Short Story v2

Locked Out

“I can do this, I can do this” Brittany kept saying to herself as she held on to her cell phone “he will pick up.” She has desperately been trying to call her boyfriend Johnny, of six month and two weeks. Brittany wasn’t really sure if they were dating or taking a break, it was kind of undecided after they fought. She stared down at her cell phone remembering that night she accused him of cheating because when she called him, she heard a girls voice. But it turned out it was his cousin’s voice . She needs him now, as she held onto her phone and the piece of plastic with a pink plus sign that was telling her fate. Brittany needs someone to talk to. Brittany and her family just moved from a big city to the small town of Westland. Thankfully her parents let Brittany graduate first, before they moved, and start the life of empty nesters.
“Who am I kidding I can’t do this” she held back tears. She looked out the window. It is an amazing summer day there were no clouds in the sky and it was to early for the bugs to be out “all I need is a walk and then I will call him.”
She left her house with still pajamas and her non matching flip-flops on. She began to walk, saying hi to people she barely knew. She started out slow then her pace began to quicken and she broke out into a run . She came back to her house nearly out of breath. She slowly walked to her door, with her breath still heavy. It was locked. She looked through the window on the door only to see her cell phone and keys on the counter, mocking her.
Suddenly she heard something, some giggling and voices coming from down the street. The voices came from two blonde middle school girls that couldn’t be more than twelve. They both looked like Barbie. “Um, excuse me” she ran up to them “can I please use your cell phone or something? I am locked out of my house.” Brittany asked, trying to come off as nice as possible so they would let her use one of their cell phone.
“You don’t have one?” the miniature Barbie on the right asked, as she popped her gum.
“It is in my house and since I am not in my house, I can’t use it.”
“Yea Katie, she just asked for your cell, god. Sorry she’s a little slow sometime, here use mine.” the non Katie said handing Brittany her rhinestone cell phone of different shades of pink.
She first called her dad knowing he would give her so much slack for leaving everything inside but he didn’t answer. She was going to be forced to call her mother who would ask more questions. On the third ring she answered “Hello this is Julie who am I speaking to”
“Hey mom it’s me. I locked myself out.”
“Why are you locked out? Where were you going?” she asked
“Mom look, I can’t talk about it now! I’m using someone else’s cell. I will explain it later! Can you just come and unlock the door so I can go inside?” she pleaded.
“Where were you going first?” she asked again.
“I went on a walk” she sighed “now can you come home and open the door, pretty please?”
“Where were you walking to?” her mother asked her yet another question. The non Katie was started looking a little impatient.
“Just around mom!”
“Ok fine I will unlock it on my lunch hour at 1:30 ok” she said as if it was a burden to unlock the door for her only child, who she loves so dearly. Brittany handed the phone back to non Katie “Thanks, she’s going to be home at her lunch hour”
“What are you going to do until then?” Katie asked.
“Wait” she said bluntly.
“You can come to my house and wait there if you want? It’s just down the street and it’s not good to stay out in the heat for that long. Oh and I’m Melissa” Melissa said with a smile.
“I’m Brittany and I would like that thank you” she said, realizing that it was actually a lot hotter then she thought.
She was shocked at this girl’s generosity; maybe a small town wasn’t so bad. They walked down to the end of the street, to a light yellow house. There was a big crabapple tree that was in the front yard and a path that led to a garden in the back. It looked as if it came from a children’s book, and so did the inside. There was a hallway when you entered the front door with cream color walls filled with old and new family photos. There was one that stood out from all the rest. It was a baby photo at the very end, a chubby face and in a sailor outfit, very cute.
“You are welcome to anything in the kitchen” Melissa said showing Brittany where the kitchen was. It was big kitchen filled with oak cabinets with granite tops, stainless steel kitchen appliances and a round oak table. At the table there was a high chair and a lady sitting down trying to feed the chubby face that Brittany saw in the picture “Oh this is Amanda, my older sister, she’s 20 and that is Ethan.”
“Melissa did you pick up another squatter?” Amanda asked teasingly
“Ha Ha you’re so funny Amanda” she added back.
“Oh I am though” she said looking at her.
“I’ll be upstairs if you need me” Melissa said and then ran up the stairs.
“Do you have a name?” Amanda asked.
“Yea, I am Brittany and I am locked out of my house, that’s why I am here” Brittany looked down at the floor.
“Ah that sucks. Been there done that. ”
“Yea it does suck.”
“So do you want anything to eat?”
“No I am good, thanks.” Brittany said looking back up “so… you got stuck with babysitting?”
“Yep, like every other day of my life” she said with a big smile on her face. “But I love it” looking back at Ethan.
“So are you an only child” as she picked up the small baby spoon and dipped into what appeared to be green mush that she was trying to feed the baby. “Please Ethan, just once for me” he pushed the spoon away with full force “ Ok baby, fine I give up” he giggled at her failure.
“Yea and I was an oops. He’s cute, how old?”
“1 ½ and guess what he can do. Hear this” she said with a laugh “What is Melissa?”
“Uh-ho” he said in a very small voice.
“And what are you?”
“Woo-hoo” he giggled.
“That’s right baby, you are a woo-hoo. Melissa was born 7 years after me”
“Oh that is so cute how did he learn that?” Brittany wondered out loud
“His father” Amanda picked him up and put him in a play area.
“Are you his mother?”
“Yep and proud too. First it was hard but then I got used to it and he just kept getting bigger and bigger and you know what really helps? Having people that support you. You sure you don’t want any thing” she got up and grab a glass.
“Some water would be great.” There was an awkward silence in the air “I don’t think I could ever do what you’re doing”
“That’s what I thought too. But a lot of people do and why I do it so well is because I have so many people helping. ”
Right then Brittany looked at her stomach and put her hand on it “Oh my god you pregnant?” Amanda said “I so sorry that was really nosy.”
“ A little, but I am” her voice started to shake “I am really scared, I don’t know what to do or how to tell my parents. I mean I can just see the disappointment in my dad’s eyes right now.” Her tears broke out .
“I remember when I first told my parents. Jake was there, Ethan’s father. We were sitting in the kitchen and before I could say anything Jake and his big mouth told them I was pregnant. I thought my dad was going to take the butcher knife and kill Jake but he didn’t. Then I told them that I was keeping the kid. I always remember what my dad said ‘When you were little and we told you that we would support you in anything as long as it was what you wanted to do, we literally meant anything. But you’re still going to have to go to college even if you don’t want to. ”
For the rest of the day Amanda and her talked about what it was like and what to do next. Where adoption agencies were, and really got to know each other. Before they knew it, it was 1:30.
“I better go face it sometime, right?”
“Hey if your parents kick you out, you are always welcome here”
“Thanks and I have your number now so you will be hearing from me.” She gave her a huge goodbye hoping some of Amanda’s bravery would rub off on her, and headed home. Her mom had already left; she was back in an empty house. She picked up her phone to call Johnny, he didn’t answer
She called him again and left a message “ Hey Johnny, it’s me, you know, the girl you’re in love with? But we had a fight and I said some really bad things and now you haven’t talk to me in 2 weeks. Yea, well I need to tell you why I was so moody that night. I’m pregnant Johnny and guess what? You’re the father, so call me back.”