Her Journey Begins

by Karen Einsel

  Chris looks off to one side, then the other with just her eyes and mumbles. “I’m going to have to look up the meaning of that…”

  The bell rings and the teacher and the other students start coming in.

  

  Brandon and Brent are already sitting at the table when Chris walks up with her tray. They are looking here and there avoiding eye contact with her.

  “Alright you two, quit smirking. I’m not a dirty, untidy woman. And I’m not promiscuous.” They both start laughing out loud. “Shut up…”

  

  Brandon is standing next to Chris’ last class when she walks out.

  “What are you doing here?”

  Brandon leans closer and whispers in her ear. “I came to walk “my” promiscuous girlfriend home.”

  Chris hands him her books. “Well at least that sounds nicer than slut. So, we are walking home today, how come?”

  Brandon takes her hand. “Because, it’s our special time and I love walking you home.”

  “Where’s your car?”

  “Brent has it and he’ll pick me up at your house later.”

  After dinner Brandon drops Chris off at work. Brandon knows he doesn’t want to go home yet and ends up hanging out at Brent’s for a few hours. Walking in, Brandon sees the light on in the den and heads towards the stairs.

  “Brandon, come here, I need to talk to you before you go upstairs.”

  Brandon takes a deep breath and walks into the den.

  “Have you been at that girl’s house since you got out of school?”

  “No mom, I’ve been at Brent’s and that girl happens to have a name. It’s Chris, or don’t you remember.”

  Brandon‘s mom waves her hand in the air. “Fine, but she isn’t the reason I called you in here. What I want to talk to you about is how disrespectful you were towards our guests last night.”

  “What do you mean? I wasn’t disrespectful to them. Maybe you shouldn’t have been offering their daughter to go to my bedroom with me. I’m going to bed.”

  “Brandon, come back here.” Brandon stops, but doesn’t turn around and go back.

  “I want you to quit seeing that girl. Do you hear me?”

  “Night mom”

  

  Walking into class the next morning, Chris sees Brandon has his head down on the desk. Chris kneels down next to him and whispers. “Brandon, what are you doing here so early?” As her hair brushes across his forearm he grabs it and tugs. “Good morning beautiful.”

  Chris sees the dark circles under his eyes. “Good morning. Now why are you here so early?”

  “I didn’t have any place else to go.”

  “Oh Brandon”

  “Chris I can’t wait to graduate, then you and I can get married and get a place of our own.”

  “Are you asking me to marry you?”

  Brandon lifts his head and looks into her eyes. “I will, but not yet. Will you say yes?”

  “I don’t know. You sure know how to take the surprise out of it.”

  Brent walks in and sits down. “What are you two talking about?”

  They both ignore him. “Brandon you haven’t even asked me to the prom yet?”

  “Will you go to the prom with me then?”

  “No, probably not.”

  “Good cause I already asked Amber.”

  “What!”

  Laughing Brandon puts his head back down and covers it with his hands. “I’m kidding. Now will you marry me?” Brandon uncovers his head and folding his arms on the desk, he lays his head down. Poking Chris’ arm Brandon nods towards Brent.

  Chris looks over at Brent and sees his mouth hanging open. Laughing she tells Brandon, “Yes, if I have to.” Chris stands up, reaches over, and smacks Brent on top of the head, “Close your mouth, we are only joking.” And then sits down in her seat as the teacher walks in.

   Chris, what’s your mom making for dinner?”

  “I have no idea, why?”

  “No reason. I was just wondering.”

  Brent looks up at Chris. “Because, I’m taking Wendy out for pizza and then hanging out at her house, so he doesn’t have any place to go. Hey, I’ll let you two work this out. I see that new cheerleader waving at me. I’ll catch you later.”

  Chris grabs Brandon’s hand. “Come on.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “I don’t know. Somewhere where we can hide out till lunch is over, maybe under the bleachers. I’ll let you feel me up.” Brandon grins at her and Chris smiles back. “I knew that would cheer you up.”

  Sitting on the grass under a tree in the quad area, Brandon’s lying down using Chris’ lap as a pillow. Chris runs her fingers through his hair. “Maybe we should take a break from seeing each other for awhile.”

