Sunkissed(2) rewrite: An old fasioned teen pregnacy

“Welcome Sir, may I help you with anything?” I said as once again another customer entered the dreary and dusty shop. It had been a rather busy day in the shop, for people around the village were getting supplies to make tomorrows Sunday meal. I was bitterly bored and the smugness of the shop made me sleepy. I had been listening to Beth and John bickering quietly in the back room all morning. Beth was once again trying to make things better between John and I, but it simply wouldn’t happen. It could be because we are so different, but we all know it’s just because we are so much alike, but we have too much pride to admit it. I could hear their quiet whispers from the back room and it had been the same discussion throughout the day.

“John, she is not a little girl anymore, alright? I see what you are trying to do here, but it’s simply not going to work. Keeping her from Peter is only going to make her want him more, don’t you see? Mama and Papa raised her, it’s too late to show her what’s right from wrong because she already knows it. If you ask me, I think Anna has turned in to be quite a lady for Mama being gone in her late adolescent years,” Beth said.

“She is a lady, Beth. I still am her legal guardian and she needs to show me respect and I have a right to show her what’s best for her!” Peter answered.

“If you want her to give you respect, you have to respect her first and the first way to do that is to let her be with Peter!” Beth said, her voice raising.

John sighed loudly and I could see his elbow resting on the worktable and his palm resting on his forehead. John had been the most hurt by our parents death. He had been only 16 at the time and forced to keep me, 14 at the time, and Beth, 15. I can still remember hearing him cry at night and the pain that was always written across his face. It wasn’t until three months ago, when he met Rebekah that everything had finally changed. The pain wore off his face and he began to smile. Beth had once tried to explain to me that the reason John was so terribly hard on me was because I was dating his best friend and I had always seemed more irresponsible than the rest of them. I had never quite understood that.

“Oh gosh, Beth. You must be right,” he finally managed to say.

“Go talk to her,” Beth’s soft voice said.

I heard soft footsteps enter the room and I turned myself around to arrange the apples in a row and then I heard him speak, “Let’s go for a walk.”

“It’s raining,” I answered dryly.

“You love the rain, Anna. You’re just making an excuse not to walk with me, now come on.”

I groaned before finally choking out a hardened “fine.”

John and I walked together silently for a while. The clouds overhead made the world see more dreary and the cold rain made my world and life seem worse. It felt like not ever Peter could cheer me up now. John and I finally stopped in a pasture beside the little village church where we attended every Sunday morning.

“I know you’re mad at me, Anna,” he said softly.

We were both silent for a few moments before I finally spoke, “You think I’m just mad, John?! I’m not mad. I’m furious! I’m furious because all these years you’ve been hurling rules at me telling me how I’m too serious with Peter and how we aren’t right for each other when you know good and well that we are. You and Peter used to be best friends and now look at it! You’re no more than…you don’t even know him anymore! I do! Peter is too scared to even kiss me because he’s scared you’ll be angry! And look at you now! You’re getting married to my best friend and look how I’m taking it! The only reason why I’m mad is because you are a hell of a hypocrite! You don’t even follow your own rules! You’re nothing but a foul hypocrite to me!”

The rain started to pound harder, matching the mood. My brown hair was now soaked and my yellow work dress was heavy from the rain. “Anna, I’m sorry! You are right. I am a hypocrite. I am a bloody hypocrite and I’m sorry. I don’t have anything to say but that I’m sorry. I just…the only reason I’ve been so hard the passed two years is because I didn’t want people saying how ever since Mum and Papa died I lost control and our family was a disgrace.”

I turned to meet his eyes and instead of feeling the anger I had felt minutes ago, I felt pure pity. “I’m sorry too, John. I really am. For a while Peter and I were too serious, but we…we never slept together if that’s what you want to know. Never ever, ever! You know Peter would never do such a thing. He would never take advantage of me. You don’t give the two of us enough credit. I’ll respect you, John, but you have to respect me. I don’t mind you getting married to Rebekah because I can see that you love her. I can see it, I really can.”

“Good. I don’t mind you getting married to Peter when you are ready,” he answered, “and I’m sorry.”

