As Nicole drove up to the Tudor she could see Michelle’s Escort already parked. Nicole was surprised. Michelle was due for her first baby with Gerald any day now, and yet Michelle was driving around as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening.

Nicole walked into the kitchen to see Michelle finishing off a sandwich. Michelle had packed on a lot of weight for her first pregnancy. She was almost 240 pounds. But it was okay, Nicole reasoned, Michelle was pregnant.
“Hey, what’s up?” Michelle greeted Nicole.
“Nothing much. Where is everybody?” Nicole replied.
“Momma is working the afternoon shift.”
“Oh. The kids are with Yvette?”
“Yeah, but somebody needs to check on them. Her boyfriend is crazy. They had an argument last night. Almost had to call the police.”
“I’ll go over.”
“I’m going to the mall, wanna come?” Michelle offered.
“What do you need to go shopping for? You got a shitload of stuff at your baby showers!”
Indeed, Michelle had three baby showers. One baby shower was arranged by her co-workers. One baby shower has held by Gerald’s mother. And finally, one huge baby shower was given by all the church women at Sister So-and-so’s 5000 sq. ft mansion in the suburbs. The den in Michelle’s house was filled with baby walkers, strollers, bottles, t-shirts, bottles, stuffed animals and boxes of diapers.
“I’m taking some of this stuff back get and my money. One of the strollers the deaconesses gave me cost $75,” Michelle said.
“Okay, but let me drive.”
“Why? Just because I’m pregnant doesn’t mean I’m helpless. Dang..”
Nicole acquiesced to her sister and got in the passenger side of the Escort after they made sure the Tudor house door was locked.
“Where are we going?” Nicole asked.
“Target,” Michelle replied.
Michelle turned the volume up on Cece Winans on her car stereo as the Escort got on the freeway, away from the city, towards the suburbs where there were megamalls housing labyrinth upon labyrinth of multilevel floors and ramps and escalators and stores. Nicole was alarmed for bit as Michelle suddenly shifted under the wheel.
“Are you okay?” Nicole asked.
“I’m fine,” Michelle replied smoothly. She turned to look at Nicole for a minute and laughed. “Stop trippin’”.
Nicole sat back in her seat and resigned herself. No use trying to stop Michelle. The mall was like a Zion with cars threaded their way in from the intersection into the parking lot lanes. Michelle cruised around for a parking space up front. Michelle saw a woman with saddlebags of goods on both hips making her way to a Hyundai only 3 spaced down from the front. Michelle expertly maneuvered out of the cruising lane to follow her and positioned her car for a smooth entry once the woman exited. Another car also positioned itself on the other side for the same parking space.
“Be careful Michelle, there’s another car…’
“Shoot, I’m taking this space. I was here first.”
The woman’s Hyundai slowly inched out. Nicole could see Hyundai woman’s head swiveling to see if anything was behind her as she tried to back her car out gracefully and away from the vehicle faceoff. As soon as the Hyundai backed a safe distance out of the space, Michelle put the car in drive, surged ahead, and drove into the parking space. The other car didn’t even have time to switch gears. Nicole stopped to catch her breath a moment before taking off the seatbeats.
“Come on, girl, what are you waiting for?” Michelle was already out of the car.
Nicole got out of the car. Michelle was taking boxes out of the trunk of her car. Nicole went to get a basket from the cage in the parking lot so Michelle could load up. Michelle allowed Nicole to at least push the basket full of goods for her. Michelle wasn’t waddling at all; she walked briskly and purposefully towards the store.
When they got into Target, they got in line for Customer Service to exchange the one of the strollers and walkers Michelle received for her baby shower.
“Wait here, Nicole, I’m going to the ATM to get some money,” Michelle said.
“What for? What do you need to buy?” Nicole looked incredulously at Michelle.
“I need cash, what do you think?”
Nicole sighed and assessed how much longer they had to wait in the line. Two more customers to go. Michelle came back stuffing the ATM receipt and a wad of Jacksons into her wallet.
“I’ve got so much stuff to take back. After Target, I have to make a run at Toys R Us,” Michelle said.
“Why do you need to do all this now? You’re due any day now.”
“First babies are always late. I have a couple more days.”