  Brandon opens his eyes, looks up at her and shakes his head, “No! Is that what you want?”

  “No, that’s not what I want, but…”

  “But what…? Chris I’m 18 now. Yeah, I still live at home, but I should be able to go out with who I want. Don’t you think? I mean, it’s not like you are some horrible person. I’m not skipping school with you, drinking and doing drugs. We aren’t out running around getting into any trouble.”

  “But Brandon…” Chris takes a deep breath and slowly lets it out. “She’s your mom. You can’t…”

  “I can’t what, Chris? Don’t you know that the only thing that keeps my mother from driving me insane is you? I would go nuts if I couldn’t see you every day. Come on, I’ll walk you to your next class.”

  Chris lets Brandon help her up. “Brandon?” He looks at her. “I do love you. You know that, right?”

  Brandon sighs and wraps his arms around her. “I love you too. And I don’t want to lose you.”

  Chris whispers. “I can’t see that ever happening. You are stuck with me for the rest of your life.”

  

  Sunday, a week before they graduate and Chris is sitting at the kitchen table with her head on her folded arms.

  “Chris, do you feel okay?”

  “I’m fine”

  Barb walks over and puts her hand on Chris’ forehead. “Are you sure?” Barb can see tears roll down Chris’ cheek as she puts her arm around her.

  “Chrissy, what’s wrong?”

  “Oh mom, I think I’m pregnant.”

  Barb sits down next to her. “Chris, look at me.”

  Chris takes a deep breath and opens her eyes.

  “Why do you think that?”

  “Because I’m late.”

  “How late?”

  Chris shakes her head and whispers, “Almost two weeks.”

  “I thought you and Brandon were using protection?”

  “We were most of the time and the other times we were doing the rhythm method where you…”

  Barb holds up her hand. “I know what the rhythm method is.”

  “I must have screwed up and counted my days wrong. Oh mom what am I going to do?”

  “What did Brandon say when you told him?”

  “Mom, I can’t tell him.”

  “Chris you need to tell Brandon.”

  “No, I can’t ruin his life like that. He’s going to be going away to college and this is something I have to deal with on my own.”

  Mom reaches over and takes Chris’ hand in hers, “Chris, whether it ruins his life or not, it’s his baby and he has the right to know. Even if that means him walking away and not taking responsibility, it’s still his baby too. Now you have to tell him.”

  Chris doesn’t say anything as her body starts to shake. Laying her head back down Chris starts to cry.

  Chris is still crying at the table when Brandon walks in and sees Barb sitting next to Chris with her arm around her shoulder.

  “Chris, what’s wrong?”

  “I’ll let you two talk.” Barb pats Brandon on the shoulder and leaves the room.

  Brandon sits down. “Chris what’s the matter?”

  With her head still
on her arms, Chris shakes her head.

  “Chris, look at me.”

  Lifting her head Chris looks at him, closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and then reopens her eyes. “I think I’m pregnant. Oh Brandon, I’m so sorry. I must have miscounted my days.” Chris lays her head back down on her arms, not looking at him.

  Brandon leans down and whispers to her, “I’m going to be a dad? We are going to have a baby? That is way too cool. Chris look at me. Aren’t you happy?”

  “Oh Brandon what are we going to do?”

  Brandon stands up and puts his hand out to her, “Chris, come here.” Chris takes Brandon’s hand and he pulls her into his arms. “We are going to have a baby. I am going to be a daddy. That’s what we are going to do. Come on.”

  Brandon leads Chris into the living room and while holding Chris’ hand Brandon announces. “We are going to get married.”

  Brad looks from one to the other. “What am I missing here?”

  Brandon grins at him and takes Chris’ other hand in his to stop her fidgeting, “You are going to be a grandpa.”

  Brad looks at Barb, who takes a deep breath, lets it out and raises her eyebrows at him. “Yep”

  Chris averts her eyes, ashamed to look at Brad. “Chris” Brad calls to her and Brandon lets go of her hands. “Chris come here.”

