"Then you can't have this baby!"
"I'm having it!"
As they argued, my mind drifted back to an October night in 1965.
"Shell? Are you awake?""Ma? Are you listening?"
"No."
"I can't sleep."
"What's wrong tonight?"
"Something's wrong with Becky and Sandy. They never smile anymore."
"That's because their mom is pregnant."
"Soooooo?"
"She's not married."
"But her name is MRS. Bartlett."
"She's divorced. You can't have a baby if you're not married."
I listened to them from my perch on the top step and didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. At 10, Shelby so sure of the rules. Two years younger, Carol already worried about other people.
"Shell, everyone is listening."
This is a Saturday Centus. The prompt is boldly italicized and surrounded by 100 carefully chosen words.
Troubled waters, I'd say. Great Centus.
ReplyDeleteIsn't amazing how little ones are so serious about appropriate behavior? I wonder where they get that...
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog! I love the look of yours. The picture is so refreshing; I miss the beaches of California. It's 98 degrees here in St. Louis, MO, with humidity somewhere close to that number! Yuck!
Enjoy your day!
hmmm...how times have changed...now its babies making babies...
ReplyDeleteThis one had me reading and re-reading... Wow. Odd, yet so real. Pat on the back, Cheryl!
ReplyDeletethought provoking
ReplyDeleteAnother great one! I so like your style, Cheryl.
ReplyDeleteHave a great Sunday. ~ Sarah
I read this twice, how long did it take to construct? I'm curious as to the process...it seems like fun.
ReplyDeleteLittle ones take everything so literally.
ReplyDeleteI read this twice, and I really like it Cheryl. It really brought back some memories of conversations with my sister. It takes a while for older sibling to realize that not everything is black and white :) And I love the last line!
ReplyDeleteGreat one.
ReplyDeleteLife is real isn't it.
LOL....
seems like real
ReplyDeletethanks for your visit
How delightful! I loved the intermingled conversations! I do like the funny ideas and opinions that kids have!
ReplyDeleteThanks for a wonderful story!
Malisa
Love how you chose to present this one. Very clever ... and I'm impressed when anyone can get Blogger to do the spacing like they want to!
ReplyDeleteInteresting take on the prompt, Cheryl! Well done!
ReplyDeleteMy son, 15 and clueless, apparently, STILL thinks you can't have a baby without being married...and I have half a mind to not tell him otherwise.
ReplyDeleteI never really thought what would happen to an adult unmarried woman before 1972 - not like she could leave her kids and go to an unwed girls' home.
Wonder what these same families would decide to do today, when single parenthood is more accepted?
An interesting take on the prompt, I really like it. Nice writing. :-)
ReplyDeleteCheryl, love this little vignette into times and attitudes past.
ReplyDeleteThis was really well written. Your words were perfect at portraying then and now differences.
And telling a wonderful story on top of that!
Thanks for linking.