Part 4
Part Three
“I didn’t mean that. I just…I don’t know right now if I love it or not.”
“Karen, look at me.”
She did as she was told.
“I’m sorry I walked off like I did when ya told me the news. I was just confused ‘n’ scared ‘n’ shocked. I shouldn’t’ve left ya alone. I gave ya th’ wrong impression. But I got t’ thinkin’, an’ I want ya t’ know that I want this baby.”
“You do?” she wiped a tear from her eye.
“Yeah. I’m gonna work even harder t’ find a job now, an’ buy us a place so we cin have th’ baby ‘n’ raise it. An’ t’morrow, we’ll tell the newsies.”
“No.”
“No what?”
“No, we can’t tell the newsies.”
“Why not?”
She hesitated. “Did your mother ever have any miscarriages?”
He nodded solemnly, reminded of how his mother had died. “Yeah.”
“My mother did too. And she once told me that they were common in her family line. So did my papa. The doctor said the odds of my losing the baby are still there, although they aren’t as great as they were when I was in my first trimester.”
“So you’re sayin’ you cin lose th’ baby?” he murmured sadly.
“Yeah.” She hid her face in his arm. “I don’t want them to know until I know that the baby’s safe.”
“When’ll that be?”
“In about two months. Then I’ll know for sure.”
There was a brief moment of silence between the two. It was broken when Pie Eater came to a realization that made him tense.
“Did Fantasia go wit ya t’ th’ doctor?”
“Yes.”
“Does she know?”
“Yes. I had to tell her everything because she was in the room when the doctor gave me the news. But don’t worry, she promised not to tell anyone.”
“I’m glad.” He paused. “Are we still gonna do th’ bed ‘n’ breakfast? I’ll cancel it if ya want, now that yer in th’ condition that you are.”
“No, it’s alright. I want to go. But I guess we’ll hafta spend that time talking about the baby and planning for it.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
The arm he had looped around her suddenly moved. As she cuddled closer to him, she felt his hand press up against her stomach. However, it was in the wrong place, and she took her hand and moved his to the right spot.
“Is that where th’ baby is?”
“Yeah.”
“Wow.” He grinned. “Whaddaya think it is? Boy ‘r’ girl?”
“I dunno.” She yawned. “But I know one thing though. This baby is really making me tired.”
In order for her to be more comfortable, he scooted into the corner and lay back with Kay resting against him. She was thankful for his repositioning and closed her eyes. Before long, she was sound asleep.
All the while, Pie Eater’s hand remained on her stomach with hers over his. A warm sensation overcame him and a smile came to his face.
“I’m gonna be a daddy.” He said quietly. “I’m gonna be a daddy!”
* * *
Kloppman’s alarm clock awakened him at five-thirty, and he dressed and readied for the new day. At six, he was to wake the newsies so they could prepare to leave for work. Yet as he left his bedroom, he noticed the two newsies in the corner.
At first, it was a sweet sight. Pie Eater and Kay were sleeping peacefully in the corner, curled up together on the bench next to the stove. Pie Eater’s left arm was wrapped around Kay’s back with his hand resting on the back of her head. His other hand was placed on her stomach. Kay also had her arm wrapped around his waist, and her hand was resting of top of his.
The sight was charming, then Kloppman frowned. They knew the rules, and cuddling and especially sleeping together was breaking the rules. He went over to them and slapped Pie Eater’s head. He awoke with a start, but Kay remained asleep. When he saw the old man standing there and found Kay sleeping against him, he grinned guiltily.
“Mornin’, Kloppman.” He said innocently.
“If I’m not mistaken, boy, that’s your girl who’s sleeping with you.”
He glanced down at her, and the guilty grin remained. “Well, by George, you’re right!”
“You’ve got some explaining to do.”
“I’m real sorry Kloppman, but we had a real important matter t’ discuss ‘n’ then she got all tired ‘n’ fell asleep. I was gonna take ‘er upstairs but I got tired too ‘n’ fell asleep. It was ‘n accident.”
“Accident or no accident, you’ve broken two rules. That’s a major offense in this lodging house.”
“I’m sorry. It ain’t gonna happen again.”
“See to it that it won’t. Now wake her up and get on upstairs.”
