DISCLAIMER: This licence isn't mine. The opinions express by the characters are not mine. I do not support nor encourage the illegal acts or words present here. I can make a distinction between fiction and reality and I trust in my readership's ability to do the same.

xxx

Chapter seven: Blueberry Muffin's troubles

-You're… pregnant, Strawberry Shortcake repeated, slowly.

She couldn't believe her ears. It was impossible. Blueberry Muffin was the most responsible, the most mature of them all, and now… It couldn't happen to her. She was certainly mistaken. Then, a horrible thought crossed her mind.

-Blueberry… Please, tell me Huckleberry Pie hadn't…

-Don't worry Strawberry, it wasn't a rape.

It was ironical: Blueberry was in a delicate situation, and she told Strawberry to don't worry. But Strawberry saw her friend really needed to confide in someone.

-Would you like to talk about this with the other girls?

Blueberry Muffin nodded.

-Wait me here, Strawberry told her, and she ran to Orange Blossom, who was still in Berry Bitty City's center.

-Orange? In your opinion, where can I be alone with Blueberry?

Orange held a bunch of keys out to her.

-Go to my Market, she said. "It's closed today and the Berrykins are in holydays. No one will disturb you."

-Thank you. Uh… Can I ask you to… calm T.N Honey? She looks ready to have Blueberry's guts for garters.

-I'll do my best, but I can't promise I succeed.

-Thank you Orange. I'll give you your keys back as soon as possible.

xxx

Strawberry Shortcake gathered Angel Cake, Lemon Meringue, Raspberry Torte and Cherry Jam and they all locked themselves in Orange's storehouse, sitting down in old cardboard box. Of course, there were other guests at the party, but Strawberry knew that Blueberry didn't want her to shout this news from the rooftops; it was why she only chose her closest friends.

-So, Strawberry, why do you want to talk with us in a so sinister place? Angel Cake asked.

She was right: the storehouse was rather dark, dusty and chilly.

-Blueberry Muffin wants to share in private (Strawberry insisted in that word) a special news with you.

-She's engaged? Raspberry Torte cried.

The other girls chuckled.

-Can you stay calm? Strawberry asked, irritated. "This is serious!"

-Alright. Sorry, Blueberry.

When the peace has been restored in the room, Blueberry cleared her throat.

-Well, girls…

She took a deep breath. All eyes were turned towards her.

-Keep going! Strawberry muttered.

Blueberry closed her eyes and said with a trembling voice:

-I'm two months pregnant. Huckleberry's the father.

A heavy silence followed her announcement, broke by Raspberry Torte when she asked:

-So, does it means you're engaged with Huckleberry Pie?

Blueberry Muffin sighed out of exasperation.

-No, she's not, guessed Angel Cake.

-Does Huckleberry Pie know about…? Cherry Jam started.

-No, and I don't want him to know, Blueberry answered curtly.

-Why? Lemon Meringue asked shyly. "It may be a good idea. This baby, you'll raise him together…"

-I don't want to raise this baby with Huckleberry! Blueberry Muffin cried. "When he'll know I'm expecting a baby from him, he'll want to help me, and I know he would be a terrible father! Hadn't you notice how immature he is? How could he take care of a baby, if he's still unable to take care of himself? A baby isn't a dog! He'll feel force to marry me, and we'll be both suffering of this situation on which we would feel chained! I don't even know if I want to keep this baby!"

-You don't want to… Raspberry Torte muttered. "Oh, why? A cute baby…"

-Raspberry, I'm a twenty-years-old student, I have no job, no money, no time to receive a baby, and you're blaming me because I'm considering interrupting an unwanted pregnancy?!

-If you want to perform an abortion, just do it, Angel Cake purposed.

-It's not so easy! Blueberry snarled. "My reason says I cannot currently be a proper mother for this baby, but my heart wants to know him-to see him! I can't stop thinking about my possible life with this child!"

-Blueberry, no one tries to influence you… Strawberry said, before Cherry Jam interrupted her.

