Maternal Absence

by Jamie Ott

  That day she saw Anna who, amazingly enough, said hello to her. She looked a little better, with less flush in her cheeks, and her eyes no longer red and puffy. Maybe she wasn’t pregnant after all.

  She caught up to Linda and Molly in the cafeteria at lunch. Linda was in good spirits. Molly was more down than usual.

  “Hey,” Piper said.

  She set her tray down.

  “Hey,” they both said at the same time.

  “Today is the first day back and I can’t wait for it to be over. My plate is full. I’ve got enough homework to do until I’m dead.”

  “Well, you’re caught up though. That’s good.”

  “I am but my algebra instructor is saying that unless I score at least a 75 on the next mid-term, I won’t make it to statistics, which means I won’t get into geometry next year. I can’t afford to be set back at all, if I want to get college credits according to my schedule.”

  Piper was sullen and stressed.

  “Don’t worry, you’ll do fine.”

  “Yeah,” said Piper, looking over at Molly.

  “What’s up with you, Molly? You’re pretty quiet, they going easy on you?”

  “What business is it of yours?”

  “Don’t pay attention to her. She’s just mad because some guy won’t call her back.”

  “Who? Are you seeing someone?”

  “No, I’m not seeing anyone. God, why are you so nosy?”

  “What is your problem?” Piper yelled at her.

  Molly picked up her stuff and walked off.

  “What did I do?”

  “Nothing, she’s been like that to everyone lately.”

  “Yeah, but I thought we were friends. If I did something wrong, I’d rather she just tell me.”

  “Don’t take it personally.”

  But Piper took it very personally. Linda said it wasn’t her, but the next day, she would only hang out with one of them at a time. This left Piper a little lonely. Fortunately, Anna seemed keen to been friends with her. She’d come round to talk to Piper several times.

  At lunch, when she sat alone in the corner, Anna rescued her by inviting her to sit at her table. After hanging out with her and her friends, Piper understood why they were labeled as the dumb, rich kids at West Side: they were very shallow. All they cared about was looking good and spending money. Unlike Linda and her friends, they weren’t interested in being smart, talking politics, and fantasizing about the future. Anna was very much like them, but then again, she wasn’t and maybe that’s why she was so unhappy. Sometimes she watched her watching her friends, and Piper could have sworn she saw discontent; it seemed almost as if she wanted to say something to them but couldn’t open up.

  Terry, whom she had spent much time with before the break, stared jealously at Piper from time-to-time. She seemed well aware that she wasn’t a good enough friend for Anna. And Anna had completely lost interest in spending time with her.

  “Do you like your friends?” Piper asked one day.

  “I’ve known them forever. They’re alright, if you get to know them better. Why, you don’t like them?”

  Piper knew it was better not to answer.

  In spite of Molly’s behavior, Piper didn’t stop being Linda’s friend. They often hung out after school or on the weekends, and talked and texted nearly every night. Sure, it hurt her feelings that she’d chosen Molly over her, but they knew each other way longer, so she tried to be understanding. Besides, she still needed Linda to help her be the best student she could.

  Over the weeks, Piper and Anna got quite close. Anna told her many secrets, and took Piper with her wherever she went. Being her friend was even more hectic than with Linda. Constantly, she had to put her foot down and insist that she couldn’t go to parties or meet up with her on the weekends. If Anna had her way, they’d both flunk out of school.

  Knowing someone like Anna didn’t come without perks. One day, she and her parents showed up at her room, wanting to know where their daughter had been spending so much time. They were horrified by the condition of the hotel, which although not so bad to most, to those who’d lived first class lives, it was a horror. Piper explained her emancipation to her family, upon which they took pity on her and insisted she take a nicer, cleaner furnished apartment on the Upper East Side. It belonged to Anna’s grandparents on her mother’s side; they kept several apartments in the city for family, business associates and guests. Vacant for almost a full year now, they said she could stay there as long as she wished for half of what she paid the hotel. Piper loved the new one bedroom apartment so much that she made it her priority to keep Anna her best friend, even if she couldn’t stand her sometimes – and sometimes she really couldn’t.

  That very weekend, she moved into the apartment. There were freshly painted walls and new carpet that, although a little dusty, was obviously expensive. It was many times more spacious than the hotel, and it had a huge window through which one could see all of the buildings and lights of downtown. When she saw that view, she knew she never wanted to leave that place.

  There was a heavy price to accepting her family’s charity. Anna, who was extremely envious of Pipers freedom, spent even more time with her, and her parents obviously thought of Piper as free babysitting: they spent more time vacationing. Always, it was a struggle trying to get Anna to respect that Piper had homework to do; that she needed to get to sleep; that she didn’t want parties.

  This didn’t stop her from trying to take advantage. She invited lots of friends, mostly guys, over, and thought since Piper was her friend and family’s charity case, she couldn’t refuse. Worse, her parents often sent housekeepers or assistants by to drop off food and check in on them; they often called the house line, too, to make sure they were home and not out wandering the streets. Piper knew that if they got caught partying, her parents’ wouldn’t be happy, not at all.