Pie Eater complied and carefully shook Kay to awaken her. When she wouldn’t, he rose to his feet and lifted her from the bench. Surprisingly, she still felt as though she had not gained any weight at all. This was good, so he carried her up the stairs to her bunkroom.
Although it was forbidden for boys to enter the girls’ room, he knew that Kloppman wouldn’t mind him putting Kay to bed. He gently set her on her bed, kissed her cheek, then covered her with her blanket and returned to his own bunkroom. Starting now, they were in a brand new life, one that they needed to work in together.
The first thing he needed to do was find another job. And there was one other person who absolutely needed to know of this. That man was Pie Eater’s father.
* * *
Pie Eater hadn’t spoken to Joseph Kendric in months. He hadn’t even told him of his marriage to Kay. He had left his father when he was sixteen and they hadn’t parted on very good terms. It was rare for either to visit the other without finding themselves in an argument.
He felt a little foolish leaving Kay at home by herself, but his father needed to know. He wondered what his reaction would be. Should he tell him of the marriage first, or of the baby? If he told him of the baby first, that was almost sure to spark another argument. Although Pie Eater didn’t want to admit it, he needed his father at this delicate time.
Joseph owned a carpenter’s shop in Chinatown. Apparently, his household furniture was growing quite popular, for Pie Eater had seen rocking chair with a tag attached that said: “Rocking chairs by Kendric.” He had seen these chairs at several appliance stores and with street vendors.
Once Pie Eater entered the shop, he could hear the familiar sounds of a hammer and chisel in the back room, indicating the Joseph was working. He walked to the back room and leaned against the doorframe. Joseph didn’t even look up.
“It’s been a while, David.” He said as he sanded the corner of the ornate picture frame he was designing.
“Yeah, a long while.” Pie Eater murmured. “How’s business?”
“Thriving, like I told you it would be someday. If you’d listened to me, we’d be in this business together and you wouldn’t be on the streets.”
“I ain’t on the streets. I got a lodgin’ house.”
“And you pay every night you stay there. If you hadn’t run off, you wouldn’t have to pay for your lodge and meals. And you’d have one heck of a paycheck.”
“I ain’t here t’ talk about how I’m livin’ now. Somethin’s come up.”
“If you think you can use me to fix your broken down lodging house, you’re in for a disappointment.”
“It ain’t about th’ lodgin’ house or anythin’ like that. It’s about me, an’ somethin’ you needta know about.”
This sparked Joseph’s attention. Ever since his son had left, he had never come back speaking like this. He set down his tools and gave him his full attention.
“This is a first. You’ve never shared anything with me like this before.”
“That’s because it’s gonna affect you too.”
He folded his arms across his chest. “Bring it on.”
“I toldja th’ last time I was ‘ere that I got me a nice girl.”
“I remember. Kay or Jay, was that what you called her? One of the letters of the alphabet.”
“Kay. Short for Karen.”
“Karen. Nice.”
“Ya see, she ‘n’ me, we…well, about five months ago we-”
“She’s pregnant, isn’t she?”
Shrugging, Pie Eater nodded. Joseph snorted with a smirk and returned to his work.
“All those years.” He muttered, almost to himself. “Your mother and I kept telling you and telling you, and it just went right through one ear and out the other.”
“That ain’t true! I actually listened t’ ya for once! Five months ago, we got married. She’s only three months pregnant! We weren’t like you ‘n’ ma!”
Joseph flung the tools from his hands. “Don’t you ever speak about your mother like that!”
“It wasn’t just her fault, it was yours too!”
“Yes, and you’re the result of that mistake. Don’t think that because we taught you better means you’ve got the right to gloat about it. Especially under these circumstances.”
“I ain’t gloating! Yer th’ one who brought it up! If ya’d let me tell ya like I’d planned-”
“Don’t you use that tone of voice with me, young man. You may not live under my roof anymore, but I’m still your father, and your voice of authority.”
“For Pete’s sake, pa! I came ‘ere t’ tell ya this great news! Why can’tcha jus’ put it b’hind ya that I gotta live on my own?”
Joseph retrieved his tools. “You’re just like your bull-headed mother. She was always too independent.”
