CHAPTER 17

Upon being able to move into the new house, Bloberta heavily focused on the child's room. Of course she intended to spend a lot of nights in this boy's room to pay close attention to him, her fondness for spending time with Clay had run dry, she was willing to put up with him but any time she could get away from him was much needed.

Clay on the other hand proudly examined the new study he acquired. Much grander and beautiful than his father's. Clay only had a few things he could decorate it at the moment, one such object being Ole' Gunny. Clay took it in by sitting on the ground near the fire place. He inhaled the scent of what the previous owners and was determined to snuff it out with his own. It was his domain now.

Bloberta found some things from her boxes from her younger days she kept around, some posters, toys and dolls she had refused to throw out at the time. She was happy she refused, she knew in her heart she would have someone to give them to. She moved in a bookshelf with her bible she owned over the years. She would need more supplies for the coming baby. A crib, a changing table, perhaps a breast pump on the more lazy progressive days...She sighed as it was time to go to Clay for those requests.

Clay was merrily sitting and taking in his new study. Humming a tune and smoking from his new tobacco pipe he bought earlier that week. The aroma was far more pleasing than the current smell. Surely this would accelerate the process in making this study truly his. Suddenly Clay was met with a knock at the door, he got up and opened the door.

"Oh hey, whats up? Nice place isn't it?" Clay asked pridefully.

"Yes you did pick a good home for us I'll admit but I require somethings for the upcoming...baby."

"Oh um...yeah what is it?"

"A crib, so he can sleep."

"ahmm."

"A baby gate, so he won't get into my cleaning supplies."

"Yeah."

"Changing table, so I'm not changing the baby on the ground."

"Okay."

"A car seat, so the baby won't fly out the window."

"Yep."

"A breast pump."

"uh."

Bloberta went on and on with requests for baby caring, she was definitely invested and leaving no stone un-turned but at this point Clay tuned it out.

"Bloberta, don't sweat it, I'll get all that crap." Clay was admittedly annoyed at all of Bloberta's requests. "I also need to make a purchase. A bed for our bedroom." Clay took it upon himself to make his own request, forever remembering his nightmares as he next to Bloberta asleep.

"Oh right..."

"I'll be back, thanks for reminding me." Clay left his study in a hurry, but Bloberta had stopped him.

"Maybe I should come with." Bloberta asked, but it was more of a demand.

"Don't worry your pretty head, just relax here and setup shop." Clay said not really caring for her advice.

"I insist Clay. You are too drunk to drive to the store." Bloberta glared, pushing the malice down in her voice.

"How do you know that?" Clay turned around almost at the door.

"You drink everyday at this point I know when you are drunk." Bloberta crossed her arms, grimacing.

"You're so caring and observant." Clay said with a hint of sarcasm, mostly on the 'caring' part. Bloberta ignored the sarcasm and took the keys as the two entered the vehicle and traveled to the business district of Moralton.

The time at the various stores they visited were absolutely dreadful for Clay. Little time to rest, and Bloberta's inane indecisiveness on various products and supplies is pretty much every man's kryptonite. Comparing and contrasting, asking questions to the clerk. Really it was becoming unbearable. Bloberta had happened upon maternity wear and just had to ogle the clothing.

"Do you think these maternity pants would look better on me, or this one?" Clay despondent as ever simply pointed to the pair she held out first.

Bloberta eyed an extravagant crib, to which Clay attempting to keep some of the savings he made pointed out an affordable fold out crib. Bloberta somewhat annoyed let out a sarcastic statement of her own.

"Well now, finally giving your opinion of your child's well-being?" Clay wasn't feeling like engaging in the potential argument and lied quickly.

"Th-this crib is softer, baby could easily roll over and hit his head on the wood, with the crib you are suggesting." Clay said with a little hesitation. There were other beds he was interested in investing money into.

"Fine. I do suppose we spent a lot already..." Bloberta clenched her teeth almost embarrassed looking back at the cart she filled to the brim with baby/adult clothes, diapers, toys, and many other baby caring products.

Clay just sighed at her, the bed he desired would have to wait for now after all of today's expenses. Clay knew that once you were married everything became shared. Especially money, he made sure to keep a private stash of his 'hard earned' money for his more 'important' expenses.

The two finally arrived home, it was almost 4 hours of shopping. Clay was use to getting in and getting out. Having all this money suddenly enabled Bloberta and to a lesser extent him spend money left and right all the sudden. Clay being the simple man he was required a the bare minimum to be somewhat content. Bloberta was looking to the sky to move on up in the world, and with moving on up, meant more spending. At least that's how she felt anyway, she was the wife to the mayor she thought she was entitled to a bit of the high life she often coveted from her so called 'friends'. Now she was at top, and her peers were below her. She could still hear their laughter. She imagined they turned to cries of jealousy once she married Clay.

The grasp of time had been halted for those hours. But both of them were indeed tired. Clay strolled off to the master bedroom assuming Bloberta followed him. Clay collapsed on his twin bed, drifting off to sleep...images and visions he had never thought up before entered his mind and in a flash...a bolt to his heart. The shock-wave he felt before...Clay tried to sleep three or more times before he finally noticed as he turned over in a vain attempt to ignore his beating heart.

Bloberta had not been next to him this whole time. Clay arose from his bed, tired of feeling the intense anxiety brought upon his hypnic jerks. He exited the room and looked into the bathroom and his study. No where in sight. At last he entered the 'babies room' a fold out crib and toys placed on a small dresser with child like posters adorned the room. Then he noticed Bloberta on the ground near the fold out crib. Sleeping with a small smile on her face.

Clay twitched. She was just lying there with no blanket or pillow like a cave person (If cave people existed, Clay side noted) Clay groaned with irritation, he grabbed a blanket and carelessly threw it on her body.

This was going to be a long night...Clay retreated to his study pondering what was happening, and what was to come. He looked to the pistol on the ground where he sat. Clay noted the emptiness of his study compared to how much Bloberta decorated the eventual child's room. A brief intrusive thought of envy...Clay shook his head realizing this was going to be his domain it was no place for a woman, even Bloberta to decorate. A passion project came to him. To make a study so grand that it would outclass everyone in Moralton.