-Listen, I've got an idea: You reach full term, and you leave the baby to somebody else, a sterile couple, or an orphanage… Like that, the baby is alive, and you don't have to take care of him.

-And do you really think it's a good idea? Blueberry cried, revolted. "Did you realize we're speaking about a human life, and not an object? The baby shouldn't be a bulky package. And do you think how he could feel when he'll grow up and learn his own mother abandoned him?"

-Blueberry's right, Strawberry Shortcake said. "We're not talking about a game. We have to take it berry seriously, and consider the consequences of this decision."

-But we don't understand what Blueberry wants! Lemon cried in despair. "She says she can't keep the baby, but she refuse to abort or abandon him…"

Blueberry ran her hand through her hair, very slowly. She looked so tired, Strawberry noticed.

-In fact, I don't know, myself, what I want…

-The decision belongs to you, Strawberry said kindly. "But you have to know that whatever you choose, we'll support you, and we won't blame you.

-But right now, what should I do? Go back to the university? It's impossible. Everyone will laugh at me…

-You can stay here for a few weeks, if you want, Strawberry purposed. "You'll recharge your batteries, and it'll help you to make a decision…"

-I can't accept, Strawberry. I don't want to disturb you…

-You're our friend, Blueberry Muffin, and a friend would never disturb us. But if you're really afraid of being useless, I heard Orange blossom needs help at the Store.

-Oh, Strawberry… Your kindness touches me, sincerely. I won't stay long at Strawberryland. I only have a few weeks before the end of the statutory time limit…

xxx

During this debate, Orange Blossom was trying to complete her assignment, namely "calm T.N Honey". It wasn't a piece of cake, as she had legitimately the right to be revolted after being insulted.

-Listen, T., Orange said out of desperation, "I'm sure Blueberry Muffin didn't mean that she said. You shouldn't take it seriously."

T.N Honey sighted loudly.

-Racism doesn't hurt me anymore. I got accustomed to it. If I'm sick as a parrot, it's because I couldn't guess Blueberry herself would do it to me. We used to play together when we were young, do you remember? I was sure she was my china plate.

Orange Blossom politely nodded, but she felt berry ill at ease. She had any memory of her playing with T.N Honey when they were little girls, on, obviously, the contrary of T. Moreover, she couldn't see why she compared Blueberry with a china plate. Luckily, the Berrykin Princess, followed by Plum Puddin', Plum Pudding, Sweet grape and Sour Grape interrupted this embarrassing conversation.

-Orange Blossom and T.N Honey, I'm glad to see you get on with each other. Where are the other girls? My daughters are both healthy, and I want to finish in a dignified way this day with the feast we planned together!

All the Berrykins cried out of joy. When Strawberry, Blueberry, and all the others got out of the Market, the party was in full swing. Plum Puddin' took benefit of the bustle to move toward Strawberry Shortcake and said her:

-I've been sorry to hear about Berrykin Bloom's health problem.

-Thank you, but there's nothing we can do for him.

Plum Puddin' lowered his voice.

-Plum Pudding told me the whole story. You know, I met at the boarding school a girl who's now doing her internship in Bubblegum Valley hospital. Her name's Puree of Hazelnut. She's bad-tempered but she's basically a good person. If I told her about Berrykin Bloom and his importance here…

-You mean using your relationship to get a special favor? It would be berry dishonest!

-Strawberry, I'm offering Berrykin Bloom a chance to get the surgery he needs… and it won't cost you a cent.

-I perfectly understood it. But, in Strawberryland, we've got our values… and our honor.

-So, you refuse?

-Yes.

-It's your choice, Plum Puddin' sighed. "But if you change your mind… Plum Pudding would know how to contact me."

Everyone enjoyed the party, even though Blueberry Muffin and T.N Honey carefully avoided speaking to each other.

xxx

To be continued…

NB: "China Plate" is an expression from London slang. It means "mate", "friend".