Pie Eater had never known why his father had argued with him so much when they were living together, and now, things were coming together. He was too much like his mother. After she had died, Joseph had gone crazy. Perhaps the reason why they never seemed to be a happy family was because he had too much of Margaret in him.
Ma had always told him that he may look like his father, but he inherited had her spirit. And pa had once told him that it was Margaret’s spirit that had aroused him and caused him to fall in love with her. Was Joseph so frustrated with him because it brought him pain that his son was so much like the wife he loved?
“Look pa,” he said, “I may be like ma, but I actually had th’ guts t’ come ‘ere an’ tell ya that yer gonna be a grandpa.”
Joseph chuckled humorlessly. “You did, didn’t you? Well, that’s nice.”
“That’s it? That’s nice?”
“You never told me you wanted me to say anything else.”
“You’re right. I guess I just expected too much from ya.”
“Get out of my shop.”
Without a word of reply, he left. And once he neared the lodging house, the fight was his father began to sink in. His own father’s words pierced deeper than any of the other foul words and names called to him as a child.
Although he would wait a while, he made a decision that he would make amends with his father before the baby was born.
* * *
From Christmas to New Year’s Day, the newsies would often disappear for up to three days to visit with any remaining family members or close friend. Seven was even taking Bumlets with her to her aunt’s to introduce the two. This was the perfect time for Pie Eater and Kay to finally spend some time together.
Kay left first, telling the newsies that she had a friend she was going to spend time with for about a day. Then, as it became later, Pie Eater announced that his father had been in an accident and needed to see to him. He then rushed toward the bed and breakfast he had reserved for him and Kay.
Before he arrived, he stopped by a sandwich shop and picked up two meals for dinner. Along the way, he also stopped by another shop to pick up some more food, specific foods that Kay had been craving.
Then he continued to the bed and breakfast and told the manager that he had a reservation. He told him that a young woman had already arrived, and he smiled and told him that she was his wife. The manager instantly ushered him upstairs.
He opened the door and walked in. At first, Kay was nowhere to be seen, then she called from the washroom, telling him that she would be right out. He set the bag of sandwiches on the nearby desk and took a seat on the bed.
Kay emerged from the washroom with a small smile on her face. She was happy to see him, but her eyes were red from tears. Pie Eater rose to his feet and embraced her.
“Are you doing okay?” he asked.
“Yeah.” She answered. “It’s just that with me having the baby, I cry a lot. And I don’t have any reason to.”
“I’m sure we’ll find out tomorrow, since that’s when you’re supposed t’ see th’ doctor.”
She nodded. “I know. Did you get the stuff?”
“Sure did!” he swept the bag up. “Got everythin’ ya ast for. Pastrami sandwich wid lots ‘f pickles ‘n’ mustard, baked beans, a red apple ‘n’ th’ piece ‘f chocolate cake.”
“Mmm.” Kay grinned. “Sounds delicious.”
Pie Eater found a sheet, unfolded it and spread it across the floor. Kay watched on in wonder.
“What’re you doing?”
“Makin’ it like a picnic.” He emptied the bag’s contents onto the sheet. “C’mon, siddown!”
She knelt onto the sheet and picked up her sandwich. With a careful bite, she closed her eyes and savored the taste.
“Oh, this tastes so good!” she exclaimed. “You are such a lifesaver.”
“Thanks.”
She devoured the entire sandwich in a short amount of time, then began on the beans. At first, she ate them with the spoon that came with them, then she took up the apple and dunked it in the beans. As Pie Eater observed her, she bit into the apple with the bean fluid dripping off of it, and he shrieked in horror.
“What’re ya doin’?” he demanded.
“What?” Kay asked, her mouth full of bean-covered apple.
“That…that apple dunkin’! That’s gross!”
“No it’s not! This is the best thing I’ve ever tasted!”
Pie Eater shuddered as she continued to dunk the apple into the beans and eating it. Then, she took the chocolate cake and bit into it. And after that bite, she did the unthinkable. She dunked it into the beans.
“No, don’t do it!” Pie Eater begged.
She ignored him and took another bite of the chocolate cake covered in bean residue. This time, Pie Eater was ready to lose his dinner.
“Now that is just plain sick!” he screeched.
“That’s odd, it tastes good to me.” she dunked the cake again. “Wanna bite?”
“No way.”
