Part Two
Part One
“Just leave me alone!”
Shocked at her behavior, Snitch was more than willing to leave Camilla alone. All he had done was mention that since he was staying with her to her father, Harry had insisted that he give Snitch an allowance so not to fall back on no money at all. Camilla had accused him of staying with her only to gain that money from her father.
Snitch retreated to the kitchen where Mrs. Connick was preparing dinner. A warm aroma of meat alerted Snitch’s senses and his mouth began to water. Seating himself on a stool in front of the counter, he asked of what the smell was.
“It’s a leg of lamb.” Mrs. Connick replied. “Have you ever had lamb before?”
He shook his head. “Never in my life.”
“So what brings you in here besides my cooking?”
“Camilla.”
“Is she all right?”
“She blew up like a volcano in my face.”
“Oh? Whatever for?”
“I told ‘er that ‘er papa’s payin’ me for as long as I stay ‘ere. I din’t think she’d see it as that big a deal!”
“I wouldn’t worry about it, sweetheart.”
“But I’ve been ‘ere a week already. An’ Camilla’s either always cryin’, yellin’, or just plain sick t’ her stomach about somethin’. I’m beginnin’ t’ wonder if I should even be here.”
Mrs. Connick smiled gently. “You don’t need to worry about a thing, dear. Camilla’s just frightened.”
“No kidding.”
“Every woman is when she’s expecting a baby. She’s afraid of whether her baby will be perfect and healthy, and how it’s going to affect her body. Camilla’s changing in ways that you can’t even imagine right now.”
“Can ya boost my imagination?”
“A little. When a young woman is pregnant, her emotions are constantly in a jumble. She could be excited about her baby at one minute, and then angry another. She’s not going to be stable for some time. Not even after the baby comes.”
“But why does she seem t’ blow up at me?”
“I blew up at my husband, God rest his soul, when I was expecting our first child. I think we get angriest at you men because you also have a hand in making babies.”
Snitch blushed, embarrassed. Mrs. Connick giggled at him before continuing.
“You see, Camilla can’t get angry at the father of the baby because she doesn’t know who or where he is. You stepped in to take on that role.”
“I din’t take th’ role t’ be a daddy. I took th’ role t’ help Camilla.”
“You’re also the only other man in her life besides her father. As long as you’re here, you’re going to be treated like you are the father.”
He set his elbows on the countertop and supported his chin with his hands. “I guess that I’m glad that th’ kid’s gonna be adopted once it’s born. I couldn’t handle bein’ a daddy.”
“At all?”
“Right now. Sure, I could do it some it some time later in my life, but not right now.”
“Don’t think about it.” Mrs. Connick patted his cheek. “Your heart’s in the right place. In the long run, Camilla will thank you for it. It may be after the baby is born, but she will always remember you in this way. So I am very, very thankful that you’re here to help her through all this.”
* * *
Snitch plopped down onto the couch and sighed heavily. Camilla was sleeping late again. After last night, he thought she would never go to bed. Since last week, she had been a handful like he had never guessed she could ever be. She was always either angry, remorseful, or overall terrified. On many occasions, she would yell at him just to blow off steam.
‘Are all pregnant ladies like this?’ he wondered. ‘I offer to help and all she does is use me as a punching bag or a handkerchief. I thought she’d be more manageable than this.’
He wanted to talk to Mrs. Connick again and ask of Camilla’s condition, but get a reply of more detail. Almost instantly, he dismissed that idea. Mrs. Connick was fifty-eight years old, and had a special liking to him. It wouldn’t be appropriate to ask such personal questions.
As he racked his brain for ideas, his thoughts came to Pie Eater and Kay. Kay had had a baby three and a half months ago. He could talk to her. For one, it was still early in the morning. Camilla probably wouldn’t be awake till ten o’clock. And Kay was sure to be home at this time. With Pie Eater working with his father and their carpentry and woodwork business, Kay was sure to be home with the baby.
Needing any and every kind of advice about what women endured, Snitch knew he could take the risk. And even if Pie Eater was there, he could help in telling Snitch how to help Camilla. It was twice the help if both were available. He checked out with Mrs. Connick before leaving.
Once he left, he felt a sinking feeling inside of him that Camilla would awaken and be upset that he was not there. But he needed help, and any was welcome. The sooner, the better.
The trip to Pie Eater’s apartment was nearly two miles away, meaning a long journey before Snitch. However, he had enough fare in his pocket to pay for a trolley ride to and from the apartment. The price was worth the advice.
Because of the limited salary involved in being a newsie, it was extremely rare for the newsies to afford the fare for a trolley ride. This was certainly a treat for Snitch, especially since he had only ridden on a trolley once in his life. The trip took several detours, though it was still considerably shorter than walking.
He arrived on a busy street with people hurrying from place to place. The apartment building Pie Eater lived in now was quaint and simple, mainly for families with a less-than-average income. Snitch had never been to Pie Eater’s apartment before, but Fantasia had given everyone directions in case of an emergency.
‘Better be sure to thank her.’ He planned mentally as he entered the building. According to Fantasia’s directions, Pie Eater was on the third floor in apartment 3 H. Snitch maneuvered his way up the winding stairs to reach the apartment.
He was out of breath once he arrived. The stairway had been steep and the stairs uneven. With all the winding involved, dizziness and labored breathing were evident. Snitch had to stop and rest before continuing to apartment 3 H. He rested one minute before continuing down the hallway.
