Chapter Five: Mental Help
Alison, Patrick and Rita are still sitting under the tree.
"We have to tell my father." said Alison.
The sparrow is still chirping. Nobody said anything. Then Patrick spoke.
"Alison, I think your father is going to kill me."
"I hope he realizes that you stand by me."
"He'll be upset at first. But he'll calm down, I think." said Rita.
The three get up and leave the front yard. When they're gone, Lucy crawls out of the bushes and runs to Lori, who is waiting at the end of the street.
"They go on." said Lori.
"We have to keep pursuing them." said Lucy.
"I think that's going too far. We shouldn't interfere in private matters."
"We got involved a long time ago. Whether you like it or not."
Lori looked at Lucy. Lucy was right. The two follow the three at a safe distance.
"Where are they going now?" Lori wondered.
"As far as I suspect to one of the parents." said Lucy.
"God help them."
Rita, Alison and Patrick arrive at the bar where Alison's father works. Rita realized that it was the workers' bar where the workers at the steel mill and construction workers drank after work.
"Alison, Patrick. I'll go in first. You'll follow a few minutes later. Then I won't stand out so much." said Rita.
"Okay. See you." said Alison.
Rita entered the bar. The bar was dark and smelled of beer and cigarettes. Some track workers sat at the tables and drank beer. Behind the bar was a man with long brown hair tied back. He wore a red headscarf and had a large mustache. And he was damn muscular. Rita briefly thought Hulk Hogan would be in this bar. Rita sat down at the bar.
"What'll it be?" asked the man.
"A beer. I've had a busy night." said Rita.
The man took a beer glass and filled it at the tap.
"You're not one of the track builders." he said.
"I'm from the Great Lake City steel works. I had to see the blast furnace at the Royal Woods steel mill." said Rita.
"Ah, business matters."
The man put the beer in front of Rita and went to dry the glasses. Alison and Patrick entered the bar. Rita saw in the reflection of her glass that Alison made a face. She obviously didn't like the smell in the bar. Alison and Patrick sat at a table ten feet from Rita.
"Hi Al. Hi Patrick. What are you doing here?" asked the man.
It was obvious. It was Alison's father.
"We both were looking for you. Can you please come." said Alison.
"Yes." said Alison's father.
Then one of the track workers called.
"Give me a beer."
"Yes immediately." said Alison's father, pouring another glass of beer.
He ran to the track workers and gave him the beer.
"Here. That makes a total of thirty dollars Terry." said Alison's father.
"Stupid dog." said the track worker.
The track workers and Alison's father laugh briefly. Then he walked over to Alison and Patrick's table and sat down.
"So. What's up?" asked Alison's father.
"That, I have to tell you something. Please promise me you won't freak out." said Alison.
"All right. What is it?" Alison takes Patrick's hand.
"We are pregnant." said Alison.
"You're pregnant? From him?" Alison's father said in a calm voice.
"Yes." said Patrick.
"You can't be serious." said Alison's father.
"Yes it is." said Alison.
"You got my daughter pregnant." said Alison's father and pointed to Patrick.
"Sir, I can explain." said Patrick.
"You don't have to explain anything to me." said Alison's father and grabbed Patrick by the collar.
The track workers looked their way. Rita prepared to intervene.
"I should kill you." screamed Alison's father.
"Dad! Let him go!" said Alison loudly.
Alison's father spoke in a calm voice.
"No. Killing you wouldn't do anything." said Alison's father, and let go of Patrick. He turned to the track workers.
"Guys the bar is closed. Get out."
The track workers put the money on the table and left the bar.
"You also." said Alison's father to Rita.
"No." said Rita.
"If you don't leave voluntarily, I'll throw you out." said Alison's father.
Rita continued to look at her beer glass.
"You can try that. However, I'm here with Alison and Patrick. Secondly, I have eleven children, so I can assert myself very well."
"By Satan's fire-breathing hellhounds is going on here?" said Alison's father.
"Dad. Please calm down." said Alison.
"How can I? My fourteen year old daughter is pregnant."
Alison's father turned to Rita.
"And you go now." said Alison's father, grabbing Rita's arm.
Rita slapped Alison's father's hand.
"This bitch is totally insane." said Alison's father.
"What did you say?" said Rita.
"Bitch. I said bitch." said Alison's father.
"You know, I have a lot of patience. But you don't say a word like that." said Rita, and slapped Alison's father in the face.
It was extremely quick. Rita and Alison's father turned on each other and fought. The two kicked up a large amount of dust. Rita shouldered Alison's father against the bar. The two continued to fight and ended up under the tables.
"Dad! Rita!" screamed Alison.
Rita and Alison's father quit. They looked at Alison, and then at each other.
"Shit. That escalated quickly." said Rita.
"Damn it, let me finish!" screamed Alison.
Rita and Alison's father looked at Alison. The two nodded.
"I know dad it's a nasty surprise for you. But please keep calm." said Alison.
"How can I? My little girl is pregnant and that jerk is to blame." said Alison's father.
"Quiet!" said Alison loudly.
