Pregnant by Craig Prater
"There was definitely a problem" I thought to myself. I mean peeing twice in half an hour. That's just not right, is it? Here's my story to tell you that everything was alright. In fact it was perfect.
I stood beside the synthetic tree, its branches still and motionless, while my sister went to urinate. Again. The tree was scarily unrealistic. The brown was patchy with the underlay colour shining through, the leaves were quite obviously made out of paper and the branches were shiny plastic. I could feel my eyes expand, my palms drenched themselves in sweat as I saw the price of the ‘fake' tree. It was a ridiculous price for a real three hundred year old oak tree from the grounds of Buckingham palace (that may have been a slight exaggeration but that is how shocked I was) never mind this fake paper tree. Seeing this it was highly doubtful that I would be able to afford anything in this joint. So all in all I was having a horrendous day. My sister had left me looking like an idiot in a place were everyone walks around with their noses in the air as I stood in my chavtastic gear (hoodie check, trackies check, trainers check) and my only companion was a tree made out of plastic. Now it appeared as if my sister had a freakishly small bladder. Great.
The door creaked open and my sister appeared, white skin and sweat beads made it noticeable that she was clammy and ‘not right' as my mother would say. Her hair was bunched in her slim nimble hands as she caressed her fingers tenderly through it to try and straighten it out. That was so weird for her. Usually, in fact always, her long glossy brown locks were perfect; always in place sitting just below her neck line, straight by the ways of her God (her GHD's) and shiny due to the expensive salon bought conditioner that she used everyday without fail. Now it was a bit of a mess. Okay it was a real mess but I wasn't about to tell her that. Being slapped in such a prestigious place as this was not appropriate conduct at all. But hey maybe the hand drier was a bit too strong in its blow? It was a possibility. "Nice pee?" I inquired in my annoying brotherly way, trying to ignore my concerns after seeing the hair situation. She glared.
Her eyes locked onto mine. They didn't move. Fixed. They were perfectly clear; the blue was the colour of the ocean in those typical ‘Going Places' brochures, the whites were like paper that had just been freshly pressed (cliché I know but it was definitely true) and the pupils were as black as a new pair of boots, reflecting myself back at me. I wish I was one of those people who could read a look but I'm not, which made it difficult for me to understand what was going on. Although this may be true there was a definite glint in her eyes. Even I could see it. "I had a can of diet coke, okay? She stated at me as her eyes averted from mine as if I was giving her an accusing gaze. Was I?
We started to descend the stairs down to the arts and crafts area where all the mothers came to by an apron for their kids to wear at nursery so their ‘Next' clothes didn't get dirty. One. Two. Three. I stopped counting to ask her the same question again just to divert the silence to another area of the shop. Now, you might be thinking that I'm a little brat hell bent on annoying my sister and although that's true to a certain degree I was genuinely worried for her. And hey it's my job to be annoying; I'm the youngest of three and the only boy. Anyways she didn't say anything at first. She just looked up from looking at the grey carpeted stairs, an excited smile owning her face.
"What?" I asked her quite astonished and intrigued why she had the biggest grin I had ever seen. "Craig" she said to me in her confident way yet this time as she spoke her voice tone lowered and she went to an almost whisper" I wasn't peeing." Now I know that this seems like an odd conversation, especially between a brother and his sister but you have to remember it started off because I was bored and blamed her for being so. "Erm, so why the hell did you keep me waiting love?" I remarked adding ‘love' because it sounded sarcastic in my head. She looked at me about to speak. "Oh Kerie you weren't pooing were you? How embarrassing. Oh my God. You actually make me sick." Just so you know I didn't actually say the word ‘pooing' but I thought I better not say the actual word. "Oh shut up ya freak" she laughed back at me. "I was throwing up"
"Ergh. That's disgusting. Oh and if you've got a bug stay away from me." I grunted disapprovingly. "It's not good if you're sick," I added trying to show my concern that had now returned to me.
"It is considering that I am pregnant." Then and there is when I lost control of myself. I flung my arms around her, not squeezing to tight encase I squished the baby. I let her go and she laughed. I hugged her again. And again. And again.
