Well I can't say that I am sorry for taking so long on this. Life has turned completely topsy-turvy on me _ and my family. MY brother committed suicide. His friend ended up finding him and cut him down. The hospital got his heart beating all on its own again, but the lack of oxigen to the brain is what did him in. So we had to watch him die slowly because there was nothing we could do. He was my big brother and my only brother. I feel as if a part of me has died along with him. Even though I know I will see him again, I wish I could have my way and keep him here with me. My brother was suffering from depression, alcohal and pills, all of which I stand strongly against. So all-in-all, I haven't really typed for a full month...and I can still hardly type anything. School has become pointless but I still push myself to pass and the family has become more important than ever.
I now feel a connection between my OC Sophia and I. Strange how things happen...
It had been six months since Sophia first told Spot about her being pregnant and it had almost been seven for her. Spot and Sophia were in the fish market, looking for bread and fish; they had just paid their weekly bill for the apartment and were now shopping with what little money they had left.
Sophia ran her right hand through her hair, trying to keep it back from the wind blowing it in her face. She finally took up her ribbon that she had recieved from Spot and tied her hair back with that. Once saticfied that her hair was tied back and tight enough it was then when she noticed the glances from afar. Woman from all classes stared at her. Some men gave her whitsle and others completely ignored her.
Finally, Spot showed up with bread wrapped in plastic. He swooped his arms around her and kissed her forhead. "We'se lucky dis time, Smalls. Got a good bargin on this heres fancy bread." he held up the day old wheat bread and gave Sophia a cheerful smile. Sophia smiled back even though she wanted to keep frowning. "Don' mind those otheh people, Smalls. They don' know nothin'." he told her.
Sophia took in a deep sigh. "Still. I feel as if I'm fourteen months pregnant and still have a long ways to go yet...Spot...what are we to do when the baby gets here? We have nothing to support an infant."
Spot only shoot his head. "Don' you worry 'bout babe. Jus' count on me for right now." He turned his attention towards a stand of fish and started looking through them. He picked one up, looked at the scales and the eyes; he then sniffed it and quickly put it down, looking for another he found a smaller one. He examined it just as he did the last and finally sniffed it. Resting it in front of the man selling the fish he asked, "How much?"
The old fat bearded man took a good look at the fish and answered, "Five cents that one will be lad." Spot dug round his pocket and took out a nickle. The man then wrapped the fish up in some newspaper and handed it back to Spot.
The two left the stand and started heading back to the apartment when Spot noticed a woman and a man on the side of the street selling bottles of soda. "Wait here." he told Sophia and headed off to get a Soda.
"Spot?" Sophia called out to him. "What...Where...Spot!" She sighed and watched as Spot walked over to the two people. She waited patiantly as the rest of the city people hustled about her. Suddenly, something caught her eyes. A cute little cafe not even a block away stood out from its white little ruffles on the auning; the chairs and tables that sat outside protected from a white fence. Sophia found herself walking towards it and smelling the lunch from peoples plates.
She would have tipped over the little fence if not for her pregnant belly because she was so taken by the place. A small memory of home led her to the front of the cafe.
"Exuse me miss...Are you alright?" asked a man. "Miss?"
Sophia took her gaze off he sign of the cafe and looked at the man talking to her. He had short, light brown hair and brown eyes. He stood about 5.10. A good five inches taller than she. "Oh...Hello." she said to him.
"Are you alright? You look terrible troubled." said the man.
For a second Sophia was quiet, unable to answer him. Soon Spot found his way back to Sophia, resting a hand on her shoulder.
"Smalls, Don' run off like that." he said to her. "Ya scared me."
"Conlon?" Spot turned his attention towards the man who was speaking with Sophia just moments before. "Spot Conlon?" The man grew a smile on his face. "It is you! How ya been kid?"
"Denton?...Oh hey, Denton! Haven' seen ya face 'round heah for a while. And I'se jus' fine. How you been?"
Denton nodded. "Just fine, thank you! Now who is this little lady you got here with you?" but before Spot could answer a womans voice called out to Denton.
"Darling? Come. Your food will get cold."
Denton looked back and said, "Alright, sweet heart."
"That ya wife, Denton?" Spot asked.
Dento nodded again. "She's a real beauty isn't she? Her name is Maria." Brian's wife had dark hair pulled up into a nicely fit bun and her eyes were almost the same shade as Brian's. A little bit of blush rested on her soft cheeks; her lips were a light shade of pink and the eye shadow made her look ever more doll-like. "Care to have lunch with us?" Brian asked them.
"Nah," said Spot. "We'se jus' bought ourselves some lunch right heah." he held up the fish and the bottle of soda while Sophia held on to the bread.
Suddenly, Sophia jabbed Spot in the ribs playfully and said a smile on her face to Brian. "We would LOVE to join you and your wonderful wife, Mr. Denton." she glanced over at Spot who had a surprised look on his face.
Denton laughed and welcomed them over to sit down.
"Who are these young children, Dear?" asked Maria.
