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“Yes, I-I’m fine.”
“Who knows, maybe you’re pregnant,” she laughs.
Very funny. How could I be…
Wait. Now that I come to think about it, my breasts have been feeling rather sore lately. And every now and then I’ve been getting these weird stomach cramps, but I put it down to an upset stomach. No, there’s no way I could be pregnant. How could I be? I’m on the pill. Then I remember a couple of times over the past few weeks, I haven’t kept to taking my tablet at the same time every day, one of the conditions to ensure its effectiveness. Stupid, I know. There’s just been so much going on in my life, keeping to my schedule has not always been my top priority. Dear God, could I really be pregnant with Alex’s baby? It certainly seems plausible given that we’ve been having lots of sex and never once used protection.
In a daze, I leave Sloppy Joe’s wracked with anxiety. Now that Amina has planted the seed of doubt, I simply have to know. I need to find out if it’s true that I’m pregnant. Hastily, I rush to a pharmacy and pick up a home pregnancy test. I’ve never bought one before, and have no idea how to use it, but the box claims to be able to tell you within five minutes. Gosh, just five minutes is all it takes to find out if your life will be changed forever.
Tossing the box in my bag, I continue running my errands around town, deciding not to take the test until later this evening in the privacy of my own home. That’s what I tell myself, anyway. The reality is, I’m putting it off because I just can’t deal with it right now. I’m too scared to find out what the truth is because of the potential earthshattering implications.
Alex is part demon. If we had a baby together, what would that mean? Would the child be half human, half demon with tentacles coming out of its back? Would it have special powers? The never-ending possibilities are too much for me to handle and I try not to think about it or else I’ll go crazy.
At three o’clock, I pick Freddie up from school and take him to have an ice cream in McDonald’s. From there, we go to the park and play on the swings. It’s bitingly cold weather, but I don’t care. I need to be outside in the fresh air to help keep my head clear.
We spend an hour or so fooling around, and then we go home, and I make us both some pasta, my signature dish as my culinary skills are not as advanced as Cynthia’s. Then we playSuper Mario Worldon the Nintendo, and we’d be having the best time ever, if it wasn’t for the constant sick feeling in my stomach. I’m really suffering here. Finally, at around eight-thirty, I sneak off to the bathroom, leaving Freddie engrossed in the shenanigans of the world’s two most famous plumbers.
On tenterhooks, I sit on the floor and take the pregnancy test out of my bag and read the instructions closely. Then I read them again to make absolutely sure I’ve understood what I’m supposed to do. When I’m satisfied that I know what I’m doing, I carefully unwrap the plastic sheath and begin to psych myself up.Okay, here goes nothing…
Suddenly, somebody rings the doorbell and I almost jump out of my skin with fright.Oh my gosh, could that be Alex?With trembling fingers, I drop the test on the floor and quickly pull up my tights and knickers. That will have to wait.
“Jess! Someone is at the door!” Freddie shouts, stomping through the hallway excitedly. “Should I go and answer it?”
“No, wait! Stay where you are. I’ll do it.”
Hesitantly, I approach the glass spyhole and peer through to see who’s out there. Strange. I can’t see anyone. The communal hall appears to be completely empty. But someone must be out there. Heart pounding, I begin taking off the chain and nervously turn the lock to open the door.
“Stand behind me, Freddie,” I whisper fiercely. “Let’s see who it is…”
Jesus, what will happen when my brother first sees Alex? What will his reaction be? Will Alex be wearing a mask like he did when he came down to the school, or will Freddie be faced with the full force of my boyfriend’s demonic countenance? I know from experience that the first time is likely to be a big shock and I brace myself in preparation.
Slowly, the door creaks open on its hinges and then…
“Mrs Biederhof!” I release an enormous sigh of relief. “What a surprise.”
“Hello, Jessica, I hope I’m not intruding?” The old woman grins, showing a row of crooked teeth. “Were you expecting someone else?”
“Um, no, of course not.”
“Only, I promised Cynthia I’d come to check in on you both from time to time while she’s away to make sure you’re okay.”
“We’re fine,” I say quickly. “We just finished having dinner and my brother will be getting ready for bed soon, so yeah, everything is great. It’s so nice of you to check in on us like this, but honestly, we’re fine.”
“I’m going back to playMario World,” Freddie pouts, and darts to his bedroom. That should have been her cue to go, but sadly, our unwanted visitor continues to linger on the doorstep.
“Well, like I said, it was nice of you to call by,” I say, starting to close the door.
“Do you mind if I come in for a bit? I’ve brought you both some little gifts.”
“How lovely of you. Sure, no problem.” Gritting my teeth, I step aside for her to enter. Great. Alex could arrive at any minute, and I’ve now got to entertain the world’s nosiest neighbour.
Cheers, Mum.
Reluctantly, I take Mrs Biederhof into the living room and watch her milky blue eyes scrutinise everything in meticulous detail: the paint spattered easel, the lack of curtains in the windows, piles of boxes scattered around in a formation of organised chaos. I can only imagine what the old busybody is thinking. Probably wondering why we have so little furniture. I mean, we don’t even have a proper dining table. As usual, she’s dressed like she’s going to church in a navy-blue skirt suit, pale pink cardigan and lacy white gloves. Her thick grey hair is perfectly coiffed as always.
For a few seconds we stand in awkward silence, not knowing what to say to each other.
“Just the two of you here tonight, then? Just you and your brother, Freddie?”
