Little Matters

I sighed as I picked up the phone in the headmistresses office and dialed my home phone number. I was going to make this quick, get it over with. But I was going to go at it gently... yes, nice and gentle.1

'Hello?' I heard the familar voice ask on the other end of the phone.2

'Hi Mom, its me. I don't know quite how to tell you this, but I'm coming home. I've just been expelled from school.'3

Ha, what a way to let it go gently, huh?4

'You have got to be kidding me, Karen.'5

I sighed and then started pulling at the bottom of my uniform. 'No.'6

I looked up at the headmistress who was still glaring at me with daggers in her eyes. I actually flinched away.7

'Why are you expelled?' my mother asked, her voice raising to an uncomfortable pitch and tone.8

'I-I think it best if I tell you in person.' I tucked my hand into my shirt sleeve and sat down on the chair in front of the desk.9

'Karen Marie Jones, you tell me right now why you are expelled, or you are seriously going to regret it when you get home.'10

I laughed nervously and looked back up the headmistress. Her unibrow made her even scarier than what she really was. 'Well, mom... As you know, this is an all girls school, right?' I recieved an impatient sigh. 'Well, we also get physicals done like once every three or four months, and we had one done today. Well, come to find out, I-I'm kind of sorta pregnant.'11

There was complete silence on the other end of the phone for about three minutes before my mom whispered, 'How do you get pregnant in an all girls school?'12

That was when I decided that I was done talking to her. 'Mom, the headmistress wants to talk to you real quick, is that cool?'13

'Yeah, yeah, let me talk to her, please.'14

I handed the phone over the desk into the waiting hand of the dreadful Mrs. Kit. She held it up to her ear, and then answered, 'Well, yes, I was wondering the same thing. The only answer is, one of the teachers. As you know, we have six male teachers here. She refuses to tell us which one it is, so we have no other choice but to expell her. When the baby is born, I can order for a DNA test to be done, so I can find out what teacher did it, and so that he can be fired and sent to jail. (pause) Yes, very well. I will tell her. And I am dearly sorry for this inconvienece.' She hung up the phone and drummed her fingers on her desk. 'Your mother said she will be here in two hours. Go finish packing your room, and meet me down here in an hour and a half.15

I nodded and then walked out the door and down the hallway toward the stairs that would lead me to the dormatories where my room was located. When I reached my door and opened it, Hayden popped out of my closet.16

'I didn't tell her that it was you,' I said as I reached behind him and started pulling my clothes out of the closet.17

'Why? Your education is more important than my teaching.'18

I laughed as I headed to my dresser and began dumping out drawers. 'It doesn't matter. She said when the baby is born, she is going to order that a DNA test be done on all 6 male teachers, that would include you, and the baby's DNA will match yours. You love teaching anyway, and the both of us risked that. I'm sorry that I kissed you, Mr. Haller.'19

He sighed as he came up and stood next to me. He ran a hand through his curly blonde hair. He was so handsome, and so young. He was only 26, I was almost 18. 20

'Don't be sorry,' he said as he leaned down and softly kissed my cheek. 'Besides, they can't do anything. You graduate in 5 months, and you turn 18 in 1. By time you have that baby, it won't be illegal.'21

I pulled out my duffle bags and started packing them as he walked out the door. When I was finished, about an hour and 15 mintues had passed, so I walked slowly down the stairs with two duffle bags on each arm, and one around my neck. This weight probably wasn't too good for the baby, but I didn't have any help with me.22

When I finally reached the headmistress's office, I sat down and looked at my knees. 23

'You have one last chance to tell me who it was, Karen.'24

I sighed and then looked up at her face. 'And my answer is still the same as the last, I have no answer for you.'25

We both sat in silence until my mom walked into the office thirty minutes later and grabbed three of my bags. 26

'I cannot believe that you got expelled your last year of high school,' she said as we walked through the commons toward the main doors. 'No, what I just cannot believe is that you are pregnant by one of the teachers here, and won't admit who it is.'27

I rolled my eyes and just kept walking with her, taking one last glance behind me to see Hayden on the other side of the commons talking to another teacher. He sneaked a glance at me, and then turned his attention back to the other teacher.28

'Since I'm already pregnant, what do you say to me finishing my senior year in a public school?' I asked as we walked out the door.29

My mom turned to me with a snarl on her face and answered, 'Very funny, Karen.