As she was shining her tap shoes, Columbia couldn't help but glance over at
Magenta. She watched the woman clean silently; Columbia knew her secret and
wanted to talk to her about it.
"M- Magenta," stammered Columbia, "Can we talk?" Magenta turned to the little
redhead with a warm smile. It was a great effort seeing as she felt like crap.
"Sure Hun," she replied. Magenta sat on the bed and looked into Columbia's eyes.
"I, I've seen you in the morning, the way you're sick and looking at yourself in
the mirror," Columbia said, her voice shaking, "I know what's going on."
Magenta looked around the room nervously, hoping to think of something to say.
"Having a child is a big deal," continued Columbia, "I just want you to know
that I'm always here for you. I care about you Magenta."
A single tear streamed down Magenta's cheek, followed by a flood of tears.
Columbia put her arms around Magenta and let her cry on her shoulder.
"What am I going to do?" asked Magenta, "What is the master going to say? What
is Riff going to say?"
"Shh, shh," soothed Columbia, "You have plenty of time to figure out how to tell
them. I'm sure Riffy will be more that ecstatic." Magenta smiled. She and Riff
had always talked about having children, and when it finally happened it was
wonderful. That is until the happiness was ripped violently away and was gone
just as quickly as it had come.
"Magenta. Hello!" shouted Columbia, shaking Magenta from her dream state.
"What? Oh sorry," said Magenta, "I was just thinking about something."
"Do you want to talk about it?" asked Columbia.
Magenta shook her head. She didn't want to talk about the pain that was a
constant reminder of her past.
"I'm sorry, I'm making a fool of myself," she said, "Look at me, I'm a mess."
She walked to the mirror and began to adjust her makeup. "Well I'm off to cook
dinner. The master doesn't like to be kept waiting." With that, Magenta left
the room.
Columbia sat on her bed wondering what secret her friend harbored.
"Why won't she open up to me?" Columbia asked.
That evening, Magenta stood in front of her mirror and Columbia sat on the bed.
She watched as Magenta removed her work clothes and slipped into her nightgown.
"At least I'm not showing yet," said Magenta as she put a hand to her stomach,
"I'm not ready to be fat." She laughed and Columbia smiled at the statement.
"Magenta, you're going to have a baby!" Columbia squealed.
"I know," whispered Magenta looking at her stomach, "I'm so lucky." The tears
began to flow.
"Oh Genta I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry," said Columbia.
"I'm not crying," replied Magenta, "I'm just so happy."
"I get it," said Columbia, "Hormones."
"Yeah, pretty much," said Magenta in reply. She stretched her arms up above her
head and yawned. "I'm getting pretty tired. I think I'm gonna hop to bed."
"Okay Genta. See you tomorrow," said Columbia.
"Good night Hon," said Magenta as Columbia left the room. Magenta climbed into
her bed and drifted into a peaceful sleep.