Welcome Visitor: Login to the siteJoin the site

Brightly Colored Feathers

Short story By: Hiddleworth

Roy and Susan have just started working together at a lumber company. He is an intern bookkeeper, and she is a receptionist. They soon start dating. Then Roy meets Trisha, a student at a nearby university Roy is attending, and they fall in love. When Susan tells Roy that she is pregnant, he offers to pay for an abortion. She refuses and then informs Trisha of the situation. Susan is subsequently fired from her job, and she believes that Roy and Trisha may have had something to do with it. Susan finally has a miscarriage. Another surprise awaits her.

Submitted:Jun 13, 2011    Reads: 107    Comments: 0    Likes: 0   

She stood up and cleared the table to make room for the plastic tray of cookies that Keith brought. Trisha gave Roy one in spite of his not having said anything.

"Your sister is here, Roy," Keith said.

"Tell her I'll be there in a minute."

As Keith left, Trisha continued, "I keep thinking about the past. I remember a lot about elementary school and all the things that happened back then. Well, I don't want to harp on this."

"Why don't you get back together with them?"

"What would be the point? We've grown apart. I want bigger things for myself. They know I'm not like them." She shrugged. "Well, you don't want to keep your sister waiting."

Roy, expecting to find his sister, came downstairs to find Susan sitting on the front porch of the dormitory.

"I have something to tell you, Roy."

"We're watching my favorite show."

"Do I smell blueberry muffins? Is Yin here?"

Roy started to go back inside.

"Roy, I'm pregnant."

Roy paused. "Whose is it?"

"Yours, maybe Yin's." Susan took out a cigarette and lit it. "Don't ever smoke. It's bad for your health," she said.

"I'm not worried about getting sick from smoking."

"I have the day off. I thought we could go and see a movie." Susan looked for the slightest reaction. "Why don't you go and tell Trisha and that boy that your sister needs help with something? You can watch your TV show some other time." Susan put out the cigarette without having taken a puff.

The next day, Roy and Yin had lunch at the cafeteria.

"She says it might be yours," Roy said.

"That's impossible. Why would she say that?"

"We won't know until after the test."

"I think I know the results, especially since I never even met the girl. I think I would have to meet her first for that to happen."

Roy was stunned.

"Roy, what do you think your next step is? Think about it."

"I don't believe in abortion. It's a sin."