“Me too.” He then embraced me in a hug and we began to walk towards the shop.

When we approached the workroom, I quickly pulled my wet, brown ringlets into a tidy bun and slipped out of my yellow dress and into a extra pink one of Beth’s. Because John and I were on better terms, it made the day seem not as dreary and depressing. But then…Rebekah came in. I no longer felt anger because of their engagement, but more of jealousy. She was by far the prettiest girl in the village. Her blonde hair was always perfect. Today, it was tied loosely in a braid behind her back and her porcelain skin was neatly powdered and never shiny. She was a petite one and thin and for once, I could definitely see why John and Rebekah loved each other. They were compassionate and loving, sometimes a little too strict. Through our childhood, Rebekah was always motherly and occasionally bossy, but today she had the sweetest personality and couldn’t possibly hurt a fly.

“Why, good afternoon Miss Rebekah. Let me go get John,” I said.

“No!” She answered. “I was thinking the two of us could talk…privately,” she answered, her eyes longing and a glimpse of pleading wiped across her face.

“Alright,” I answered.

“John? Will you please come out here a second?” she called and he was out of the workroom before she even finished her sentence.

“Anna and I are going to go speak privately, so if you don’t mind can you work the cashier while we’re gone?”

“I most certainly can,” he said, love stricken.

Rebekah and I walked side by side just like old times, except ten years older and everything being complicated. I was now towering over her by five or six inches, for she was definitely one of the smallest girls in the village. We approached my house, soon to be hers as well, and let ourselves into the dark living room. Rain continued to sprinkle on the windows and the air in the house was cold, bringing goose bumps to our skin.

“I’ll make some hot tea,” I said, trying to lighten the mood.

After I finished making the tea in our small kitchen, Rebekah and I sat across from each other at the worn table. She didn’t drink her tea, but had her small, petite hands wrapped around the hot teacup.

“What is it you wanted to talk about?” I asked Rebekah.

Her perfect pink lips began to tremble uncontrollably and tears instantly began to fall from her blue eyes. She laid her head down on the table and her body trembled and shook as she let out sobs.

“Whatever it is, Rebekah, you can tell me,” I said as I moved from my chair to the one beside her, putting my arm around her small body, “It can not possibly be that bad.”

“You have absolutely no idea,” she answered, her voice shaking.

“W-what is it?” I asked, finally knowing the seriousness of her troubles.

Rebekah stood up and walked to the kitchen window where she stared out at the barn and lake on our large land. She leaned against the wall next to my mother’s extravagant yellow curtains.

“I remember the days, Anna-the days when everything was so…so innocent-the five of us all playing together in the lake. You, John, Peter, Beth, and me. It was all so carefree and I wish more than anything I can go back. I remember when Beth and I used to tease you about Peter because everyone knew, even back then, how the two of you would someday marry. Do you remember?” she asked, a smile finally flashing across her face.

“I do. I remember very clearly,” I answered, now approaching the window to be by her.

“You have no idea, Anna. You have absolutely no idea what I’m going through. No one does.”

“Then tell me. There’s no since in you carrying it all on your shoulders. Just…just tell me. Whatever it is, I can help,” I answered, now worried.

Tears began to come again and she finally spit it out, “I’m pregnant, Anna!”

My face fell and I began to feel incredibly light headed. The room began to spin and I sat down in the kitchen chair before I managed to choke out the question that hung in the air, “Is it…his…John’s?” I managed to choke out.

She nodded.

“How long have you known?”

“I should be only three in a half weeks along,” she answered, finally getting a hold of herself.

“And he-he doesn’t know?”

“How am I supposed to tell him, Anna?! This will ruin his life, my life, our reputation! I just can’t do that to him! I love him!”

“Look, it will all work out. You can get married next Tuesday and say you got pregnant when you were married and the baby can come a month early or so. No one will ask questions. It happens all the time!”

“I still can’t tell him,” she answered, shaking her head.

“Let me take care of it. You stay here. Drink your tea,” I replied, opening the back kitchen door and moving toward the shop.

