Quarrelling Adults and Pregnancies

The weekend was here. And, as usual, Nicky had to go to his father’s. Everyone seemed to have plans for the weekend except me. Even Tumi was going to the country, where her childless aunt and uncle had a ranch. She was to return on Sunday afternoon.

My body, instead decided to come down with a terrible flu, fuelled by the huge amounts of ice cream I had consumed the night before, I presumed. I had absolutely nothing to do and no one to talk to. Ideal time to finish the book, Diane.

So, that’s what I did the whole of Wednesday evening. While Tumi and Nicky were on their way to their weekend destinations, I read my book, dozed, listened to music and argued with my mother about eating. I had absolutely no appetite and I vowed to myself to never touch ice cream again.

Thankfully, Nicky arrived on Thursday morning and gave me a call.
"How are you doing?" asked Nicky sounding relaxed as he always does when he comes back after spending time with his father.
"Came down with the flu yesterday. I feel much better now but Mom won’t let me get out of bed and I don’t feel that strong yet, anyway."
"Maybe, it was the ice cream you ate on Tuesday."
"Yeah, I think so too. I am never going to lay my hands on ice cream again."
"Let’s see how long that’s going to last," said Nicky disbelievingly.
"So, how was it at your father’s? Did you tell him about what’s happening here?"
"I enjoyed myself, as usual. I didn’t tell him about it. You know him, it would have got him angry and ruined my time there."
"Tumi must be running around the ranch," I said, changing the subject.
"Knowing her, she must be reading a book, surrounded by hay, in the horse’s stable."

Last year, Tumi took Nicky and me along to her uncle and aunt’s ranch. It turned out to be an exhilarating three days for the three of us. Riding, playing around in the hay, exploring the lush, green countryside, bathing under the waterfall and camping in the mountains under the stars.

Well, that’s how Thursday was spent, chatting to Nicky and staying in bed. My appetite had improved considerably but was definitely not back to normal. One of my favorite dishes; potato salad made me feel like vomiting.

On Friday, Nicky and I whiled away the time conversing on the phone. I was glad to leave the bed, but Mom won’t let me leave the house, not even to sit in the best seat in the residence, the swing-bench on the veranda.

By now, we both missed Tumi awfully and finally kept the phone down because Vincent was driving Nicky nuts. I spent the rest of the day at home, channel surfing and ended up watching a teen movie that was enjoyable. Mom and Dad had gone out to a furniture and garden plants exhibition with some friends, feeling that it was finally okay to leave me at home alone, since I was feeling much better now.

I was granted permission to leave the house the next day and so, I called on Nicky. He was in the process of spring-cleaning. I helped him sort his CDs, sports magazines and arrange all his sports equipment. Nicky hated folding T-shirts and ironing shirts and loved to rearrange his furniture once in a while. While Nicky took his curtains to the dry-cleaners, I stayed in his room and did the chores he utterly disliked doing. I sorted through his clothes, folded the T-shirts and ironed the shirts and when he returned, the both of us shifted his empty cupboard and his bed to different positions.

We ordered a medium pizza for lunch from Exotica’s and continued arranging his room. At around 6 p.m., his clothes were sorted and put into the cupboard, his curtains were sparkling clean and the room looked very organized and unlike a boy’s room.
"Lets see how long this room will keep on looking like this," I said, "I wish I could take a picture."
"Hey, don’t blame me for being born a boy!" said Nicky in defense.

When I returned home, I plopped down on the couch exhausted from the day’s work and watched a movie late into the night and went to bed in the wee hours of the morning, long after my parents had gone to theirs. I was looking forward to Tumi’s return in the afternoon.

Tumi called Nicky and me as soon as she got home and we decided to meet at Nicky’s in an hour. Nicky and I welcomed Tumi with hugs and kisses. Tumi had tanned and I noticed that she looked as if something huge was worrying her.
"Tumi, is something wrong?" I asked looking at Tumi carefully. Nicky was staring at her intently. He had also noticed something. Tumi completely broke down and I held her close while Nicky held her hand.
"Mom and dad are having a dreadful fight about their families," Tumi sobbed, "I am not sure exactly what they are fighting about. I can’t stand to stay around them when they are quarrelling."
"Our parents fight too, Tumi," I said trying to pacify her, "they say that it is all part of a healthy relationship.’
"Your parents love each other," said Nicky, "it’s just a passing phase."
"I really hope so. But this fight, Nicky, is different from what they have had before. They scream at each other so viciously that I no longer feel that they are the same people I love. It’s like demons have taken over them."
"Tumi, it will turn out to be all right. Just keep telling yourself that it will get over fast and whatever happens, that it will only make you stronger and you’ll take everything in your stride and go along and do everything you can to make yourself happy," I said with a soft smile.
"You have got us, Tumi. Come to us anytime and call us anytime. We’ll do all we can to help you. I promise I’ll be there for you anytime," said Nicky, stroking her hand.
"I promise too," I said embracing them both.

***

The next few days before school were spent at Nicky’s, covering and labeling notebooks, files and folders. Tumi didn’t mention her parents again, though she wasn’t her natural self. Nicky and I didn’t ask either and treated her normally for we both knew how much she detested sympathy.

The day before school was to commence, we were at Nicky’s, packing our school bags, while Nicky was ironing his uniform.
"Hey guys, Aunt Cathy is pregnant," I announced, arranging my books in ascending order of height, "She told me today. She’s two months pregnant."
"That’s awesome," said Nicky, looking up from the shoes he was polishing. Nicky adores children, especially baby boys.
"That’s great," said Tumi with a big smile. That was the first time I had seen her smile genuinely in days.
"I am going to be a big sister!!!" I bawled ecstatic.

My parents had given up trying a long time ago to get a second child. My father had a low sperm count and my parents didn’t want to do anything complex or artificial to get another baby. Anyway, my Mom got me when she was thirty-five and the doctor’s advised that it would be dangerous if she got pregnant again at forty-two as her first pregnancy had been very difficult on her.

We continued doing what we were doing and ordered a large pizza from Exotica’s for lunch after we finished.
"It’s worsened," said Tumi in a whisper.
"What?" I asked gently. Nicky was all ears too.
"It’s worsened," said Tumi, her shoulders quivering, "they never stop fighting now. I can’t bear it. It’s so annoying. I wish I could just run away from it all."
"Honestly, Tumi, I have nothing more to say. At this stage, I just ignored them and stayed in my room, calling them immature children," said Nicky.
"Tumi, I think what Nicky is saying is right. You can’t talk to them either, they are grown-ups, they won’t listen to us kids. The best thing is to ignore them and pretend it is not happening. I know it’s going to be hard, but what other choice do you have?" I asked feeling very sorry for the agony Tumi was going though.
"I guess that’s the only choice I have. Thanks guys. I don’t know what I’d do without you two," she said hugging us both, "I love you."
"I love you too," said Nicky and I in unison.

Tumi and I left for home early after the three of us agreed to meet at the bus stop the next morning. At home, I ironed my uniform and polished my shoes and kept everything ready for school the next morning.