Dad walked over and held it out to me. "We didn't forget it, we were waiting for the recipients to come back." I took it and looked at him curiously. "It's something we all pulled together for you and the baby." I opened the envelope attached to the box. Inside was a gift card worth 10,000 useable at any store in town. I looked up at him as tears flooded my eyes. "I hope you like it." I hugged in as tears of joy and shock ran down my face. I hadn't even opened the box yet!
I sniffled and wiped my eyes when I released him. "Thank you, all of you. This is very sweet. I don't know how to thank you but I will find a way soon." Everyone nodded and came over to hug me. By the ends of the hugs I was crying again. Kameron helped me open the box to reveal a purple onsie with the words My mommy is a band boy sewn into the front with neon pink thread. I laughed. "Wow...coincidence. I am gonna need this by the end of today." Everyone nodded and laughed.
Around noon the contractions started getting really bad and I was moved to mom and dad's Jacuzzi tub. They turned the heater on so the water would stay warm but the massaging jets I had come to love during my pregnancy were banned. Kameron went to get my stereo so that my music could play to keep me company. The only people allowed in the bathroom with me were Kameron, mom, and dad. Everyone else was banned due to age.
At 4 PM I felt the urge to push. Mom was by my side holding my hand while dad sat between my legs ready to catch the baby. I was pushing when I heard the door open. I didn't give it much attention thinking it was Kameron til I heard the gasp. I looked up to find Marc in the doorway pale faced with tears in his eyes. I stopped and cursed silently. "Marc what's wrong buddy?"
He acted scared like we caught him stealing cookies from the jar. He looked me over with his critical eyes. "What are you doing?!"
I sighed. "Marc come here bud." He shook his head frantically. "Marc it's alright, you're not in trouble. Come here." I felt a contraction but ignored it. Soothing my baby brother was more important. He walked forward slowly then a little faster. When he got closer I hugged him then put my hand on his shoulder. "Remember how I am pregnant?" he nodded. "And I told you I would have to help the baby get outta me?" he nodded again. "Well right now that is what I am doing. The baby wants out and I am helping it." He smiled in understanding. "So what cause this visit huh?"
"I was looking for my daddy. I heard you screaming and got scared."
I nodded at him. "Well I am borrowing him but when I am done I'll send him to you ok? If you want you can play a game on my Xbox ok?" he nodded and ran off. I rubbed my stomach feeling the baby kicking from its position in my birth canal with a patch of skin visible due to it stretching me. When the contraction came I pushed gently like I learned to prevent tearing. I winced as the head of my baby started emerging into the water.
I panted and let my body work slowly. Once the head was out the contraction was over and I laid on the tub side panting. I reached down and felt it's head gently. I laughed as I rubbed the hairy scalp of my child. With the next contraction I delivered the shoulders and the body. I smiled as dad set the baby in my arms against my chest. "Hi little one, what are you? Boy or girl; let's get a look ok?" I looked and smiled. "A boy, figures seeing how much you attacked me." I kissed the tiny head. I smiled. "Hi Onyx, I'm mommy." I held Onyx close as dad clamped and cut the cord connecting me and my son.
There was a knock at the door and dad went to investigate. I smiled and held my son close. Dad walked back. "Um...Alex there is someone here to see you. He says he has a present for you, says his name is Tay." I nodded and held out Onyx so he could take him and I could get outta the tub. I dressed back into my Winnie the Pooh fleece pajama's and put Onyx in the onsie I was given earlier. I walked out to the living room with Onyx lying peacefully in my arms and dad by my side to help me if I faltered.
The boy looked at me; I didn't recognize him. "Hi I'm Tay Benson. We got to school together. We have Spanish together. I've kinda been stalking you ever since you told people you were pregnant... I got a present for you and the baby once it's born." I smiled realizing he didn't notice the baby in my arms. He pulled forward a huge box with black ribbon. I noticed it was a crib. "I figured you might need this, if you have on already the receipt is taped under the ribbon."
"Thanks I don't have one actually. I was gonna have to buy one in a few hours." I looked at my son. "Now that this little boy is here he needs somewhere to sleep."
Tay looked at Onyx and gasped. "You had the baby?!" I nodded. "Oh...i should go. You need that mother baby bonding time." He turned to leave and I grabbed his arm to stop him.
"Wait, please don't go. I don't mind you being here. You're the only person from school who actually gave anything for my baby. most of my friends shunned me away."
He shook his head. "Why would you, Alex Sanders wanna hang out with a poor kid like me? A kid who wasted his whole pay check for the week to get a crib for someone who never notices him?"
That was when I noticed his torn stained clothing. "Tay I know this is straightforward, but are you homeless?"
He nodded. "Yeah...I work at Wal-Mart and sleep behind the dumpster when it closes." He said with a blush. "They haven't found me yet. But don't worry I'm ok."
He went to leave again. "Tay stop!" he turned and looked at me again. I looked at my family members and they nodded. "Stay, live here with us. Live with Onyx and me and my family." He looked confused. "Onyx is my son; I named him Onyx Crystal Sanders."
Tay smiled. "Ok, but I pull my own weight. I won't take charity. And I am accepting cause it's supposed to be 23 degrees tonight." I laughed and hugged him close. We all sat around the Christmas tree drinking cocoa as I leaned on Tay's side.
~Fin~