I was only sixteen when I brought her home, the girl who had clearly been pregnant for some time and was a year older than me. Sophie studied at the same technical college as I did, just in a different year. For several days I watched this unfamiliar girl huddle into a corner and cry softly. Her rounding belly, the same clothes worn for two weeks and that empty, hopeless gaze did not escape my notice.
As it turned out, nearly everyone knew her story. The grandson of a well-known businessman in London had been seeing her, then simply vanished, heading off on urgent business to Manchester. His parents did not want to hear a thing about her and told her so directly. Her own parents, as if living in the Middle Ages and fearing the disgrace, threw her out of the house and went to their allotment. Some felt sorry for Sophie while others mocked her behind her back.
She only has herself to blame. She should have used her head.
I could not bear to watch any longer. I thought it over and approached her. It will not be easy, stop crying. I suggest you move in with me, we could even get married. But I will say it straight away, I cannot lie and I will not pretend everything is perfect. I will simply be there for you and I promise we will manage.
Sophie wiped her tears and looked at the lad. What could one say, just an ordinary boy without any refinement. She had dreamed of a completely different husband, yet in her situation there was no choice and Sophie came with me. My parents were shocked, Mum begged me to come to my senses, but I was firm. Mum, do not overreact, we will be fine somehow. I have two scholarships, the regular one and the social one. I will take on extra work, we will manage. But you wanted to go to university. So what, people get by without it. Dad has worked his whole life in the factory and you in the shop. Folks without degrees live too. Mum, this is not the end of the world.
Sophie moved into my room. I gave her my bed and shifted to the uncomfortable sofa bed. For several days she stayed very quiet. Like a shadow she held my hand on the way to college and back home until she finally burst out. I have had enough. Why do your parents look at me crossly, they do not like me. And why do you not spend time with me, you sit with your books or disappear somewhere.
I was surprised. Do you not think that is normal. Sure they do not like you but they took you in and they do not harass you. Cross looks. Your own parents do not even want to see you. And where are the parents of your child’s father. I sit with books because I study and do not want to get thrown out after the first year. The scholarship will help too. Disappear because I work extra and have no wish to watch weepy soap operas with you.
Sophie burst into tears. Why do you speak like that. How, I said I cannot lie. And by the way, when are we going to the register office. I cannot go like this, buy me a nice dress with a high waist so the belly is not visible. What are you talking about. We will bring a note from the doctor about the pregnancy, what dress. I still need to save for the pram and cot.
Mum reached for her valerian but slowly came to terms with the situation and glanced more often at baby clothes. After all nothing terrible was happening, let them live and marry and Dad and I would help as much as possible. Only this girl seemed rather ungrateful, always dissatisfied with me, with them, with the cramped flat. Maybe once she gave birth she would change.
But Sophie had no intention of changing. When I returned dirty and tired from the car wash, bringing a skinny cat into the room, she flew into a rage. You idiot, what do we need this ragged cat for. Get it out, throw it out of the flat. But I only smiled. No, she is pregnant. She is staying so do not even start. Better shut up and heat my dinner. Oh really, Sophie almost shrieked. Choose, either her or me. That beast is looking at me crossly too. Why, I looked at her in disbelief. It is my home and I do not have to choose. It is my cat and if it bothers you then leave. Even Mum never set such conditions for me. Maybe it is time to stop looking down on everyone.
Sophie was hysterical, crying and jealous of that thin neglected cat. Where did I even spot a belly on her. But the belly did appear, the cat really was pregnant. I was tired but whenever regret began to creep in I pushed those thoughts away. Somehow we would manage. Sophie would give birth and calm down and before that the cat would entertain everyone. The fluffy kittens would put everyone in a better mood.
But everything unfolded differently. Grandfather, the well-known entrepreneur in London, returned from a long business trip and learned about it all. He found his grandson, gave him a telling off and announced he would cut him off from the money if the great-grandson was raised in a stranger’s family. And the lad was very afraid of losing such support. Sophie left with him that same day without even saying goodbye to me. Luckily she had her documents with her as she was heading to the doctor after classes. She waved off her things, they would buy her new ones, and she would not return to this shabby technical college anymore.
I was crushed. How could she. She did not even say goodbye, call or say a word. I threw out all her things and sat for a long time alone in the dark, hugging my cat. The cat understood everything. She quietly nestled against me, sensing she was needed. She sympathized, purred and comforted me. I handled her birth myself, not letting my nervous Mum and confused Dad near the cat. I sat with her, spoke gently and calmed her. I watched to make sure everything went well and kept the phone ready to call the vet if needed.