“Alright. I think I’m doing this because I’ve got the baby coming.”
“What’s that got t’ do with it?”
“I’ve been having these weird cravings, sometimes for just one thing or combinations of things. Like the apple and the cake with the beans.”
“Don’t go there again!”
“I won’t. I just think it has to do with the baby.”
She finished her dinner, then Pie Eater gathered the trash and utensils and shoved them into the bag. Then, as early as it was, Kay crawled into bed and lay on her side. Pie Eater seated himself beside her, confused at her behavior.
“You’re tired already?”
She nodded sleepily. “Yeah. Like I said, I think it has to do with the baby.”
“Oh. Well, will ya roll onto your back?”
“Why?”
“No reason. Please?”
“Alright.”
She rolled onto her back and exhaled heavily. Then Pie Eater crawled beside her and smiled.
“I wantcha t’ do one more thing.”
“What’s that?”
“Lift up your shirt a little.”
She laughed loudly. “What now?”
“Trust me!”
Shrugging, she lifted her shirt and bunched it around her ribcage. Then, Pie Eater caressed his hand against the pale bare skin of her stomach, feeling for the baby.
“Where is he?” he asked.
She took his hand. “I think he’s here.”
He kept his hand in the spot where she had set it, then he repositioned and set his ear against her stomach. She laughed again.
“What’re you doing? You’re tickling me!”
“I’m jus’ listin’ for th’ baby.”
Her laughing ceased. She saw this as not a joke, and nothing to laugh at. She touched his hair.
“Can you hear anything?”
“Not yet, but I’m list’nin’.”
She stroked his hair as his ear remained on her stomach, listening for any proof that the baby knew he was there. Then, he grinned.
“I hear ‘im!” he declared softly. “I hear ‘im!”
Kay leaned her head back and allowed tears of joy to flow. “I can’t believe it. What does he sound like?”
“Ah, it’s hard t’ tell. But ‘e’s movin’. Wait, I think ‘e’s sayin’ somethin’!”
He was playing with her, and she knew it. Grinning with the tears still flowing, she decided to play along.
“What’s he saying?”
“Lemme listen.” He paused. “Aw. He’s sayin’ that he loves ya.”
Her tears of joy were later joined with cries. Once Pie Eater heard her, he left her stomach to see why she was crying.
“What’s wrong?”
“That’s just so sweet.” She cried more. “I love you so much.”
“And I love ya too.”
He kissed her lips softly, then drew back. He could see her pulse throbbing in her throat and kissed it tenderly to calm her senses. Her chest heaved as she exhaled shakily.
“Karen, are you okay?”
She nodded. “I’m fine. I just can’t believe this is happening.”
“What’s it like?”
“It’s so strange.” She took his hand and set it on her heart. “Feel my heart.”
“Feels like it’s goin’ awful fast.”
“I know. It’s because I’m beginning to realize what’s going on. I actually have life growing inside of me, and I can’t believe it.” she touched her stomach. “There’s actually a baby in there, growing and developing into a person. Oh David, it’s such a beautiful feeling.”
She took his hand from her heart and set it on her stomach again. When he smiled at her, she felt ready to melt.
“Can you feel that?”
“Think so. Feels like yer tummy’s shakin’.”
“I think it’s too early for the baby to kick, but I think he’s moving a little bit.”
Instantly, his ear was back on her stomach, listening for anything at all. He still couldn’t hear a thing, but could feel the tiniest vibration.
“Honey?” she said.
“Yeah?”
“Will you do something for me while you’re down there?”
“‘Course. Whaddaya want me t’ do?”
“Tell the baby that I love him.”
He lifted his head to see her face. When he saw the joyous tears in her eyes and the sincere smile on her face, he grinned. Then his sight went to her stomach and he rubbed the place from where her stomach was rounding the tiniest bit.
“I got somethin’ t’ say t’ ya, liddle guy.” He whispered. “Your mama ‘n’ I, we love ya.”
He kissed the tiny bulge, then pulled Kay’s shirt down over her skin. She fell asleep shortly afterward with one hand holding her stomach as though to embrace her unborn child. She had meant what she said: she loved this baby. And though times would be tough, she knew she could count on Pie Eater to be at her side every step of the way.
* * *
