Manny's Lump: Chapter 5
Written By Poser
Craig couldn't believe his ears. Manny was pregnant. And he could only think of one reason why Manny came to tell him she was pregnant: that he was the father. He scratched the back on his head, not knowing what to do or say. Then he finally came to speak.
"I'm," Craig began, nervously. "I'm the father?"
"Yes," Manny said looking down at her hands, which were in her lap, shaking nervously.
"Wow," Craig said, placing his hand on the barely round stomach. "I did that?"
Manny just looked at him, placing her hand on top of his, and smiling. With her free hand, she wiped the tears away from her eyes.
"I've come to a decision," Manny said as she watched his hand shake from underneath her own. "I am going to keep it. And I am going to tell my parents tonight, that I will be."
Craig nodded and looked up at Manny. He couldn't believe that this was happening. Manny was pregnant, and he had been the father. He removed his hand from the lump he'd been touching, and placed it on Manny's cheek, caressing the cheek with his thumb.
"I'll tell Joey," Craig said quietly. "And I'll do everything I can to take of the baby. But, what are you going to do about school?"
"Well," Manny had begun. "I still plan on going to school. My mom is going to take on a night shift so she can be home with the baby while I'm in school, and when I get out, I will take on the parenting."
There was awkward silence for a while. Then Manny had rose to leave Craig's house. He led her to the door as she zipped up the windbreaker. Craig kissed Manny's forehead. She hugged him as she began to cry again.
"We'll be okay," Craig said as he held on to Manny. "Everything will be okay."
Manny nodded. She opened the door and exited the house. After they waved goodbye, Craig closed the door. He walked to the phone on the wall in his kitchen and dialed the number to Joey's car dealer.
"Hey, Joey," Craig said, as he ran a free hand down the front of his face. "I need to tell you something. It's important."
At the corner of Craig's street, JT stood there, and looked at Manny. He held his arm out to take her hand, and when he did, Manny slipped her own into his. They planned on walking down the street, to The Dot Grill.
"So," JT said after looking at his watch. It had been around 4:30. "How did he take it?"
"He actually took it well," Manny said. "He pretty much knew the baby was his doing, and he said he would tell Joey. He even asked what I was going to do about school."
JT nodded, and opened the door to the Dot. They were seated at a table for a party of two, placed orders, and ate after they had got their food. It was their first date. JT knew from the moment that he found out Manny was pregnant, he would help take care of the child, if the decision was made for her to keep it. She had decided...and now he came to a conclusion that he was going to help Manny for sure.