Flashback(chapter 10.5)
Barbara stared at Ananda Raphael. "Jonase did what to you?" Ananda, then sixteen, just nodded. "@#$%^&!" Ananda winced. "Please, Barbara. I can't stand that right now!" Barbara laughed, slightly crazed. "YOU can't stand THAT! That's what that sneaky little-" Ananda held up her hand. She took a few deep breaths, and spoke softly. "I can't deal with the cursing right now."
Barbara continued laughing. "You've stayed sane these past months? How?" Ananda bowed her head. "I can do all things with Christ. Yes, I could be a sniveling little baby right now, crying about what he's done. Or I could rejoice in the fact my parents understand, and are going to help me care for my child while I finish school."
Barbara felt horrible. Jonase was expelled. She made sure of that. But she couldn't stand the thought of Ananda being stolen the last few years of high school. She was starting her junior year! Pregnant? THAT would not go over. "An abortion is an option..." Ananda shook her head. "No, it's not. I don't think so, and even if I did, my parents would forbid it. But I'm not going to let Jonase win, and deny me of a child, OR my high school diploma!"
Barbara shielded her friend as much as possible, but it soon became evident that Ananda wasn't getting fat. She begged for the abortion, but Ananda refused. And then, Ananda stopped coming to school. Her mother came in for assignments, and turned them in for her daughter each week.
Barbara's father was the doctor at Ananda's delivery. One was born malformed. She was breathing, but not moving, screaming, or reacting. He spanked it: nothing happened.
The teen's face was glowing. "Doctor?" He forced a smile. "You have a lovely baby girl!" Ananda smiled.
"But you told me last week I was carrying twins." The doctor shook his head. A nurse was carrying something wrapped in a towel out of the room. "Your daughter's sister is not responding. She's going into ICU." Ananda's face broke. Her happiness was shattered.
But she seemed to be seeing things. A little sparkling silhouette, reflecting the babe's body seemed to be held in a young woman's arms. Don't worry, Ananda Raphael. Your daughter is safe. She is however, not following the rules as this generation knows them. Ananda cried. *Is my baby going to die?* The young adult smiled. No, she just won't really wake up for about a dozen years. But you have another daughter to care for. *You'll take good care of Crystal Faye?* The silvery ribbons and sparkles dissolved together. If anything wants her, it will have to come through me!
So little Crystal somehow missed her earthsuit, and Barbara promised to take care of the little girl. However, as Ananda realized how much of a hypocrite her friend was, the promises weakened. But the babe was their one connection.
Barbara stared at Ananda Raphael. "Jonase did what to you?" Ananda, then sixteen, just nodded. "@#$%^&!" Ananda winced. "Please, Barbara. I can't stand that right now!" Barbara laughed, slightly crazed. "YOU can't stand THAT! That's what that sneaky little-" Ananda held up her hand. She took a few deep breaths, and spoke softly. "I can't deal with the cursing right now."
Barbara continued laughing. "You've stayed sane these past months? How?" Ananda bowed her head. "I can do all things with Christ. Yes, I could be a sniveling little baby right now, crying about what he's done. Or I could rejoice in the fact my parents understand, and are going to help me care for my child while I finish school."
Barbara felt horrible. Jonase was expelled. She made sure of that. But she couldn't stand the thought of Ananda being stolen the last few years of high school. She was starting her junior year! Pregnant? THAT would not go over. "An abortion is an option..." Ananda shook her head. "No, it's not. I don't think so, and even if I did, my parents would forbid it. But I'm not going to let Jonase win, and deny me of a child, OR my high school diploma!"
Barbara shielded her friend as much as possible, but it soon became evident that Ananda wasn't getting fat. She begged for the abortion, but Ananda refused. And then, Ananda stopped coming to school. Her mother came in for assignments, and turned them in for her daughter each week.
Barbara's father was the doctor at Ananda's delivery. One was born malformed. She was breathing, but not moving, screaming, or reacting. He spanked it: nothing happened.
The teen's face was glowing. "Doctor?" He forced a smile. "You have a lovely baby girl!" Ananda smiled.
"But you told me last week I was carrying twins." The doctor shook his head. A nurse was carrying something wrapped in a towel out of the room. "Your daughter's sister is not responding. She's going into ICU." Ananda's face broke. Her happiness was shattered.
But she seemed to be seeing things. A little sparkling silhouette, reflecting the babe's body seemed to be held in a young woman's arms. Don't worry, Ananda Raphael. Your daughter is safe. She is however, not following the rules as this generation knows them. Ananda cried. *Is my baby going to die?* The young adult smiled. No, she just won't really wake up for about a dozen years. But you have another daughter to care for. *You'll take good care of Crystal Faye?* The silvery ribbons and sparkles dissolved together. If anything wants her, it will have to come through me!
So little Crystal somehow missed her earthsuit, and Barbara promised to take care of the little girl. However, as Ananda realized how much of a hypocrite her friend was, the promises weakened. But the babe was their one connection.