Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Oops (01/14/10)
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TITLE: Unplanned, but Glorious | Previous Challenge Entry
By Glynis Becker
01/19/10 -
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“Is it decaf?”
Roberta stuck her hand out. “Hello. I'm your sister, Roberta. Have we met? It's ten-thirty in the morning, of course it isn't decaf!”
“I'll make a cup of tea, then.”
Roberta sat down at the kitchen table and lowered herself so she could look in Diana's eyes, who was busily staring at the lace doily under the floral centerpiece. Her voice lowered. “Is this about the doctor's appointment?” Her hand fluttered to her chest. “Oh no! What is it? Cancer? Lupus? A brain tumor?”
“Knock it off, will you?” Diana got up from the table and put water in the kettle. “Yes, it's about the appointment.” She took a breath and blurted out, “I'm pregnant.”
Roberta screamed, knocked over the chair in the excitement of standing upright and grabbed Diana in a hug. “Whoa! Then why the face? You look like you just won first prize at a cricket-eating contest. This is wonderful!” She pushed her away enough to look at Diana's face. “Isn't it?”
Diana's eyes widened and she gave Roberta the “you aren't getting it” look. “I am forty-three years old--”
Roberta interrupted. “Not worthy of an entry in the Guinness Book, but continue.”
“--Amanda just started college, James only has two years left at home. How do we afford a baby on top of college expenses?”
“Same way you afford everything else, my friend: you spend less than you earn. Joe's got a good job. By the way, what did Joe say?”
Diana smiled. “Well, after I picked him up off the floor, he looked at me and said, 'I hope this one looks just like you.'” She paused and bit her lip. “Joe really is something, isn't he? I know he's got to be worried, too. I mean, we didn't plan for this, but I guess God knows what He's doing, right?”
Roberta put her hand over Diana's. “You were the one that taught me that God doesn't make mistakes. All things are for His glory, if we just let Him work it out. Are you more bothered by having a baby, or by what people will think about you having a baby?”
Diana threw up her hands and stood. Pacing the small kitchen, she started gesturing and talking at the same time. “Oh, it's both! The kids are going to be mortified! Their friends will talk. Their friends' parents will certainly talk. Not to mention that I don't think I have the energy to do this. Do you not remember three o'clock feedings? Walking around town with a half-digested glob of banana on your shoulder that no one would tell you about? The endless debate over whether formula was the cowards' way out? I'm just getting back to feeling like I'm a person and not just someone's mom. I'm not sure I'm ready to give that up yet. And when this baby is eighteen, I'll be...yikes...sixty-two!” She sat down as her face softened. “Oh, but don't you love their soft, sweet skin? Baby powder smell? Holding that sleeping angel and knowing that no matter what messes they had created for you that day, this moment is all you'd remember?” Diana smiled. “I am so not ready to do this, but what a glorious 'oops' this could turn out to be!”
***David Isaac was born to Joe and Diana on July 8 at 6:03pm. He joins his brother and sister, who take turns holding him so much his feet won't hit the ground until he's two. He is loved beyond measure and his parents will never even miss the vacations, rest or relaxation that eluded them in their golden years. A glorious 'oops', indeed.
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Fiction or not, this situation often happens. My mother was 42 when I was born. And my dad? Well, he was 63.