Chapter 12

May 8th came. Stefany's period didn't. Penny and I had our hands full helping Stef and Eddie keep their heads together for the next ten days. Will and Abby got home from college on May 17th. My mom took a day off and drove the family mini-van down to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia to pick up Will, Abby and all the things two teenagers can accumulate in the course of a school year.

Will and Abby were sorting through Will's things, trying to fit everything into the room Will would share with Andy for the next few weeks. I ran into Will and Andy's room when I got home from school. I nearly shouted, "Abby it's so good to see you!" as I hugged her.

Abby smiled at me and said, "It's nice to see you too, Kyle."

Will cleared his throat. I noticed. "Hi Will. It's good to have you home." I shook his hand. I asked, "Do you have a minute? Does Abby know about Stef?"

Will answered, "Yes and yes."

I continued, "Stefany didn't have her period nine days ago. Things don't look good. Can you and Abby pick up a pregnancy test tomorrow during the day?"

Will said, "OK. What is the plan?"

"Eddie, Stef, Penny and I will meet you after school. Stef can take the test. Then all of us can help Eddie and Stef through whatever happens. Penny and I have been working overtime the past two weeks trying to help them keep their spirits up."

Will thought a moment and said, "Hmmm, OK it sounds like a plan. I'll get the test kit tomorrow morning."

"Thanks, Will." I said.

Will asked, "Where's Andy?"

"I think he's down in the family room. He has a study date with his girlfriend." I explained.

Abby asked, "Andy has a girlfriend?"

"Yep. He is going with Heather Miller, Jon's younger sister."

Will rolled his eyes. "It doesn't pay to leave here for long. I feel lost. You are a football star and have a steady girlfriend. Even Andy has a girlfriend. What happened to my two little brothers that I knew nine month ago?"

"We grew up." I answered simply. I left Abby and Will to their work.

--oooOooo--

Eddie and I explained to Zack that we couldn't make it to practice that day. Zack wasn't real happy, but we promised that it wouldn't happen again. Zack decided that he would fill in during the drills for the day. We had already made arrangements for Abby to pick up Stefany after school was over and drive her to my house. Eddie, Penny and I would meet at my house after we got off the bus.

Will met us at the door when we came in. Andy headed for his room. The rest of us found seats in the living room. Abby and Stef arrived about ten minutes later. Will handed the test kit to Stef and explained how it worked. Stef headed to the bathroom to take the test.

We all sat around the living room talking. Talking about nothing in particular, just passing the time until we found out. Will glanced at his watch and asked, "Are you ready Stef?"

Stef whispered, "I can't look. Ed, can you?"

Eddie looked like someone had prodded him with an electric prod. "NO!"

Will said, "I'll look at it. You guys get ready."

Will came back about thirty seconds later. The expression on his face was pained. "I'm sorry, Stefany. It says you are pregnant."

Stef sobbed a couple times then collapsed, wailing. Penny and Abby did their best to comfort her. I looked at Eddie. He had that blank, straight ahead stare again.

"Eddie?" I asked gently as I massaged his shoulder. He didn't respond. "Eddie?"

Finally he turned his head. He didn't look at me, or Stef or anyone else. "She can't be. It can't be true." Eddie turned his head to me and looked at me. "Kkkylleee?"

Eddie collapsed onto me. He started crying. I didn't feel comfortable about this, but I hugged Eddie. I knew he needed it.

Will and Abby let Stef and Eddie cry for about ten minutes. They finally were cried out. Stefany sobbed, "Abby, can this test be wrong?"

Abby answered, "It's possible but unlikely. When you take the test this long after when your period is due, it is almost always right."

Eddie asked, "What ... what ... are we going ... to do?" between sobs.

Will used his 'command voice.' "Listen ... to ... me!"

Stef and Eddie looked up at Will. "You need to see your doctor or go to the clinic in Lancaster. You need to confirm that the test is correct. What do you want Stef? Do you want to see your doctor or go to the clinic."

"If I went to my doctor, would he tell my parents?"

"I don't know Stef. I do know if you go to the clinic, they cannot call your parents. The visit will be completely confidential."

Eddie suggested quietly, "Stef, why don't we go to the clinic?"

Stef said, "OK."

Will picked up the phone and dialed it. "I'm going to set up an appointment for you right away." Will walked to the kitchen and talked on the phone for a minute. He stuck his head back in the living room. "Is tomorrow after school OK?"

Stef and Eddie nodded. Penny said, "Will, make an appointment for me too. I want to get on the pill." Will nodded.

He came back to the living room after another minute. "Everything is set. Stef, you have an appointment for 4 pm. Penny, your appointment is for 4:15."

Eddie asked, "Will we be back in time for dinner at home?"

Will shook his head and said, "No. Let's call tomorrow 'dinner and a movie' for our three couples. How does that sound?"

Everyone agreed. Abby and Penny helped Stef fix her face so it didn't look like she had spent the past hour crying. Girls can do amazing things with make-up.

I talked to Penny before she went home. I asked, "Why did you decide to get on the pill?"

"I found out I can get it confidentially at the clinic. You realize that what is happening to Stef and Ed could have been happening to us? I can't take that chance."

"I'm glad you decided to do this. Seeing what Justin and Sherry went through scared me. I don't want to end up like them."

I gave Penny a kiss when she left. I was proud of Will and relieved he had agreed to help. I felt helpless when the test came back positive. Will kept everyone focused on the next step. I have a great big brother.