  Finally, Anna backed off when, one night, she got home after drama rehearsal to find a keg in the living room. In the air, a cloud of smoke hung and a dozen unfamiliar faces sat, high, in her living room, watching her television. “It’s one ‘o’ clock in the friggin’ morning!” she yelled. Piper turned off the music and kicked them all out, including Anna as she yelled empty threats.

  The next day, Anna came over and found Piper packing her things. She apologized and begged her to stay. Since that day, she never had another party because she knew that if Piper left, her parents would come back. It seemed their absence was much more valuable to her than keggers and boys.

  The worst part of having Anna over all the time was how she left her stuff all over the place. Sometimes, she’d come home and find her food eaten, her clothes worn and her makeup missing.

  “Well, my mom won’t let me wear this stuff!” she’d whine.

  “Yeah, but I don’t want your germs on my things, so stay out of my stuff!”

  One night, Piper got out of the shower. She hoped she’d have the night to herself, and was disappointed to open her door and hear her lying on the guest bed, talking on the phone.

  “No way,” she said. “Molly’s pregnant?”

  Normally, Piper tried to ignore her gossipy, rumor filled conversations but the mention of Molly stopped her in her tracks.

  “Mike Maloy?” she said into the phone.

  Piper’s muscles suddenly relaxed. The jar of after-shower body butter, she was holding, shattered all over the floor.

  Madness

  Chapter 16

  “Wait, so who’s pregnant?” Piper blurted at Anna who looked thrilled that she thoroughly had Piper’s interest in a bit of gossip.

  “That girl you used to hang out with, Molly.”

  Piper couldn’t seem to close her mouth.

  “And they’re saying Mike is the one who got her pregnant?”

  “Yeah, it’s no surprise.”

  Piper sat back in disbelief, replaying in her head the times that all three of them had been together. When did they hook up? Why had
n’t Molly ever told her that they were together?

  “Well, serves her right,” said Anna, exhaling loudly and flipping the pages of her magazine. “I liked Mike and I told her to stay away from him. Now, she’s paying the price.”

  “Wow, that’s a horrible thing to say.”

  When she didn’t reply, Piper asked, “Did you guys date?”

  “Yeah, for like three months before that slut came along.”

  Briefly, Piper had a flashback to their fight.

  “So is that what you guys were fighting about, in the bathroom that day?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Poor, Molly.”

  “She knew he was a creep. I tried to warn her.”

  “What do you mean by that?” asked Piper, confused.

  “I just know, okay!”

  She got off the bed and went to the living room and started texting.

  Piper knew that Anna was hiding something, but it didn’t matter. It was likely that all she had was more gossip, anyway. She was more interested in talking to Linda and finding out what was going to happen to Molly.

  She grabbed her cell phone off of the night stand, scrolled down to her name and pressed the talk key. Her line rang but it went straight to voicemail.

  “Hey Linda, this is Piper. Listen, I know this may be none of my business, and perhaps you already know, but Molly may be in trouble. There are terrible rumors going around about her. Anyway, I’ll see you at school, tomorrow, but I think we should talk before. I think I know why she’s been mad at me.”

  After the initial shock of Molly’s situation wore off, Piper was angry. She hated thinking that the boy she liked was with her friend the entire time. Okay, maybe they never officially had a date, but they flirted, no doubt. He led her on. No wonder Molly hated her. Watching Mike hit on her must have been painful, and the way she flirted back.

  The next day, Piper didn’t see Molly. At lunch, Linda sat alone, reading on her tablet.

  “Hey, did you get my message?”

  She sat down across from her at the table.

  “Yeah, I’m sorry. I was already in bed.”

  “So is it true?”

  “Yes. She and Mike had been getting together for a while, and that’s why she was mad at you, because Mike liked you. You have to understand, Molly has self-esteem issues. Not to get all psychoanalytical, but I don’t think she gets enough attention at home. When she does, it’s less than loving or familial.”

  “Can you speak plainly?”

  Piper hated it when Linda used big words.

  “How plainly do I have to put it? Her parents ignore her, and she acts out by pursuing relationships. Only men see her behavior and label her as desperate; they take advantage of her and dump her. I’ve tried to talk to her about her behavior but she doesn’t listen. This is the price she has to pay.”

  “Is she gonna keep it?”

  “She has to. Her parents would never let her get an abortion; she’s hardcore Catholic.”

  Through the week, Molly remained absent. Linda tried calling her several times, but there was no answer. It would ring once and an automatic message would tell them to check the number. Then on Friday, Linda got an email from her, telling her that her mother had confiscated her phone and grounded her because she’d tried to run away. She’d planned to get an abortion. Now, her mother had taken her money and cards, and was making her stay in her room.

  “Let’s just go over there. Maybe we can help,” said Piper one day over lunch.

  “What difference would it make? We don’t want to upset her or her parents. Besides, she doesn’t have the money for an abortion, anymore, and Mike won’t return her calls. My parents never give me any money, unless I have an excuse for each dollar. If we go over there, all we’ll do is make things worse for her.”

  “Well, maybe I can help. I’m sure her parents and everyone involved would kill us, but honestly, it kills me even more knowing that she is going to be forced to have a baby, even if she is foolish.”