"Old friends." Brian answered, placing a napkin on his lap and getting ready to eat. "Ah, waiter...Two more menu's over here, please?" the waiter nodded and handed Spot and Sophia a menu.
"Friend I see." said Maria. "Well...How are you young children? Mind telling me your names?"
"The names, Spot Conlon, Miss and dis hear is my fiancee, Anna Sophia." Sophia blushed at Spot calling her by her full name.
Maria smiled. "Hmmm. Anna Sophia...what a pretty name. If I could have a daughter I highly think about calling her that."
"If?" Sophia asked, placing her menu down.
Brian dabbed his lips with his napkin and cleared his throat before saying, "Spot, Sophia...so you two are engaged now huh? That's wonderful news! When did this happen?" Maria shot her husband a look for interrupting her.
"Jus' a few months is all." answered Spot.
"And just how old you now? You and Sophia?"
Spot cleared his throat. "Jus' turned eighteen sir. And Soph heah is seventeen."
"Wow...eighteen now, I see. Tell me, have you got a place of your own now?...I read in the paper about what happened to the lodging house. It got filled up pretty fast after they re-built it."
Spot nodded. "Yeah, we'se got an apartment about jus' east from heah 'bout a mile 'way." The waiter then came back and got Sophia and Spot's orders.
Maria took a sip of her tea and then said. "If you do not mind me asking, Sophia...how far along are you?"
Sophia rubbed her belly and then said, "Jus' a little oveh seven months. Have you got any children?"
Maria shook her head and sat back in her chair. "No. Afraid not...It seems I cannot have any children."
Sophia looked at Maria with shocked eyes and then looked over and Brian, seeing that this was no joke she could only apologize.
"Tell me," Maira went on, "Have you got a nursery ready yet for the baby?" Sophia regretfully shook her head. Maria raised a hand to her mouth. "Are you having deficulties, my dear?"
"Maria." said Brian suddenly. "I am not sure you want to start asking them such questions."
Maria soon stood up, her skirt falling to her ankels. "Brian...I wish to speak with you...over there." she pointed a little ways off and started walking over there. Brian got up seconds latter and followed in place.
While Spot and Sophia were waiting their food finally came and they ate quietly.
"Now," started Brian. "What is so important that you have to pull us away from our guests?"
Maria cleared her throat before speaking. "I am worried about that poor girl, Anna Sophia. It seems to me that she is not ready to have this child at all! And where is she to go when the time comes, hmm? I doubt they have enough money for a doctor."
"What are you implying then, dear?"
Maria got closer to her husband and whispered. "I say we have them stay with us until the time comes and help them get back their feet. Look at them! They are falling apart! Slowly, but surely."
Brian shrugged. "I don't know, dear. These kids, especially Brooklyn kids...They don't take sympathy or help from others very well...Unless its to...you know..."Soak 'em"."
Maria rolled her eyes and sighed, resting her hands on her hips. "Well they certain took up your lunch offer."
"That is only because Anna Sophia urged him to do it."
"Well then we will just have to have that young girl convince this Spot Conlon friend of yours that staying with us is the best thing to do."
"I'm warning you, its not going to be that easy, Dear."
Maria rolled her eyes again. "You may not see it, but I clearly do. That young girl is terrified! And perhaps once she has the baby...Perhaps..."
"Yes?" pressed on Brian.
"Perhaps she will give the baby up for adoption...If that happens...Then we can finally have a baby of our own. You said so you're self...You want to start a family. Maybe this girl is the key to starting that family."
Brian stood there for a few moments, pondering the thought and then finally came to his conclusion. "Alright. Do as you see fit, dear. I have no problem with taking them in, but they say no, you must not pester them into changing their minds." Before returning to their seats, Maira gave Brian a kiss on the side, agreeing with him and giggles slightly.
When they returned, Sophia and Spot were already done with their meal.
"Hungry, I see." said Brian. The two nodded with stuffed bellys. "There is something my wife and I wish to speak to you about." he said.
Spot leaned on the table "Listenin'."
Before Brian could talk his wife started right in. "We want you two to come live with us."
Sophia almost spat out the water she was sipping on. "What?" said Spot.
Brian cleared his throat. "Truthfully, we want to make sure Anna Sophia is well taken care of. Being so far along anything could happen."
Spot scoffed. "We'se already been down that road beforeh." he told him. Maria gave him a puzzled look and Sophia glanced over at him with one of her looks again as in, "Shut your mouth!" Bringing back the bad memory of Sophia loosing her first baby made her sink back into her chair. "Anyway," Spot continued. "I jus' paid a whole weeks pay of rent where we'se stayin' now. No need to get up and leave now."
Brian glanced over at his wife for some help and she quickly spoke up. "Mr. Conlon, am I right? Yes. It seems to me that your futur wife AND family need some propper care. Just until you two feel comfortable with how things are going on."
"We'se feel jus' fine, thank you, miss." said Spot with a hard tone. He was about ready to leave, but Sophia tugged on his shirt for him to sit back down and so he did.