A sigh of relief escaped his lungs as he reached the right apartment. He raised his fist and knocked, then stepped back and tapped his foot while he waited. The door opened a few minutes later, and a haggard looking Kay peered out. Her pale blonde hair was mussed, and she was wearing a flannel robe over a simple white nightdress.
“Snitch?” she muttered, half-awake.
“Yeah, it’s me.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I’d like t’ talk t’ ya.”
“What about? Will it take long?”
“Why about takin’ long?”
“It’s David’s day off. We’re trying to sleep in.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I guess I cin leave, then.”
“No, no, it’s perfectly all right. He’s up already. It’s no use putting us back to sleep when we’re already awake.” She held the door aside. “Come on in.”
Snitch felt a little awkward entering their apartment. He certainly wasn’t used to married couples, particularly those who had a place of their own. Then he smelled freshly brewed coffee and relaxed. Pie Eater pulled a kettle from the stove top and poured some into the matching mug in his hand. He squinted his eyes when he saw Snitch.
“Whatcha doin’ ‘ere, Snitch?” he asked, his voice scratchy.
“I came t’ talk t’ ya. I need advice.”
“‘Bout what?”
He sighed. “Didja hear ‘bout Camilla yet?”
“No, we didn’t.” Kay replied. “Is she all right?”
“Las’ week I left th’ newsies t’ stay with ‘er. She’s…gonna have a baby.”
“What?” Pie Eater demanded.
“I know how it happened, but I ain’t inclined t’ talk about it. Camilla would have my head if I did.”
“So how’s she taking it?” Kay wondered.
“She’s not happy at all. She’s always yellin’ or cryin’ or mopin’ around. An’ she gets maddest as me. I din’t do anythin’ at all, I jus’ stepped in t’ help her get through this.” He pursed his lips. “Kay, were ya like that when you was gonna have Liddle David?”
She blushed slightly. “Sometimes. But I was happy I was having our baby. We had nothing to worry about.”
“But Camilla does. What happened din’t include me, so I don’t officially got anythin’ t’ do with it except that I’m takin’ on th’ duty that th’ daddy should be doin’.”
“That’s what’ll land ya in hot water.” Pie Eater said over the rim of his coffee cup. “If ya got nothin’ t’ do with it, ya’ll only set yourself up for stuff ya ain’t expecting.”
“You men react the same way to that. You weren’t expecting anything.” Kay said, a hint of humor in her voice.
“How was I t’ predict you was gonna have a baby? I’d never been in a situation like that before.”
“Hey,” Snitch voiced, “I don’t got a clue for what’s in store! Enlighten me, don’t fight!”
“Camilla’s bound to be scared.” Kay finally explained. “I was terrified. Before I go on, I would like to know what Camilla plans to do once the baby is born.”
“She ain’t gonna keep it. She’s gonna get rid of it as soon as it’s born. She doesn’t care what happens, but she wants it t’ be adopted. She doesn’t even wanna hold th’ poor kid when it’s born.”
“I can tell you that she’s very afraid. I couldn’t have gotten through having our baby without David with me.” She looked at her husband fondly. “It’s one of those things where a woman needs the man she loves with her at all times. She probably feels more comfortable with you around.”
“Then why’s she always gettin’ mad at me? It don’t make sense.”
“Like I said, she’s afraid. There’s nothing in the world like having a baby grow inside of you. It’s an incredible feeling. But your feelings are always changing. She can be happy at one point, then angry at another, or just plain calm at another. She’s going to be like that till the baby’s born.”
“But why’s she gettin’ mad at me?”
“Cuz you’re th’ current man in ‘er life.” Pie Eater answered.
“I’m not th’ daddy.”
“But you’re in th’ daddy’s place.” He raised his mug to him to propose a toast. “Congratulations. You are now officially a man.”
“Shut up!” he rolled his eyes.
“That’s enough.” Kay said firmly, establishing peace. “Listen Snitch, Camilla’s about to become an unmarried mother. And that probably scares her more than anything in the world.”
“But I wanna be there for her. I don’t wanna see ‘er scared no more.”
“I’m sure she appreciates that. But unless she has the blood father with her, I’m sure that you won’t do completely for her. She would probably have more comfort in knowing whether the father was there or not.”
“She prolly ain’t never gonna see him again.”
“So you’re all she has. If you were the father, things would be different. She would probably be more comfortable in knowing that you have that physical bond between you.”
“An’ that bond is between ‘er ‘n’ someone else.”
“Exactly. You two don’t have that bond. Therefore, she’s bound to be testy with you around. She needs someone to vent her anger on. You stepped in, so now you’re her target. It’s not going to be that loving though since you aren’t marriage, or the father.”
He bent his head downward and shook his. “What have I gotten myself into?”
“Your heart is in the right place, Snitch. In the long run, I’m sure she’ll thank you for it. You just might save her sanity by doing this.”
“Or maybe y’all get married afterward.” Pie Eater added with a sly grin.
“Don’t think that thought hasn’t crossed my mind. I wanted t’ bring it up t’ her, till she told me what happened. She definitely ain’t ready for a commitment like this. She needs time t’ heal.”
“But ya ain’t gonna pass up that idea now, are ya?”
“I’ll hafta wait till after th’ baby’s born. An’ after that…it’s up t’ Camilla.”
* * *