  Chris takes a step forward. “Dad I am so sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

  Standing up Brad puts his arms around her shoulders and gives Chris a squeeze. “It’s okay Chris. These things happen, besides I kind of like the idea of being called grandpa.” Making light of the situation as he hears her stomach growling, Brad asks her, “Now do you think we can get your mom to finish making dinner before we all starve?”

  

  After dinner Barb and Brad go upstairs so Brandon and Chris can have the living room to themselves to talk. Brandon holds Chris in his arms while they are sitting on the couch. “Tomorrow we will go tell my mom.”

  Chris pushes away from him. “No. We can’t tell your mom.”

  “Chris, don’t you realize that once I tell my mom, she can’t send me away to college. I’ll be able to stay here.”

  “Then we can’t tell her yet, at least wait until I go to the doctors tomorrow and we know for sure.”

  

  Pulling up at Brandon’s, Chris can’t see any good coming from this. She went to the doctors yesterday and yes he confirmed she was pregnant. Only about a month along he told her. Staring out the window Chris is clenching and unclenching her hands, afraid of what his mom will say. Brandon reaches over and squeezes her hand.

  “Everything will be okay, you’ll see. I love you and that’s all that matters. Besides, we are going to have a baby.”

  Brandon holds her hand as they walk into the living room. Chris sits down on the couch with her hands between her knees as Brandon’s mom walks in. “Mom, sit down, there’s something I’ve got to tell you.” She sits down and looks at Chris suspiciously.

  “Mom, Chris and I are going to have a baby.” Brandon is so good at this. When he told Brad last night, he had no shame, wasn’t embarrassed or anything. In fact he couldn’t hide how happy he was, even if he tried.

  Staring at Chris, Brandon’s mom almost spits out the venomous words she has for Chris. “She did this on purpose you know. Just so you would marry her. Are you keeping this baby, because if you are, then you are no longer my son.”

  Brandon is now staring at his mom, “What? Are you saying you want me to choose between Chris and my baby and you?”

  “What I’m saying is, she can go get an abortion and we’ll pretend this conversation never happened and nothing will change between us. She is only doing this so she has someone to support her. Can’t you see she’s only after the family money?”

  Chris bites her lip and blinks away the tears. “If that’s what it takes, then…” Chris takes a deep breath, “I can do that.”

  “See, she’s fine with it.”

  “Chris! What are you saying? You can’t do that. That’s my baby too.”

  “Brandon didn’t you hear her, she will disown you. She’s your mom. I can’t let her do that.”

  Brandon glares at his mom. “You know why Chris is agreeing with you mom? Because she loves me. She cares about me and doesn’t want to see me hurt. Unlike you, who only cares about yourself and what others will think of you. When I brought Chris here for dinner, you treated her like she was some kind of trash. All your little remarks about how she wasn’t good enough. You aren’t any different from all the other snobs. Come on Chris, let’s go. I’ll come back tomorrow and pick up my things.”

  “So…Are you going to stay at her foster parent’s house?”

  “No mom, unlike you, I have respect for them.” Brandon takes Chris’ hand and leads her out.

  Getting in the car, Chris starts crying. “Brandon you can’t do this. She’s your mom.”

  “Shh, it will be okay. We will work it out, but for now I’ll stay at Brent’s for a couple of nights. We’ll give her some time to think about it. The only thing you need to worry about right now is you.” Brandon pats her belly. “And our baby, okay?” Chris sniffles, takes a deep breath, and nods.

  Brandon pulls into the driveway. “I’ve got to go talk to Brent, but I’ll be back in a little while, okay?”

  “Okay”

  “Chris…” She looks up at him. “I love you.”

  Chris smiles a sad smile at him, “I love you too.”

  

  Barb’s in the kitchen peeling potatoes for dinner when Chris walks in.. “Do you want some help?”

  “Chris I didn‘t hear you come in. Not yet, but in a little while you can grate some cheese for me.” Barb finishes the potatoes and pulls out the chair. “Let’s sit down. How did it go? Did everything work out okay?”

  Chris shakes her head. “No, she disowned him. She wanted him to choose between me and the baby, or her. Told you she hated me.”

