Chapter 11

The rest of Saturday is largely devoted to sitting around the apartment while Dad and Holly call a "few" people (their words, not mine) to tell them about the pregnancy. When they're done, I politely ask how the Pope took the news. Neither one of them answers, which perplexes me.

Sometime in the late afternoon, I decide that I should at least pretend to work on my Government project. I turn on my computer, only to find myself practically unable to control my hand's inching the mouse toward the internet icon. I log on, figuring it can't hurt to check my e-mail.

My inbox is empty, but I see that Sarah's online.

pixyeestixyee: hey sweetie! how was ur ride along?

kyliefuturemedic: pretty cool, minus the near-whacking

pixyeestixyee: THE WHAT?

kyliefuturemedic: jk. guess what?

pixyeestixyee: what?

kyliefuturemedic: ok, but this is like BEYOND huge. like, really, really huge. almost on par with a dam bursting.

pixyeestixyee: for crap's sake, get on with it! i already have to pee, so i have my own dam to worry about…

kyliefuturemedic: yeah, yeah. I'm trying to give it a proper set-up, you know?

pixyeestixyee: KYLIE…

kyliefuturemedic: HOLLY'S PREGNANT!

kyliefuturemedic: hello?

pixyeestixyee: whoa. you weren't kidding. THIS IS SO COOL! you always wanted a baby…i mean…well, you know. anyway, THAT'S GREAT!

kyliefuturemedic: i know(!)x58

pixyeestixyee: this is so awesome. anyway sweetie, sorry to have to run but i'm late…

kyliefuturemedic: for a very important date?

pixyeestixyee: we'll see…;)

kyliefuturemedic: isn't it a little bit early for a date? it's not even five-thirty—those brats from downstairs are still playing outside.

pixyeestixyee: and have i mentioned, ky, what a WONDERFUL older sister you're going to make?

kyliefuturemedic: that's not the point! they're terrors, you know that! anyway, you're changing the subject. are you or are you not going out for an early bird special?

pixyeestixyee: PUH-LEEZE. and they say you have to be SMART to be a medic…i have to get ready!

kyliefuturemedic: i'll never understand you people…

pixyeestixyee: 'you people'?

kyliefuturemedic: nvm. go, glam up and knock 'em dead. anyone i know, by the way?

pixyeestixyee: um…yeah. mark?

kyliefuturemedic: MARK? when did this happen?

pixyeestixyee: yesterday. i tried to call you. anyway, we want to keep it sorta quiet for a little while, because, you know…it's MARK.

kyliefuturemedic: oh yeah, I KNOW MARK. incidentally, does he KNOW you've been secretly in love with him FOR OVER A YEAR?

pixyeestixyee: yeah, he knows about me as well as half the female population at our school.

kyliefuturemedic: oh, i'm so happy for you! good luck, tell me EVERYTHING later.

pixyeestixyee: thanks, 'ta

As Sarah signs off, a couple things come to mind. First of all, I'm really happy about her and Mark. Not only for her sake, no way. FOR MINE, as well. Who's had to endure her constant moaning and groaning about "Oh, I am SO in love with him, and he doesn't even know I exist!" and "Did you see Mark today? SO HOT!" When he first started going out with his now-ex girlfriend it was "That bitch! I'd like to—" which she would end with a few choice words that I can't, in good conscience, include. You'll get the idea if I tell you that on more than one occasion I had to positively restrain her as she seethed. As I tried at the time to explain to her, "I've heard that being behind bars won't help your chances with a guy."

The other thing that I thought about as Sarah signed off was me. Or, more specifically: me and this baby-to-be-which-is-currently-a-mass-of-dividing-cells-in-my stepmother's-uterus. I mean, I've always heard about how when parents have another kid, at any age, and whether they're stepparents or not, it can get weird for the older siblings. I mean, that's a huge DUH, right? It's a given, obviously. Is it going to be a given for me, too? Especially because Holly's not my real mom? And—I can't believe this even popped into my mind—it's not secret that my dad and birth mom didn't have a great relationship. I've always been told she was a little out there. Is there any way that my dad might…I don't know…"cast me aside" somehow, to make room for his "real" child?

Holy crap, I can't believe I just came up with all of that stuff. I think I might've been more affected by yesterday's ride-along than I originally thought. I'm totally out of it, this is ridiculous. I wish I could tell someone, just so they would reassure me that YES, I AM out of my MIND. Look, Kylie, you're THRILLED about this news! It's what you've ALWAYS WANTED! You're just tired. Go, get some rest and then work on your project and other homework for a little while before dinner.

SEE? Sometimes I come off sounding so normal and wise. WHY that's not a part of everyday life, I'll never know…