Baby by Rape - Chalen D. (robert munsch read aloud .txt) 📗

I took a quick shower and pulled my hair into a quick bun. I pulled on some clothes and headed down stairs.

“Sweetie, I really wish you’d wake up earlier. You need to get breakfast.”

          I looked at the eggs she was scrambling.

“Mom, no offense or anything but I have to get out. The eggs stink.”

          I hurried from the kitchen and ran into the bathroom. I knelt in front of the toilet, and tapped my fist on the seat waiting for the vomit to come up. I heard running feet, and someone hitting the door frame as they held it. I looked over at Danny.

“You good?”
“Go.” I waved at him.

“No.”
“Danny-“
          He hurried forward and gathered the strands of hair that had fallen out of my loose knot. Then Mom was there with a cold bottle of water. She handed it to Danny, who screwed off the lid and handed it to me. I rinsed out my mouth and spit in the toilet. I nodded and they hurried to help me to my feet.

With my first morning sickness episode behind me I headed off to work. I spent the majority of the day going through boxes of donated books. Yeah I wanted to do more, but I was tired anyways. 

After work we drove home, and that’s when I saw it. A sleek silver Mini SUV parked at the curb of our house.

Danny saw it too and paused in the middle of the street. Together we looked over the car. I loved over the house for shadows in the windows.

“What is your Dad doing here?”

“I don’t know.”

“You want to come to my house for a bit?”
“I should probably go in there and ask why he’s here.”

“Want me to come?”

“Yeah.”

          Danny flipped the car around and parked behind my Dad’s car. He got out and headed up the walk. I could already hear them yelling. We headed inside, and towards the kitchen. I held up a hand to keep Danny from going into the kitchen.

“What is the big deal?” Dad was questioning, “It’s just a car.”
“The problem is, that she can get her own car. She needs responsibility.”
“Well if this little fuck head would of left her alone, she wouldn’t of had to have so much responsibility.”
Mom was Quiet, setting her hands on the table and rocking back and forth.
“What’s wrong with a little help?”

“This isn’t a little help, it’s an expensive ass car.”

“She needs something safe to drive the baby around in. Are you crazy?” He questioned, “She’s just as stubborn as you are. I bet she won’t even take the car.”

          I looked at Danny, and he pulled me away from the door as they continued to argue about the car.

“You need to accept the car.”
“What? Why?”
“Because your Dad is right. It’s a bigger car, and it looks new so it won’t be breaking down.”
“But I don’t-“
“Sophie.”

I sighed, “Fine.”

          We headed into the kitchen. They were so into their argument, that they didn’t even notice us standing there.  Finally I had to step in before Mom ripped one of Dads’ limbs off and cooked it for Christmas dinner.
“I want the car.”
“What?” They both turned on me, Mom annoyed, Dad surprised.
“How long have you been there?” Mom questioned.
          That’s when Dad stood in front of her blocking her from View.

“I think you’ll really like it Sophie. Everything is automatic. It has seat warmers, and I had them install a mini computer into the dash.”
He held the key’s out to me.
“Thanks.” I took the car.

“Well,” He clapped his hands and I jumped, “Guess that covers that then huh?”

          I moved where I could see Mom-

‘It’s okay,’ I mouthed to her.

          She smiled and nodded-

‘I know.’

*

   I carefully looked over my outfit turning from side to side. Good, no stomach pudge yet. I ate breakfast with Mom and then sat in my car going over the control. The new car smell was thick and overwhelming. He couldn’t have just bought me a used car like other Dad’s did?

 I glanced up as I saw something through the windshield. I watched Danny walk around the car over to the passenger side. As he got in I messed with the controls again. When I figured out the heater and seat warming settings, I pulled away from the curb. I pulled into an empty parking space. Danny and I got out and rounded the car.
“People are staring.” I muttered to him, sinking into his side.

“It’s the car.”
          But what if they were staring because they all knew what happened? 

 

Who happened.

He put an arm around me and we headed towards the main building of the school. 

 Whelp, I didn’t have any vomiting issues. Danny and I snuck off school grounds to go out to lunch.

 It was actually pretty easy. Maybe they didn’t think the two of us would ever do something like that. And they used to be right. After lunch we snuck back on campus, using a group of kids to blend with. As we walked we slowly fell back until were where alone.

That was actually kind of exciting. We could have gotten caught. Danny would really do anything for me, wouldn’t he? I closed my locker at the end of the day and headed out to the parking lot. There was a group of kids surrounding a girl. They called her names and threw paper wads at her.

Keep walking, you don’t need the drama.

“Go to an unwed Mother’s home you slut!”

          It’s none of your business, you don’t know the girl okay?

“Hey!” I yelled rounding my way to them, “Back off.”
    They snorted and laughed as they shoved each other as they walked off. I picked up her binder and held it out to her.

“You okay Kara?”

          She nodded taking the folder. We stood there for a few seconds.
“Why didn’t you tell me? I could of helped you.”
“With what?” She looked up at me, pushing up her glasses, “It’s not like we’re friends.”
Well, okay then.