"Let's hear them out." Sophia suggested. Spot rolled his eyes and sat back in his chair.
"Good," said Maria and she continued speaking. "I'm sure whatever you have back at your place will be well taken care of and brought over for storage, no doubt. And do not worry about the money you just spent...I will personally see that you get that money back. So if you agree to come with us and stay for a few months after the baby is born and you feel that it is right to get back on your feet again we will gladly let you...There is also one other thing I would like to talk to you about."
"Listenin'." Spot told her.
"Once the baby is born...and the mother feels not up to caring for the child...If it becomes too much...My husband and I will gladly take them child in as our own."
"Ya mean adopt?" Maria nodded. Spot looked over at Sophia. "Well, Smalls...Soph? You wanna do this?"
This was now all up to Sophia. She had to decide now to either take up Mr. and Mrs. Denton's offer or go back to the apartment and go on with their lives. Sophia nodded once and then said, "Let's take them up on their offer. If I want to raise this baby right...I mind as well get all the help I can get."
Maria clasped her hands together. "Excellent!"
Brian smiled and reached his hand over the table to shake both Spot and Sophia's hand, welcoming them.
After lunch, Brian had asked a few of his co-workers to help bring Spot and Sophia's things to their home. While on the other hand, Maria took them home. It was in a nice neighborhood. White fences, nicely built homes, green grass in the yards, well dressed folks and the air smelled
cleaner.
"I'm sure the two of you would like to do some cleaning up, yes?" she turned towards them as they stood in the doorway. Brian's home was clean, smelled good, nice furniture, silky curtains and soft carpet and shiny wood floors. There were plenty of windows to brighten the place up. A study and music room to liven up the place. Spot and Sophia could only imagen what the rest of the house looked like.
Spot felt as if he was intruding. Being in such a lovely home, to a street news boy like him this house was only ever revealed to him in dreams. To Sophia it reminded her of home back in New Orleans. To think that she came all the way from there to come here and get away from her uncle. The thought of her uncle brought chills up her spine, she never did know when he would show up again. In other words, they two felt like a ink Spot on a nice clean white shirt.
"Let's start the two of you off with a nice hot bath, huh?" Spot looked down at Sophia and grinned. "Sepperatly, of course," she quickly said. "Come, come. I shall show you where." She led them up stairs where a line of picture frames rested on the walls and candle-lit lights. Maria opened a door to a room and allowed Spot to go in. "I will be with you in just a moment. I will show Anna Sophia where to get some propper clothes." she then pointed to a dresser standing a few feet away from a window across the room. "There is where you will find some more suitable clothes to put on after your bath." She then left with Sophia to get her some more decent clothes.
Spot closed the door to a crack and walked over to the dresser. He slid it open and looked at all the nicely pressed clothes. This dresser all but, blue, black and gray pants. He picked out a pair of black pants, held them up to see the size. Seeing that they were too bit he put them back in a messy manner and picked up another black pair. Saticfied with what he found he opened the next drawr. Seeing all the nice white, blue, gray and off-white long sleeved T-shirts, he picked up a white one and held it up for size again. Lucky on the first try he closed the drawr and placed the clothes on the bed near to him and waited for Maria to get back.
While Maria helped Sophia pick out a nice dress to suit her pregnant belly they picked out a pair of slippers to make her feel more comfortable.
"You have such gorgeous hair." said Maria. "Why on earth did you ever cut it?"
Sophia brought up her right hand to feel her hair. It was now a littl passed her shoulders, but still wavy as ever.
"I had to. For medicine." she told her.
Maria looked at her with soft eyes. "I'm sorry, dear. No girl should ever have to sell apart of herself for anything." seeing that Sophia was quickly growing nervous she quickly stopped talking about it. "Oh! I have just the thing for you and your hair! The shampoo I use will leave your hair smelling great, and feeling smooth and strong!"
When Maria got Sophia's bath started she left her to do the rest and quickly walked back to where she left Spot. She found him waiting on the bed. He looked up and quickly stood up, picking up the clothes.
"I see you have found clothes. That's good." she scanned Spot as if he had something on his shirt.
He looked over himself, seeing that there was nothing there, he asked, "What?"
"Did you find any suspendors? I rekin those red ones of your would stain the nice new clothes." she then swifly walked over to the dresser, opened up the bottom drawr and pulled out a pair of pink suspendors and placed them on top of the pile of clothes resting in Spot's hands. "There," she said with a smile. "That should do it!"
Maira led Spot to the bathroom a little ways away from where Sophia was. Spot was astonished at the fact of there being TWO bathrooms in one home. Guess this was normal for Brian and his wife and he would have to get used to it too. "I've already got the water running, so whenever you feel the water is just right you can stop it. Don't worry about using too much." she then left Spot and closed the door, leaving him alone again.
Spot placed his clothes on counter of the sink. He started with taking off his suspendors and then stopped and a smirk spread across his face. There waiting for him was a porceline tub of boilin' wata.
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