Everything went fine, the cat gave birth to four little ones. I changed the bedding, brought fresh water and food. Once more I checked that all was in order and exhausted I lay down, closed my eyes, feeling the smallest kitten nestle into my hand. I thought that sometimes animals show more gratitude than people.I was only sixteen when I brought her home, the girl who had clearly been pregnant for some time and was a year older than me. Sophie studied at the same technical college as I did, just in a different year. For several days I watched this unfamiliar girl huddle into a corner and cry softly. Her rounding belly, the same clothes worn for two weeks and that empty, hopeless gaze did not escape my notice.
As it turned out, nearly everyone knew her story. The grandson of a well-known businessman in London had been seeing her, then simply vanished, heading off on urgent business to Manchester. His parents did not want to hear a thing about her and told her so directly. Her own parents, as if living in the Middle Ages and fearing the disgrace, threw her out of the house and went to their allotment. Some felt sorry for Sophie while others mocked her behind her back.
She only has herself to blame. She should have used her head.
I could not bear to watch any longer. I thought it over and approached her. It will not be easy, stop crying. I suggest you move in with me, we could even get married. But I will say it straight away, I cannot lie and I will not pretend everything is perfect. I will simply be there for you and I promise we will manage.
Sophie wiped her tears and looked at the lad. What could one say, just an ordinary boy without any refinement. She had dreamed of a completely different husband, yet in her situation there was no choice and Sophie came with me. My parents were shocked, Mum begged me to come to my senses, but I was firm. Mum, do not overreact, we will be fine somehow. I have two scholarships, the regular one and the social one. I will take on extra work, we will manage. But you wanted to go to university. So what, people get by without it. Dad has worked his whole life in the factory and you in the shop. Folks without degrees live too. Mum, this is not the end of the world.
Sophie moved into my room. I gave her my bed and shifted to the uncomfortable sofa bed. For several days she stayed very quiet. Like a shadow she held my hand on the way to college and back home until she finally burst out. I have had enough. Why do your parents look at me crossly, they do not like me. And why do you not spend time with me, you sit with your books or disappear somewhere.
I was surprised. Do you not think that is normal. Sure they do not like you but they took you in and they do not harass you. Cross looks. Your own parents do not even want to see you. And where are the parents of your child’s father. I sit with books because I study and do not want to get thrown out after the first year. The scholarship will help too. Disappear because I work extra and have no wish to watch weepy soap operas with you.
Sophie burst into tears. Why do you speak like that. How, I said I cannot lie. And by the way, when are we going to the register office. I cannot go like this, buy me a nice dress with a high waist so the belly is not visible. What are you talking about. We will bring a note from the doctor about the pregnancy, what dress. I still need to save for the pram and cot.
Mum reached for her valerian but slowly came to terms with the situation and glanced more often at baby clothes. After all nothing terrible was happening, let them live and marry and Dad and I would help as much as possible. Only this girl seemed rather ungrateful, always dissatisfied with me, with them, with the cramped flat. Maybe once she gave birth she would change.
But Sophie had no intention of changing. When I returned dirty and tired from the car wash, bringing a skinny cat into the room, she flew into a rage. You idiot, what do we need this ragged cat for. Get it out, throw it out of the flat. But I only smiled. No, she is pregnant. She is staying so do not even start. Better shut up and heat my dinner. Oh really, Sophie almost shrieked. Choose, either her or me. That beast is looking at me crossly too. Why, I looked at her in disbelief. It is my home and I do not have to choose. It is my cat and if it bothers you then leave. Even Mum never set such conditions for me. Maybe it is time to stop looking down on everyone.
Sophie was hysterical, crying and jealous of that thin neglected cat. Where did I even spot a belly on her. But the belly did appear, the cat really was pregnant. I was tired but whenever regret began to creep in I pushed those thoughts away. Somehow we would manage. Sophie would give birth and calm down and before that the cat would entertain everyone. The fluffy kittens would put everyone in a better mood.
But everything unfolded differently. Grandfather, the well-known entrepreneur in London, returned from a long business trip and learned about it all. He found his grandson, gave him a telling off and announced he would cut him off from the money if the great-grandson was raised in a stranger’s family. And the lad was very afraid of losing such support. Sophie left with him that same day without even saying goodbye to me. Luckily she had her documents with her as she was heading to the doctor after classes. She waved off her things, they would buy her new ones, and she would not return to this shabby technical college anymore.
I was crushed. How could she. She did not even say goodbye, call or say a word. I threw out all her things and sat for a long time alone in the dark, hugging my cat. The cat understood everything. She quietly nestled against me, sensing she was needed. She sympathized, purred and comforted me. I handled her birth myself, not letting my nervous Mum and confused Dad near the cat. I sat with her, spoke gently and calmed her. I watched to make sure everything went well and kept the phone ready to call the vet if needed.
Everything went fine, the cat gave birth to four little ones. I changed the bedding, brought fresh water and food. Once more I checked that all was in order and exhausted I lay down, closed my eyes, feeling the smallest kitten nestle into my hand. I thought that sometimes animals show more gratitude than people.
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