Chapter Twenty-Three

Three Years Later

Two-Bit

"You're really happy today," Soda said.

It was true, I was. I'd been dancing around work all day; the boss asked me if I was high.

"Yeah," I said. Then I did a cartwheel.

"What's your problem?" Soda laughed.

"Nothing," I said as I did a handstand. I walked around on my hands for a while, and then I lost my balance and fell over. It hurt, but I started laughing. I couldn't help it, I was so happy.

"Two-Bit, what's going on?" Soda asked. "Are you drunk?"

"No," I said as I flopped down on the pavement next to Soda.

"Then what's going on?" Soda asked.

"Where's Steve?" I asked.

"He should be here soon," Soda said.

After about five minutes, Steve showed up. He sat down next to me and Soda.

"What's up?" He asked.

"I think Two-Bit is drunk," Soda said.

"No," I said. "I'm not drunk. I'm just really happy."

"Then what's going on?" Steve asked.

I smiled, "Savannah's having a baby," I said.

"You're the father?" Steve asked.

"Of course I'm the father," I said.

"Congratulations buddy," Soda said. Then he handed me a cigarette. "I think you're supposed to smoke cigars when something like this happens, but I don't have any cigars, so we'll use cigarettes."

We sat there and smoked for a while, it was a really slow day. It was a good thing that it was a slow day though because my mind wasn't on work. All I could think about was Savannah.

I left work as soon as I could. I wanted to get home. Savannah hadn't been feeling very well, and I was worried about her.

When I got home Savannah was lying on the couch, watching TV.

"Hey," I said.

"Hey," Savannah said sleepily. She sat up. I sat down, and then Savannah laid back down, using my lap as a pillow.

"How are you feeling?" I asked as I rubbed Savannah's back.

"Not too good," She said. "I called my mom today; she said that I was supposed to be feeling bad. It sucks."

"I didn't go to work today," Savannah said. "I just couldn't get out of bed."

"I know," I said softly. "It's Ok."

"Remember when I was really sick a few years ago?" I asked.

"Yeah," Savannah said.

"You took care of me," I said. "Now I'm gonna take care of you, and I'm gonna take care of the baby too, so don't worry about anything."

"Thanks," Savannah said. She sounded tired.

I rubbed Savannah's back for a while. Then I asked, "Are you hungry? Do you want dinner?"

"Too tired to eat," She said.

I made Savannah eat some soup and drink some orange juice. I didn't want her to get sick. Savannah fell asleep on the couch while I was taking a shower. I didn't want to wake her up, so I picked her up, carried her to our room, and put her on the bed. Then I put the covers around her and I crawled into bed next to her.

I looked at Savannah. It's been three years since I met her and she's still beautiful. If anything, she's even more beautiful. If I still lived on the east side, I wouldn't have been happy if one of my girlfriends was having a baby. But I'm not on the east side anymore, and Savannah isn't my girlfriend, she's my wife. I'm so happy that she's having a baby, and so is she even though she's sick most mornings because of it. The doctor said that it wouldn't be as bad after a month or so.

I turned off the light and laid down next to Savannah. I put my arm around her.

"Good night, Savannah," I whispered, even though I knew she couldn't hear me. "I love you."

I drifted off to sleep, dreaming about Savannah and the baby.