At dinner, Will asked to borrow the mini-van for the 'dinner-date' tomorrow night. I felt bad lying to my parents about what we were doing. Mom and Dad worked out a way for them to share the other car. Just as we finished dessert, Dad announced, "Will, you and I are going car shopping on Saturday. With you home, we need more than two cars."

Will smiled and said, "Cool. Thanks, Dan."

Dad said, "Don't get too excited, Will. I am looking for something old and cheap. All I want is something that runs. Do you understand?"

"Hey, any kind of wheels will be nice," Will replied.

--oooOooo--

Will, Abby, Penny, Eddie and I met at my house for our 'night out.' Will drove over to Stef's house to pick her up. When Stef got in, Abby asked, "Are you ready for this, Stef?"

Stef straightened up a little and said forcefully, "I'm ready. I can do this." Eddie hugged her and gave her a kiss.

"I'll be at your side the whole way, Stef," Eddie declared.

"Thank you, Ed."

The drive to the clinic in Lancaster was very quiet. Will parked the car while the rest of us went inside. Stef and Penny left their names at the front desk and found seats with us. Will joined us a couple minutes later. The nurse called for Stefany. Stef walked over to the nurse. Eddie hopped up and followed too. The nurse sent Eddie back to our seats and took Stef back for her test. About ten minutes later the nurse called for Penny. I gave her a kiss before she disappeared in the back. The four of us left in the waiting area talked quietly, trying to pass the time.

Stef came back after about fifteen minutes. Eddie asked expectantly, "Well?"

"They are running the tests now," Stef explained. "We will know in a little while."

Penny came out and sat beside me. "I'm all set. I'm in good health. They gave me a prescription for the pill. All we need to do is stop at a drug store and get the prescription filled. Then we wait two months."

"OK," I said quietly. I would be working at scout camp when it was safe to have sex with Penny without condoms. Oh well. At least I would get to experience bareback sex when I got home from camp.

I came out of my reverie when the nurse asked for Stef again. Eddie stood up too. When the nurse told Stef that Eddie could come too, he practically ran to be with her. They were gone for twenty minutes.

Eddie had his arm around Stef when they came out. Both of them had a determined look on the faces. We met them by the front door. We went outside. The door was barely closed when we bombarded them with questions.

Eddie said, "Hang on, guys. Let us talk."

Stef quietly said, "I'm pregnant. They confirmed it. I'm due to give birth on January 17th. Ed and I have a lot to plan for."

Will said, "Abby and I want to treat all of you to dinner tonight. Anyone interested in steak? How about Outback Steak House?"

Everyone agreed. Will drove us the couple miles over to the restaurant. We spent most of the meal talking with Stef and Eddie about their choices. Everyone offered to help in any way possible. It took Will and Abby quite a bit of coaxing, but they convinced Stef and Eddie to talk to their parents soon. When dinner was done, it was much too late to go to a movie like we told our parents. Will took us for ice cream in Strasburg. Eddie and Stef decided to break the news to their parents on Sunday afternoon. Will stopped off at Groff's Pharmacy so Penny could get her prescription filled.

--oooOooo--

I wasn't surprised when Eddie didn't show up to train on Sunday night. I didn't really expect him. Will, Andy and I lifted weights. Jeremy joined us for our nightly run. Andy and Jeremy were curious where Eddie was, but Will and I wouldn't say.

Monday morning Penny, Andy and I were already at the bus stop when Eddie came. He looked like hell. It didn't look like he gotten any sleep last night. I asked, "How are you doing?"

"They didn't kill me ... yet," Eddie joked grimly.

I directed, "Andy, please go down the walk about twenty feet. Eddie and I need some privacy."

Andy grumbled, "Why do I have to?"

"Kyle, it's OK. Andy can stay," Eddie said. "He'll find out soon enough."

I looked at Andy and explained, "Eddie and Stef found out she is pregnant on Friday night. They told their parents yesterday."

"OH!" Andy exclaimed, looking worried.

"How did things go yesterday?" I asked.

"Better than I expected when we told my parents. I thought they would yell and scream. They didn't. But, boy were they disappointed in me. In some ways, I wish they had yelled. I couldn't take the look of pain in my Mom's face. It really hurt.

"We went to Stefany's house next. Things got really ugly then. We explained what had happened. Stef's Mom was mad at me. Stef's dad absolutely freaked. He screamed in my face. He asked me how I could do something like this to his little girl. It was awful. This went on for an hour. I finally had to leave. I couldn't take it anymore.

"Our parents got together after dinner to discuss what we are going to do. The only decision so far is that Stef won't have an abortion. Beyond that, who knows?"

I offered, "You know Penny and I will do anything we can to help you."

"I know that, Kyle. Thanks."

Penny added, "I'm sorry this is so hard for you two."

Eddie straightened up a little. "I can't be little kid anymore. I need to grow up. I'm going to be a father in eight months. Stef and I will manage."

I smiled a little. This was the Eddie I have known for most of my life. Tough as nails when things get hard. We changed the subject when the rest of the kids at our bus stop arrived.

Word slowly spread among our friends during the week of school. Everyone was supportive.

On Friday evening, my little sister Lizzie had a sleep over at a friend's house. It was just us boys with Mom and Dad for supper. During dessert Mom said, "I had an interesting conversation with Mrs. Fritz last evening. Did you boys know that Ed got his girlfriend Stefany pregnant?"

All three of us nodded yes. Mom continued, "Mrs. Fritz said that one of Ed's friends found out that they had unprotected sex and talked them into taking a pregnancy test. She also said that the friend's older brother drove them to the clinic to confirm that Stefany was pregnant. Do you boys know anything about that?"