  “It doesn’t seem right, does it?”

  “No.”

  “I agree with you; in fact, I thought about helping her, myself, but again, money is the problem. My mom keeps me on a stricter budget than most kids here. It’s her way of controlling me.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll get the money.”

  A few more days passed without seeing Molly. Linda finally agreed with Piper to simply show up. Anna wanted to come with them, but Piper convinced her that it was probably not a good idea; that they could both get into trouble. Of course, the real reason was she didn’t want her having anything else to gossip about.

  After school, they took the elevator up to the seventh floor, walked down the hall to her apartment and pressed the ringer. A petite, yet stern looking woman opened the door. She, like Linda, wore her hair in a bun, but there was something about her that was much less fun. In fact, she was a little scary looking.

  “Hello Linda, Piper. Molly’s not allowed to have visitors at this time. You can call later, if you wish.”

  “Well,” said Linda, “that’s the thing. We’ve been trying to call her for almost two weeks, now, but she doesn’t answer her phone.”

  After looking a little apprehensive about the two of them, she allowed them inside.

  The house was very plain, just like her mother appeared. No wonder Molly acted out, for even Piper felt depressed just walking down the bare halls. There were no photos, no flowers, and no flourishes. It was the most boring place she’d ever seen. If a person’s apartment were a reflection of self, then Molly’s parents were the coldest people ever.

  Molly’s room was at the end of the hall. Linda knocked. When it opened, she looked surprised. She stood there staring at the two of them. Then, looking embarrassed, she ran her hands through her hair and crossed her arms.

  “What are you guys doing here?”

  “We came to see how you’re doing,” said Linda.

  “Why?”

  “Why do you think? Are you gonna let us in, or what?”

  She stood still a second, and then stepped back.

  “How have you been?” asked Linda.

  “How do you think? I’m pregnant, stupid.”

  “Screw you.”

  Molly and Linda glared at one another for a few seconds before Piper spoke up.

  “I just want you to know that I didn’t know what a jerk Mike was. I had no idea you, two, were ever together. You know that, right?”

  “Yeah, I know. I still hated you, though. I guess it was easier to blame someone else,” she said and sighed. “I don’t know what my problem is; I always go after the wrong kind of people, not just guys but friends, too.”

  They fell quiet again.

  “So you’re going to keep the baby?” asked Linda.

  “I don’t want to, but an abortion is out of the question. My mother says she’ll disown me. I would do it anyway, if I could. I’d just go to live with my cousin in Boston, but I don’t have any money. My mother has restricted me from my own bank accounts and canceled my credit cards.”

  “And your phone?” asked Piper.

  “She’s canceled that, too. She’s cutting me off from the world, I guess.”

  “Piper and I have a plan. We know you don’t want to go through with this, so Piper has agreed to give you the money.”

  “Really? That’s great of you, but it doesn’t make any difference. There’s no way I’d get away with it, unless I run away. My mom is watching my every move.”

  “You can stay at my place.”

  “Mom knows where you live.”

  “Not anymore, I moved.”

  Molly stared at them a moment.

  “Really, you’d do that for me?”

  “Yes, but no one can know that I helped you.”

  “Why would you help, after how I treated you?”

  “Because no one should be forced to have a baby, especially a teenager. You deserve another chance.”

  “Thank
s, Piper. I’m sorry for the way I treated you.”

  “You don’t need to apologize.”

  “Now that I’m going through what Anna went through, over Christmas, I wish I’d have listened to her.”

  “What’s this got to do with Anna?” asked Piper.

  “He got her pregnant, too, like right before we went on vacation.”

  Piper was blown away, but somehow, it all made sense. She thought back to Anna’s and Molly’s weird behavior.

  “So when do you want to do this?” Linda asked.

  “I’m already four weeks gone, so I need to do it right away. But I’m not allowed to use the phone.”

  “Okay, well I’ll schedule an appointment for you, at the city clinic, for tomorrow afternoon. I’ll email you the details. You’ll just pack a bag and leave, and meet us in front of the school and then we’ll go with you.”

  “After, you can come home with me. The next day, you can go to your cousins, or you can go home.”

  “Okay, it’s a deal.”

  Molly started to cry. “Thanks, you guys. I’m so grateful.”

  ~~~

  That evening, Piper got a text from Linda confirming that they would meet the next day in front of the school at noon. Throughout the evening, Piper couldn’t help but reflect on how odd it was that Mike, a boy who looked so sweet and innocent, could be such a pig.

  She wondered had he been playing her all along? Or did he ever have real feelings for her? But then she smacked herself on the forehead and told herself to shut it. What did she care if he really liked her or not? She should be grateful she’s not in Molly’s or Anna’s position.

  The next day, Piper went to school and tried to concentrate on her lessons but it was hard. She kept thinking about Molly and wondering what an abortion would be like, emotionally and physically. Then, at about 11:45 am, she put some of her stuff in her locker and walked out front to meet Linda. As they sat chatting idly, Molly came walking up the street.

  “Hey,” she said breathlessly.

  “Did you have any trouble leaving?” asked Piper.

  “Nope, she went to the bathroom; I got my bag and left.”