"There's no use insulting Patrick either, Mr. Judge." said Rita.
"You're right. I'm sorry." said Alison's father, and let go of Rita.
"Let's bury the hatchet." said Rita.
"You're right. What's your name?"
"Rita. And you?"
"Ritchie. Richard actually."
"Ritchie. Let's start at the beginning." said Rita.
Rita got up and sat back down at the bar. She continued to drink her beer. Ritchie looks at Alison.
"Al. So you're pregnant?" Ritchie asked.
"Yeah dad." said Alison.
"Oh s*."
"Dad, you don't have to tell Mom yet." said Alison.
Lori and Lucy arrive at the bar. The track workers leave the building.
"It's closed." said a railroad worker to Lori.
"We have to get in somehow. Any ideas Lucy." said Lori.
"Yes. Make yourself thin. We'll crawl through the air shaft." said Lucy.
Lucy went to an air duct, removed the cover and crawled inside. Lori followed her. She knelt down and crawled inside. Lori had problems with her hair. They got tangled in the screws. In addition, her hairstyle was very wide, which didn't make things any easier.
"Damned." Lori said, trying to untangle her hair with her hand.
"What's happening?" asked Lucy.
"My hair is stuck." said Lori.
They reach the end. Her hair puffs through the opening of the air shaft.
Lucy and Lori crawled through the air shaft. Lucy had no problems. But when the two hit a corner of the air shaft, Lori had trouble turning the corner. She made it through and the two crawled on.
"I don't understand what Mom and Alison want in a bar." said Lori.
"I don't understand that either. If Alison were to drink, she would poison her child." said Lucy.
"Mom would never allow that." said Lori.
"You're right. Lori, I hear Mom talking." said Lucy.
"Dad, this isn't the end of the world." said Alison.
"You can't go to school once the baby comes. You have to take care of it." said Ritchie.
"And what about your wife? She could take care of it during the day." said Rita.
"My wife is going to have a nervous breakdown just from the news that Alison is pregnant. And take care of a child? She had several breakdowns when Alison was born. Once again, I don't know if Constance can take it." said Ritchie.
"Oh dear. They don't know what to do." said Lori.
"I will take care of my child." said Alison.
"And sacrifice your future?" said Ritchie.
"There are more important things than the future and career. You know it very well Dad." said Alison.
"If Al sacrifices her future, I will sacrifice mine too." said Patrick.
"You're right Ritchie. And I wasn't fourteen when I was pregnant with Lori. What are we talking about?" said Rita.
Lori looked through the vent, and saw Rita pouring beer into her glass at the tap.
"I'm forty and I'm already going to be a grandfather. Damn it." said Ritchie.
"Alison, you need to see a gynecologist at some point." said Rita.
"Why?" Alison asked.
"So you know the baby is healthy." said Rita.
"If I'm honest, I'm afraid of the future." said Patrick.
"I also." said Alison.
"I think we've heard enough Lucy. Let's go." said Lori.
Lori somehow forgot she was in an air duct and wanted to get up. Lori hit her head.
"Ouch!" shouted Lori.
"There's someone in the air shaft." said Ritchie.
"The voice sounds familiar to me." said Rita.
The two heard footsteps, and then the cover of the duct was removed. Rita looked Lori and Lucy straight in the eye.
Lori and Lucy tumble out of the air shaft. Rita is very angry.
"Could you please tell me what the hell are you doing here?" Rita asked angrily.
"We were looking for Fangs." said Lori.
"And then you happen to end up in this bar with us. You were spying."
Lori realized that lying was useless.
"Yes. We spied." said Lori.
"We're sorry." said Lucy.
"I hope so. Did I teach you girls to spy on private things?" said Rita angrily.
"No mom." said Lori and Lucy at the same time.
"Who are these two?" Ritchie asked.
"These are my daughters. Lori and Lucy." said Rita.
"You know everything?" Alison asked.
Lori and Lucy nodded.
"I'm disappointed in you. Very disappointed." said Rita.
"Sorry. We didn't mean to spy on you like that." said Lori.
"It's okay." said Alison.
Rita looks at Alison in surprise.
"Are you sure?" asked Rita.
"Maybe those two can be of help." Alison said, walking towards
Lori and Lucy.
"But please, keep it a secret." said Alison.
"Yes. We promise." said Lori.
Lucy made a gesture that mean,t I'm as secretive as a corpse.
"Thanks." said Alison.
"I don't think we're getting any further here." said Rita.
"That's right. And I have a bar to run." said Ritchie.
"Come on girls, let's go." said Rita.
"We're both going home." said Alison.
"See you Al." said Ritchie.
"Bye. See you." said Alison.
"Bye." Ritchie said softly.
Rita, Lori, Lucy, Alison and Patrick leave the bar.
"What do we do now?" asked Lucy.
"If only I knew." said Rita.
"Rita, could you accompany me to the gynecologist?" Alison asked.
"Yes, I'll do it." said Rita.
"We're both going home. It's none of our business." said Lori.
"In order." said Rita.
