents.” She smiled.

  “Heather,” my mom said in a scolding tone. “I’ve never known you to revel in other people’s misery.”

  “I know. Is it terrible that I enjoyed it so much?” She grimaced. “I mean, he really deserved it. It was like justice or something.” She smiled again. “And it was awesome.”

  “I wish he hadn’t done that,” I said. “Making Aidan’s family all torn up doesn’t benefit anyone. And it ruined his graduation night.”

  “I know,” Heather said, shrugging her shoulders. “But it was no less awesome.”

  Chapter 19

  “Oh my gosh, I’m going to burst!” I shouted, rubbing my hands up and down over my expansive belly. I pressed my head back against my headboard and grabbed the cocoa butter from the nightstand for a fresh glazing. My skin itched terribly.

  “I have to be honest with you, Lenna.” Heather bit her lip and put down the magazine she had been reading. “I don’t think that’s all baby.” She cringed back, as though waiting for an attack.

  “Shut up!” I yelled. “I’ve only gained thirty pounds, and the doctor said that’s right on for my size.”

  “I just mean, you kind of eat a lot.” She shrugged. “Like, a whole lot.”

  “Well that’s because there’s a whole person living inside of me eating half of what I eat.” I glared at her.

  “Do you really think a five pound baby can eat half of what you eat in a day?” She crinkled up her face. “’Cause I seriously doubt it.”

  I shook my head and looked at the clock. “I’m so bored!” I yelled. “I’m so tired of doing nothing but rubbing my stomach with lotion and eating.”