June 24th, 2002
Week 14
Each child is an adventure into a better life, an opportunity to change the old pattern and make it new. ~Hubert H. Humphrey
This pregnancy was going so slowly for Jing-Mei. She wanted to find the sexes out, decorate their rooms, and name them. It seemed to her; her pregnancy with Michael went quickly. All she wanted was to have them here and be a mother.
Jing-Mei sighed softly as she flipped through the baby catalog. She was glancing at baby nursery themes. She was really leaning to baby duck themes. She thought it would be nice for a nursery. Someone knocked on the door. Jing-Mei looked at her stomach and sighed. She couldn't get up.
"Come in. pregnant woman can't get up." She chuckled slightly, but her smile faded when she saw her mother walk in.
"Just as I thought." She said crossing her arms. Jing-Mei shot to her feet, stiffness or not.
"Mother! Hi!" Jing-Mei ran her hand through her hair, "WH-What are you doing here?"
"I came to see my daughter whom had delivery men drop a bunch of junk off. I must thank you for that give, but I see you have something else to tell me." She said.
"Yes…I'm pregnant with triplets." She stared at the reaction on her mother's face.
"Good god, Jing-Mei." She said, "You are just needing to ruin our family aren't you. Marrying John was hard enough for me to take, but now…Having THREE white children…"
"Mother…. I'm not in the mood for your nagging tonight." She said.
"One black child and three white children." She shook her head, "You're unbelievable, Jing-Mei. What about your heritage?"
"My children are part Asian. They will know their Asian heritage and their white heritage. They will get the best of two worlds." She said, "How dare you come into my home and act like this." Her mother stood there for a few minutes with her arms crossed.
"What are their names?" She asked. Jing-Mei sighed slightly.
"We don't know the sexes yet, but if one of them is a boy then that with me Jonathan Truman Carter the fourth. The others will start with a J." Her mother rolled her eyes.
"That's really…. Cute." She said. "Will they have Asian names or White names?"
"Probably both." She said. At least her mother was curious about them and not disowning them yet. "Do you want to stay for dinner?" Jing-Mei asked softly. "John should be home soon."
"Dinner?" She bit her lip. "Why should I?"
"Because you've barely seen me since my wedding night." She said, "I just thought you'd want to know what we're up to and such." Her mother looked at her and nodded.
"Yes. I would like that, Jing-Mei." She said. Jing-Mei smiled softly as John walked in.
"Deb, you should have been at work today. We had a triple trauma and this guys guts were-….Oh…Hi." John stopped looking at Jing-Mei's mother, "Hello Mrs. Chen."
"John." She nodded.
"Wh-What…." John looked at Jing-Mei.
"Mother is staying for dinner, John." She said.
"Oh…Okay." He said nervously.
"I will not bite." Mrs. Chen said, "unless you provoke me." John smiled nervously.
* * *
The dinner was tense. How could it not be? Jing-Mei tried making conversation but there was no use. Her mother wasn't going to budge. At least she was here. That was progress…somewhat. Mrs. Chen poked at the meatball on her plate as if it was moving. Maybe she thought it was moving. She was clearly uncomfortable.
"That was delicious, Deb." John smiled softly.
"Thanks." She said as she started to clear the table.
"Don't call her that. That s not her name." Mrs. Chen said, "That is an American name."
"It was a slip of the tongue." John said, "I'm sorry."
"I named her Jing-Mei for a reason." She said. John nodded glancing at Jing-Mei.
"He knows that, Mother." She said. "It's a nick name, okay?" Mrs. Chen narrowed her eyes.
"This isn't the daughter I raised." She said.
"No, it's exactly the daughter you raised." Jing-Mei said, "You've done nothing but be judgmental my entire life. You're the most racist and ignorant people I have ever met. If you're not going to be kind to my husband or my children, you can just get the hell out of my home. My children will not be exposed to the likes of you."
"Well, I'll be." She said standing up, "Have it your way. Good evening." Jing-Mei narrowed her eyes.
"Why do you give me so much goddamn trouble??" She cried, "I'm sick of your shit. Get out of this house and my life." Mrs. Chen looked hurt for a moment.
"I left-"
"GET OUT!!!" Jing-Mei screamed.
"Fine!" Mrs. Chen stalked out of the kitchen and to the front door. She shot john and evil look before slamming the door as she left.
"I can't believe that woman!!" Jing-Mei cried. "She was never a mother, just some she devil."
"I know, Baby." John said watching the anger on her face. "You really need to breathe. I don't want you to hurt yourself or the babies." Jing-Mei exhaled deeply and nodded.
"I'm just…I need to go to bed." Jing-Mei said, "I'm too tired to deal with anything." John nodded.
"Go to bed, I will join you shortly." He kissed her forehead. She sighed and shuffled to the bedroom. John shook his head and finished off the dishes. He hated Jing-Mei and her mother's relationship. He wished he could do something. Maybe someday.
* * *
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