Manny's Lump: Chapter 8
Written By Poser
It was five months until Manny's due date. She had plenty of maternity clothes... but of course, she only chose the appealing outfits. She had also gone public with her pregnancy within the past two months...in other words, she had let her lump become visible. She gave up many activities, including the Spirit Squad. She had already gained 20 pounds, and in her mind, she was thinking, Ode to joy of motherhood! But her heart was making her nervous about becoming a mother. It was lunch. She had been sitting with her normal table pals (for the past two months, anyway), JT, Paige, Spinner, Hazel, Jimmy, Marco, Emma...and Craig.
"You haven't told us a thing about the father," Paige had said after taking a bite of her salad. "So, just tell me it's not JT."
"It's not JT," Manny said laughing just a bit. "So, you can eliminate him from the possibilities check list."
JT had one arm on her back, showing affection. She leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. Paige and Hazel did their usual sigh and smile, but Jimmy, Marco, and Spinner stopped doing their whole "Ooh JT, You ARE a PLAYER!" since they had found out Manny was pregnant. Craig just looked down.
"So, Miss Santos," Spinner said. "Who is the father, if James Tiberius isn't?"
JT kicked Spinner in the knee. Afterward, Spinner raised his fist, causing Paige to slap him in the arm. Manny and Craig gave each other an awkward stare from across the picnic table.
"You don't have to answer, Manny," Hazel said. "If you want to keep it quiet, don't say anything. Just because Gavin says to tell, doesn't mean do so."
Manny smiled and gave a nod towards Hazel, and began to take another bite out of her sandwich.
"So if you won't tell us who the father is," Craig said, trying to clear up what was discussed earlier. "Will you at least let us know if the baby is going to be a boy or a girl?"
"Well," Manny said, looking at Craig. "I am going for an ultrasound today. Seeing whether or not it's a boy or a girl."
Craig nodded. Manny mouthed "come with" towards him. He nodded again. JT looked at Manny, smiling. Manny looked back at him, smiling as well. The uncomfortable scale for Craig? Close to boiling point.
"Personally," JT began. "I want it to be a boy."
"Well," Manny said, beginning a huge argument. "I want it to be a girl."
They had gone on for the rest of the lunch period with the argument. He wanted a boy. She wanted a girl. And then, for some reason, the whole baby/gender conversation turned into an argument on animals. Very weird situation. The bell began to ring, signaling it was the end of the lunch period. After throwing away his garbage, JT caught up with Manny so they could talk while they walked to their lockers to get their things.
"Manny," JT began. "About that ultrasound...I was wondering...could I come?"
"Sure," Manny said, nodding with a smile. "I'd love for you to come."
"Cool," JT said. "I'll see you after school then."
"Okay," Manny said. "Bye."
"Bye."
It was already after school. Manny, her mother, JT and Craig had been at the hospital to take Manny's ultrasound, to reveal the gender of the baby. They were in the waiting room, already being signed in for the ultrasound.
"Santos," Said a female voice coming from the side door. "Manuela Santos?"
Craig, JT, Manny, and her mother stood up; all going through the door the nurse had emerged from. They were led into a room with photos of babies, a changing screen, a large machine, a bed, and a monitor. The nurse had told Manny to go change into a hospital gown behind the screen, and she'd be back in five minutes. So, Manny did as she was told. She went behind the screen, changed into the hospital gown, and sat herself on the bed. The nurse had come back after a few minutes.
"Alright, Manuela," the nurse said kindly. "You're here today for your ultrasound. This will determine the sex of your baby, and also determine how many babies there will be, if the situation is like that."
Manny nodded as the nurse began to turn the machine on, and prepare Manny for what she was about to see.
"Okay, Manuela," The Nurse had said. "As I do this, take deep breaths, and only if you want, look at the monitor."
Manny nodded, as she looked at the monitor that had just been turned on. In fact, everybody had watched the monitor. The nurse ran a part of the machine along her stomach, in somewhat of a rotating motion. There was silence, but it had been broken by JT.
"WHOA!" He shouted. "The baby has four legs!"
"No," The nurse said giggling. "It doesn't have four legs. It's just that Manuela here is having twins. A baby boy, and a baby girl."
Manny looked dead at the crowd in the room. Craig seemed the most shocked next to Manny's mother, whom had her hand over her heart, not believing what she had just heard.