Ten Teen Tales. Emma Lorival

former classmates we’ll share the news, or about school, how I was doing, how he was doing. Quite few lucky times I had the opportunity to ride with them in the red car, to enjoy the warm air going against our faces, our hair being uncombed, and then I enjoyed their company too. Although I’d thoughts, I sensed they were so happy together, as if they were just married, my mind repeated slowly they behaved “as if they were just married”. Were they aware of that? I made some connections chewing it over: when Greg should be at the university he was at Hillary’s. Her parents were all day out, they came home late at the evening, as many parents they work hard all day long. Hillary was their only daughter, she was left home alone. My friends spent a lot of time together in that apartment doing … doing what... studying maybe?

      Oh! They were telling me stuff I wasn’t paying any attention, so I dare to say I was so glad feeling the air in the sportive car and they laughed, they called me loony, yes, I was I admitted it, I was daydreaming about having a car like Greg’s. They believed me of course, but I accepted to be lunatic also because I was thinking foolish things that were not of my business.

      One Saturday morning, as I was coming back from jogging to the beach. I saw the red car that amazingly was waiting for me. Greg told me to get into the car, he needed to talk.

      Oh Gosh, oh gosh, How did it happen? As they say nowadays beware about your wishes they may come true. I liked Greg, So he remembered my pledge, he broke with Hillary, now we were going out, well no so easy, I’m going to play the hard one, it’s not the car who drives me crazy, he’s a nice lad after all.

      GREG – Oh God, oh God, How did it happen? Rose, tell me how did it happen?

      ROSE – What? You broke up with Hillary? (I had a smile on my face, “I was ready for love” as in the song “I’m singing in the rain” so happy I was.)

      GREG – Rose, Rose! Why things like these could happen?

      ROSE – Well, it’s not the end of the world you know, things like that happen every time …

      GREG – No, Rose, that’s impossible, we were careful, I wore condoms all the time.

      ROSE – WHAT? (My jaw dropped) Oh! That happened, hein? That! (I emphasized “that” with a sarcastic tone to cover my deception). I thought you were breaking up.

      GREG- Rose, I don’t know what to do. What’s gonne be my future? My parents! My parents Rose, they are going to be mad, maybe if you ask them for my car, they gladly will give it to you.

      ROSE – Do you think so? I should ask them then, it’s a good opportunity, isn’t it?

      GREG – What am I going to do? What am I going to do? Rose, help me here. Should I disappear from Earth?

      ROSE – Greg, it is not a good moment to do so, all the contrary, it’s now more than ever that you have to be present for her and for the baby…

      GREG – The ba…by? (he stammered during the whole conversation). Oh my God, oh my God! I swear I wore condoms all the time. What if the kid is not mine…

      ROSE – Greg please! (I was mad at this remark, men!, childish men are so irresponsible!) Don’t you dare to think that way, you were here 24/7! I must say. You were together, doing what? I wondered, now I know, don’t need to tell me.

      GREG – Do you think so? So you think that’s my baby. I don’t know Rose, I don’t know if we’re having the baby. Hillary told me last night about her pregnancy. She wants to talk with me before telling her folks. She would come sooner with her mom, they went to the supermarket, she wants me to take her out and decide with her what to do.

      ROSE – Then her parents don’t have a clue, hein? Neither do your parents I bet you. What about the school of Law?

      GREG – The school? I skipped so many classes this semester I’m going down Rose. My father is going to become a monster of rage. What should I do?

      ROSE – You want me to tell you! (He was at a loss what to say, he was absent minded).

      GREG – What? I’m down, I’m down! This is the end of my world, I’d better be death, I don’t know what to do.

      Well, there I was in front of reality. Oh my goodness! How glad I was of not being his girl friend, of not being so dumb and of having this experience at my friend’s expense. I’d learned a good deal out of this drama. Whatever I wouldn’t have done a fool of myself. I remember they talked many times at school about how babies are made, they gave us sexual education. Teachers, parents, doctors, shrinks, many adults told us about how passion takes our brains away, about that many young people who ended their plans of life because they didn’t expected to be responsible of a family at such an early age.

      Hillary’s parents decided for them. Her mother took her to Mexico, she asked for permission out of her job, she wanted to have a baby, she said so, I knew that the baby was her grandchild.

      A year later I met them at a mall, they were with their baby, a beautiful girl! Hillary was working as sales associate in a brand store; Greg was working in a lawyers firm. He was studying, going on with his career. He sold the car to pay the expenses of birth. They were not married, but they lived together on weekends at Hillary’s parent’s house. Greg’s parents helped sometimes with the child. Life was hard, but lack of responsibilities was worst. We all together understood that.