I tried again-

“Who’s the father?”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“Yes it does! He needs to get a job and give you a support sys-“ I paused, “He doesn’t know does he?”

“Why would I tell my rapist that I am pregnant?”

“Probably for the same reason I haven’t told mine.”

“Oh Sophia,” Her shoulders sagged, “I’m sorry.”

“Well as long as we stick together who cares what people say you know?”

“There’s this support group I go to. You should come with me tonight. It’s at six.”

“I think I get off today at five thirty.”
“Give me your phone.”

          I handed her my phone and watched as she put her number in. She handed it back with a smile.
“I’ll text you the address.”

          I gave her a hug, and she rocked us from side to side. We pulled a part laughing. I gave her a nod and turned stepping off the curb. It was 6:05 as I sat in front of the building that Kara’s directions led me. I’m not ready for this.

 I want to go home and crawl under my bed. But Dad was at the house with his lawyer discussing strategy with Mom. So, I couldn’t go back there. I grabbed my jacket off the seat next to me and pulled it on. Danny offered to come with me, but I needed to do this part on my own if I actually ended up going inside.

I turned off the car and headed inside. People sat in plastic chairs in a large circle. I paused at the snack table.

“A new face!” A woman walked over to me, “I’m Ms. Jane, you are?”
“Sophie. Sophie Mason.”

“Well, thanks for coming why don’t you have a seat?”

          I looked over the empty chairs. Kara caught my eye as she waved wildly at me. I smiled and hurried over. As I got closer she moved the jacket that was keeping my spot. I sat down and we grabbed each other’s hands at the same time.

“I’m glad you came. You had me for a second.” She smiled.
          I smiled back and turned to Ms. Jane. I looked over the girls. There were too many girls. Was I going to throw up? I wasn’t the only new girl here today. The few other girls spoke about their stories on chocking sobs.

Then it was my turn, but only if I wanted to. I paused for a second before I came out with it.

“There was this party that my friends really wanted to go to. She didn’t want to go alone, and knowing that I never go to parties she promised she’d never leave me. Then we got separated through a large crowd, or maybe she lost me on purpose. I don’t know.”
“Why don’t you ask her?” One of the girls questioned.
“She moved with her parents before I had the chance. Then this guy came over, and it was amazing because he was popular and no one had noticed me standing alone for an hour. I was having a panic attack so he suggested that we go somewhere quiet. He took my into this den area, and then locked the door. He told me it was so I can calm down in piece, but that should have been my first red flag.”
A few of the girls nodded, as if they’ve been there.

“So he helped me calm down and we talked for what seemed like hours, but it could have only been one hour, it had to be. He tried to kiss me and I pushed him off. Then he got rough and I tried to run, I did but he was too strong for me. He raped me and he had his hand on my throat. He squeezed so hard that I passed out.

When I woke up I was alone. I ran home without telling my friend I was leaving. She never called me or texted me to see what happened. And now Jason Reed just get’s to walk free.”

“Reed.” Kara sneered.

          Then she hunched her shoulders as if she didn’t mean to say that.

“James?” I asked her.
She nodded.
“If you know who your rapist, why don’t you tell the cops?” A girl demanded.

          Kara looked down.

“Yeah they can do it again to another girl.”

“My Mom and Dad are meeting with lawyers. They’re going over their options. I haven’t seen Jason since.”

“So he gets to get away with it and we have to see it happen.” I girl was annoyed.

          Ms. Jane held up a little black bottle with a key chain on the bottom of it.

“Do any of you know that this is?”

“It’s pepper spray.” One of them said.

“I want you all to have a bottle,” She pulled over two big bins. “The other box is a personal alarm. It makes a loud high pitched sound. It will startle your attacker long enough for you to use your spray and get out. Go ahead.”
          We all grabbed a bottle and an alarm. I headed home and parked at the curb. I saw shadows in Danny’s living room. I headed inside. Mom and Dad where at the table with the lawyer. There was paprers everywhere.

“Mom?”
“Hi honey.” She walked over and kissed my cheek.
“Are you here to help catch him?” I asked the man in the suit, “My rapist?”
“Yeah.” He nodded.
“His name is Jason Reed.”

“Wait,” Dad held up a hand. “You know his name?”
“I haven’t seen him since the night of the party.”
“A party?” Dad demanded looking at Mom.
“She didn’t know I went.”
“Really Caroline?” Dad was angry, “You didn’t know.”
“I told her I was spending the night at Jessie’s.”

      The lawyer stepped in walking over to me.

“Do you know anything else about this kid? Do you know his middle name, where he lives, is he in sports?”

“He’s on the football team.”

He nodded, and went to his computer.

“Is there a way to catch another rapist? Like in this case?”
“What do you mean?” Dad asked.
“I went to this group tonight. I met a girl in school today and we went to the group.”
“Why are so many girls getting raped?” Mom muttered.
“I know it’s a different case I get that.” I assured the lawyer, “But this