Beth was now taking on the cashier, and now as it was approaching late afternoon, the customers began to disintegrate. I opened the shop door and saw John getting more bananas ready to put on next weeks shelf. He looked happy and I could see how it was going to be hard for me to tell him. My heart was breaking already. I could see his face in my head because he would know that I found out about the two of them and their secret, hypocritical relationship.

“John?” I asked quietly.

“Mmmh?” he answered.

“Look, we need to er…talk. It’s important.”

He turned around from his work and leaned up against his worktable. I moved swiftly toward him, putting my warm hand against his muscular, upper arm. “It’s about Rebekah,” I finally said.

“Oh. Is she okay?” he answered.

“No. I mean yes. Well not really actually.”

His face became curious and I finally spilled the words out without a second thought, “Rebekah’s pregnant, John.”

His face dropped from curious, to panic stricken. The blood drained from his face and his mouth fell open. Then he began to shook his head and a mocking expression came upon his face.

“That’s not possible, Anna. Don’t play silly jokes. Especially that one,” he answered pointedly, turning his back to me and beginning his work again.

“John, listen to me!” I said, putting my arm on his and turning him around to face me again, “She’s in the kitchen crying at this moment, John. I’m not joking.”

He looked at me and then he sprinted out the back door and towards the house. The wind flowed in before the door slammed behind him, pouring in cold air. I was still in shock. I was flabbergasted and a sickening feeling was building up in my stomach. I needed Peter. I needed him more than anything. I looked at the clock on the wall, which read five thirty. I knew he got off a five. I took my bonnet from the hook and walked out the front store door, turning the side to “closed”. I walked the mile in a half between our houses in the cold rain and finally approached his master’s small two-story cottage. I had met his master once or twice and he was a very nice old man. He seemed stern, but kind. I knocked on the wooden door, my knuckles aching from the cold. An old women answered the door and her expression was kind and made me long for my mother.

“Hello Mrs. Hayworth. Is Peter Collins available?”

“Oh dear me, you must be beautiful Miss Anna! Peter talks about you nonstop over here. A pretty girl like you should not be in this weather. Why don’t ya stop on inside?” she answered, holding the door open for me.

The house felt warm and cozy, with wooden panels and paintings on the walls.

“Peter!” She called, “You have a visitor!”

In the corner was a steep staircase with carpet and I could smell chicken soup cooking on the stove. Peter came down the stairs with a book in his hands and his eyes widened when he saw me.

“Anna,” he said, “What are you doing here?”

“I need to talk. To you.”

“Peter, why don’t you take her to the upstairs parlor. I can see she means business. Then why don’t you bring her down here for dinner. We want to talk to this little lady you’re so crazy about.”

“Alright ma’am. Thank you,” Peter answered.

He took my hand and automatically I felt better. He led me up the stairs and into a cozy parlor with a warm fireplace and bookshelves surrounding the room. I sat by the fire and Peter brought me a blanket from the corner and draped it around my shoulders.

“What’s this all about?” he asked.

“John and Rebekah.”

“I thought you were excited about the two of them. Their getting married soon, right?”

“Next Tuesday,” I answered.

“I don’t understand, Anna. Last night you seemed excited and now…” he answered.

“Rebekah gave me some news today and it’s horrible, Peter.”

“What, what is it?” he asked.

“…Rebekah’s pregnant…with John.”

“Are you serious?” he asked, his face stricken with shock.

I nodded and he wrapped his arms around my waste pulling me next to him. The fire popped behind up and I laid my head on his shoulder as our fingers intertwined. I was warm now, my hair almost dry. And when I raised my head, Peter’s lips found mind gently, but soon had a increasing intensity. His fingers combed through my hair and he soon broke the kiss, like he always had to.

“I don’t want to stop,” I said, breathlessly.

“Do you want to turn out like Rebekah?” he asked rhetorically, “I care about your virtue, Anna and that’s that.”

“I care about yours as well. That’s why I love you do much.”

“PETER! ANNA! SUPPER IS READY!” Mrs. Hayworth yelled from below the stairs.

I followed Peter out of the parlor and down the steep stair case, his hand locked in mine and right then, I knew I loved him more than I ever had.