Lori and Lucy left. Rita, Alison and Patrick walked downtown and entered a small doctor's office. They sat down in the waiting room.
Alison was called. She went into the doctor's room with Rita and waited. Then a doctor came in who had blond hair. Her hair went down her back and was tied high in a ponytail.
"Hello, Alison Judge. I'm Doctor Montgomery." said the doctor.
Alison looked at Rita. Her look said please help me. Rita knew what to do.
"Doctor Montgomery, this young lady is in a special situation." said Rita calmly.
Doctor Montgomery sat down.
"Well, Alison. Has anything unusual happened? Do you have any mood swings at the moment? That's quite normal at your age." asked Doctor Montgomery.
Alison answer softly.
"No. I'm pregnant."
"Pregnancy? Is it just a guess or did you take a pregnancy test?" asked Doctor Montgomery.
"Yes. He was positive." said Alison.
"Father known?"
"Yes."
"Alternate sexual partners?"
"No. I'm loyal to my boyfriend." Alison said indignantly.
"Wasn't a reproach. Known diseases?"
"No None."
"Okay. I'd like to get a blood test. Pregnancy tests aren't as reliable as a blood test." said Doctor Montgomery.
"I would like to do the blood test now." said Doctor Montgomery.
"Yes. Please make it quick." said Alison.
Doctor Montgomery sat down next to Alison and began disinfecting the inside of Alison's elbow. Montgomery took out a hypodermic needle with a small container.
"Attention, I'll start now." said Doctor Montgomery.
Alison looked away and looked at Rita's shoulder. She felt a pang, and something extremely thin lodged in her arm.
"So. I'm done with that." said Doctor Montgomery.
Doctor Montgomery got up and left the doctor's office. Alison and Rita were waiting. The time felt long. Then Montgomery came back in.
"So, Ms. Judge. I'm happy with your blood count. No illnesses, and no iron, red or white blood cell deficiencies. And I can confirm without a doubt that you are pregnant." said Doctor Montgomery.
"That completely confirms it." Alison said, looking down.
"Well, Ms. Judge. I've rarely seen such good prospects for pregnancy. You're fourteen, but that's the only thing that's not so good. Otherwise you're very healthy and you baby will be very healthy too." said Doctor Montgomery.
"Thank you doctor." said Alison.
"You're welcome. And please take care of yourself. You have to take care of two now." said Doctor Montgomery.
"Goodbye." said Rita.
"Thank you goodbye." said Alison.
"Stay healthy." said Doctor Montgomery.
The two left the doctor's office, fetched Patrick from the waiting room and walked down the street.
"Alison, how are you feeling?" asked Patrick.
"I'm tired, I feel vulnerable and I don't know how to continue." said Alison.
"It will be alright." said Rita.
"I hope they aren't twins." said Alison.
"Twins are exhausting, but twice as beautiful." said Rita.
"Lola and Lara?" Alison asked.
"Lola and Lana. They both took a lot of effort, but it was worth it." said Rita.
"Rita, if it's okay with you, I'd like to meet Lily." said Alison.
"Sure. Lily likes you very much. And she always looks forward to seeing you." said Rita.
Rita, Alison and Patrick arrive at Alison's family home.
"Thanks Rita." said Alison. Patrick approached Rita.
"I hardly know you, but I trust you." said Patrick.
The two went to the house, turned and waved at Rita. Rita waved back. The two went into the house. Rita went home. She spoke to herself.
"This must be a terrible blow for Alison. I was twenty-two when Lori was born. And Alison is only fourteen." said Rita.
She saw a gray and white tabby cat sitting on the sidewalk.
"What do you think?" asked Rita zo the cat. She cat meowed, and blinked slowly.
"Exactly. This is a horrible situation." said Rita, and kept walking.
"And her mother isn't stable enough to process news like that. She'll have to find out sooner or later. Alison lives with her family. Alison knows for sure when the time is right." said Rita.
Rita reaches Franklin Avenue.
"This is probably the most difficult situation in Alison's life. I have to support her. She's not my daughter, but I'm involved." said Rita.
She approaches her house and enters. In the living room, Lori, Lucy and Lincoln are sitting on the couch.
"Hey Mom, the news was on TV. There was a break-in at the nuclear power plant." said Lincoln.
"Yes. And now the FBI and NRC are investigating." said Lori.
Rita begins to sweat.
"Do you already know who it was?" asked Rita.
"No. It's not known. The burglars will probably get away. They've disappeared like ghosts." said Lucy.
Rita goes to her room. She closes the door, goes to her bed, presses her face into the pillow, and screams. Nobody had heard.
"Oh Shit Shit Shit. The federal authorities. I'm screwed. Alison is screwed. We're both going to jail." Rita said to herself in a panic.
She is breathing fast.
"It's going to be alright. It's going to be alright Rita. Alison wore gloves. I didn't. I have dry skin and don't leave fingerprints."
Rita walks to a mirror hanging in her room and looks at her reflection.
"Rita, if Alison faces jail time, you will take responsibility." said Rita to her reflection.
End of Chapter Five