FICTION
*Featured Recipe: Tater Tot Casserole
* Laura was adamant about looking at the test strip. She had a feeling the test would come out positive. Her period was late this month and she felt nauseous for the last two days. She bought the pregnancy kit and hid it from Kenny, her live-in boyfriend of two years.
Are they ready for the biggest commitment of their lives? She thought to herself. She felt a little anxious about taking this big leap with Kenny given the monumental responsibility of parenthood… and motherhood. She was uncertain about her relationship with Kenny. After three years of living together, she didn’t feel it was going forward.
They don’t agree with a lot of things. Kenny, 29, and Laura, 30 were both uncertain if they wanted to settle down. Three years under one roof, no one has mentioned or hinted anything about marriage or building a family and future together. They were college friends first and eventually became lovers. They both went to a nursing school. Two years down the road, Kenny dropped out of school; since then, he has been hopping from one sales job to another. On the other hand, Laura finished her degree and has been working in the hospital in town.
After a few minutes, the test strip showed a clearer image. It showed a plus sign; she was most certainly pregnant! Her knees suddenly felt weak. She had to sit down on the edge of the tub and try to catch her breath. “What do I do now?” She murmured.
Laura spent her day at work like usual although her mind was all consumed by what she just found out early that day. She knew she had to tell Kenny before anyone else’s.
She took off early from work and went to the store to get food. She was craving a casserole, especially Tater Tot Casserole. The best tator tot casserole she had ever tasted was her mother’s. And she has been trying to follow her mother’s recipe to a tee. Every time she makes it, the better it tastes. Someday she would finally be able to bring a tater tot casserole to her family Christmas dinner, that would taste just like her mom’s or hopefully even better. She smiled at such a thought, which took her mind off the situation momentarily. She would make the casserole for dinner and plan on telling Kenny about her pregnancy.
An hour later, the casserole was done and dinner was ready. As far as Laura knew, this was the best tater tot casserole she had ever made. She knew she was getting better at it. Her cellphone rang and it was Kenny calling. Laura picked up the call, “Hey babe are you almost home? I made tater tot casserole for dinner.”
“Babe, coming home a little late, that’s why I called. Hmmm, you making your casserole for dinner must be a special day. My team had to make a pitch to a client’s offsite facility. The meeting has just finished but it could take me an hour or less to drive home. If you’re hungry already, just eat. I’ll eat later when I get home. Really sorry babe!”
“That’s fine babe. Be safe, see you later. Love you!”
“ Love you too babe, bye!”
Laura decided to go ahead and eat. She took a scoop of the casserole onto her plate, she was starving already! She pondered that this little thing in her tummy was begging for food. She then sat in front of the TV and started eating. She tried watching an episode of her favorite show but her mind drifted off to a different space.
She saw herself taking care of the baby and trying to keep a job to pay the bills while Kenny was in client meetings most times and she was left with taking care of everything. At that point, she started to panic and felt very guilty that she didn’t feel any excitement about her pregnancy. All she had in mind was the discomfort and inconvenience it would cause her life. “Oh my God, Why am I having these thoughts. I’m a horrible woman and a worse mother-to-be.” She burst into tears while caressing her tummy.
And quite suddenly, she heard the front door open, Kenny was home already. Earlier than she expected. Laura’s eyes were still puffy when Kenny came to kiss her. Kenny noticed her eyes and asked what was going on. Laura told Kenny about the pregnancy, and how she felt about it.
Kenny’s response caught Laura by surprise. “Maybe this is the sign babe, for us to start a family. It made me a little worried about the future too, but I think together, we can raise our baby. We can do it… let me know how to help you with your pregnancy.”
Laura didn’t know how to process Kenny’s reaction. This wasn’t the reaction she was expecting. She thought Kenny would turn a cold shoulder about it.
“You don’t understand babe, I don’t think I’m ready for this huge change in my life and my body. Maybe in three or four years, but not now. Eventually, one of us would have to stay home until the baby is old enough for a sitter. I don’t know if I can stop working right now. I’m expecting a promotion soon babe. What should we do?” Laura asked with apprehension.
Kenny’s face turned sad but composed, “I respect whatever decision you want to make about your pregnancy. I will support it but I’ll be honest with you, if you’re thinking of abortion, I don’t agree with it. Our baby deserves a chance to see this world and be part of a family… our family.”
How many couples or women are facing or have dealt with this situation? Who are we to take a soul to preserve one’s right of choice? But who are we to judge over one’s freedom of choice? Let judgment be granted upon us by the rightful God.
The above story is a work of fiction. The characters, events, and circumstances depicted in the story are based on the writer’s imagination. Any resemblance to real people, places, and events is merely coincidental.
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