  “Oh Chrissy, honey I’m so sorry. Where’s Brandon now?”

  “He went to see Brent. He’s going to see if he can stay there a couple of days. See mom, this is my fault. I told you, I shouldn’t have told him.”

  “Chris it takes two people to make a baby and if you ask me, Brandon is handling this quite well. He’s being mature about it and I am thinking that he’s very happy. You know the saying…”

  “I know, but I still don’t understand why.” Chris says with a sigh.

  

  After Dad gets home, Chris is sitting on the porch swing waiting for Brandon. She has to be at work at 6 p.m. and she’s hoping he’ll get here before she has to leave. Just as Chris gets up to go in, Brandon pulls into the driveway. He walks up and sits down next to her. Chris’ heart breaks knowing this must be tearing him apart. She knows she has to be strong as he puts his arms around her and holds her close. “I’ll stay at Brent’s for a few days, then on Saturday we will go find us an apartment, okay?”

  Chris pulls back from him. “Brandon, are you okay?” He smiles at her. “As long as I am with you, I’ll be just fine.”

  “Oh Brandon, I am so sorry. I didn’t mean for all of this to happen.”

  Brandon puts his fingers on her lips, “You have done nothing to be sorry for. Now how about we go in and see if your mom wants any help with dinner.”

  

  As they are eating Brandon looks at Barb and Brad. “I was thinking that maybe you could meet Chris and I at city hall after school tomorrow, so we can get married.”

  Barb reaches over and squeezes Brandon‘s hand. “I think that will be okay, that is if Brad can get off of work early enough.”

  Chris looks at the three of them. “Tomorrow, gee this is so sudden maybe I should check my schedule and see if I can make it.”

  Brandon grins at her. “Oops, I think I forgot to do something.” Barb and Brad watch as Brandon gets down on one knee and pulls a small ring box out of his pocket and opens it. Inside Chris sees a
gold ring with one small diamond. Brandon takes Chris’ hand in his and looks up into her eyes. “Chris, will you marry me?”

  Chris loves him so much. “Are you sure?”

  Brandon nods. “Yes. I‘m sure”

  “Oh Brandon, I would love to marry you.”

  Brandon stands up and pulls Chris into his arms. “So does that mean yes?”

  Chris smiles. “Yes”

  

  Chris is twiddling her fingers while waiting for Barb and Brad to get there. Brandon covers her hands with his. Chris looks over at him and smiles.

  “Sorry… I wonder where mom and dad are. I thought they’d be here already.” Chris picks up a magazine to look at and they walk in.

  “Sorry… I had to put a bouquet together for you.”

  “Oh mom they are beautiful, but you didn’t have to.”

  “Every bride should have a bouquet as beautiful as she is on her wedding day.”

  Dad nods at Brandon and Brent and then points at Barb, “She’s been crying all morning and now they are both going to cry. Be prepared for a flood.”

  Standing in front of the judge Chris takes off her ring and goes to hand it to Brandon. “Here…You’ll need a ring to put on my finger.”

  “You hold on to it, I have a ring.” When the judge says, “With this ring…” Brandon slips a simple gold band on Chris’ finger, then slides her other ring on next to it. The judge looks at Brandon. Brandon nods at him and holds out a ring for Chris to slip on his finger as the judge says, “With this ring…” Chris has tears in her eyes as she looks at her new husband, when the judge tells Brandon, “You may kiss the bride.”

  

  Standing in the lobby waiting for the clerk to give them the official wedding certificate, Barb hugs Chris. “Now we can go celebrate.”

  “But mom, I have to work tonight.”

  “I know, but we can go get something to eat at the restaurant right down the street and you’ll still make it to work on time.” Moms leans closer and whispers. “That way I don’t have to cook tonight.”

  Chris looks over at Brandon. “Sounds good to me.”

  Barb looks over at Brent. “Brent, we want you to come and celebrate with us also.”

  Brent smiles, “Sure. I have no other plans, besides I rode with them.” Joking he tells her, “I could just sit in the car and wait while you eat though, if you want.”