“I don’t understand how you’re so blaisé about this. Your life is about to change forever.”
“Nicole, why do you have to be so dramatic. It’s just a kid. People do it all the time. You act like the world is ending.”
“We won’t be the same when the baby is born.”
“So? Yvette had her kids things turned out alright. You have to make a big deal out of everything.”
“Yeah, but you’re different. We were always able to spend time with you.”
“You can still come over and see me if you want, goodness gracious.”
It was finally their turn at Customer Service. Michelle was able to return her stroller and walker and get back $125 dollars. She stuffed the cash with the ATM Jacksons and took the shopping cart.
“Come, on. I’m going to buy a breadmaker.”

Not only did they buy a breadmaker, but Michelle bought things to remodel her bathroom with, a new dinnerware set, a Taebo workout tape set, and a scientific-looking baby bottle warmer. In the end, Michelle spent $400. They were loading the new goods into Michelle trunk when she suggested that they go to Red Lobster for lunch.
At Red Lobster, the waitress put a half dozen garlic and cheese biscuits in between Michelle and Nicole. The biscuits were Nicole’s favorite, and she started in on the first one before the water glasses were filled.
“So how are things with the house?” Nicole asked.
“Okay, we need to fix the basement ceiling in the entertainment room.” Michelle replied.
Gerald and Nicole had barely closed on the house before their baby was due. Previously, they lived in a one-room apartment, hoping to save enough for a down payment. But after four years of marriage, their savings were still floundering. Momma Pain contributed a few thousand for the down payment and solicited the realtor who found the Tudor house. Gerald and Michelle bought a house less than a mile away from Mother Pain’s house. Gerald’s and Michelle’s neighborhood was not as affluent since their neighborhood was on the other side of a major avenue, but still a nice neighborhood, and Mother Pain was able to stop by and chat with Michelle after work.
The waitress put a huge 20 oz glass of Pepsi in front of Nicole and Sprite in front of Michelle along with their house salads. Nicole got another biscuit.
“Are you afraid of childbirth?” Nicole asked.
“Not really. I mean, all women have to go through it. It will be over eventually…” Michelle’s voice trailed off as she put a sheaf of lettuce in her mouth. Nicole speared a crouton.
“I don’t know if I could ever go through that.”
Michelle laughed. “Well you have to have a man first. Get a husband.”
“I don’t know when that will ever happen.”
“Sure it will. You’re pretty and intelligent.”
“Why couldn’t I marry one of the church boys?”
“Girl, I would not be stuttin’ over those fools. You’re too good for them.”
“Really? It didn’t seem that way. Maybe I wasn’t good enough.”
“That’s crazy. Not everyone is supposed to be married at 20. It’s just not your time yet. Give it time. It will happen.”
“I know. It’s just, I wonder sometimes if there’s something wrong with me. I don’t fit in anywhere.”
Michelle didn’t say anything more. Nicole got another garlic and cheese biscuit. The waitress arrived with their entrees. Nicole got Fish and Chips. Michelle got breaded cod with a baked potato, with butter, sour cream, and chives, on the side. Nicole wanted to say something more to Michelle, but she didn’t’ have anything to say, except for more inane questions about her.
“No wonder you’re such a bore,” Nicole thought to herself. Always self-centered. Always having to be dramatic.
“Are you getting dessert?” Michelle asked.
“I think I’ll get a chocolate cake to take home.”
“I’ve got the bill.” Michelle pulled out a couple of $20 bills.
The made a pitstop at Toys R. Us to return a couple of more things. When they finally made it back to the Tudor home, it was 6:30 p.m. It didn’t look like anyone had returned home yet.
“So where are you going to now, sis?” Nicole asked.
“I’ll probably go home. I have a couple other places to go, though.”
Nicole laughed.
“Okay. Thanks for lunch. Nicole picked up her chocolate cake and got out the car and then turned back to Michelle for a moment.”
“I love you. Please get some rest.” Nicole kissed Michelle on the cheek. Michelle snorted.
“Of course I will. Geez. Stop worrying about me. I’ll be okay.”
Nicole got into her car and waited until Michelle drove off before shifting gears and driving away from Mother Pain’s house. Back inside the coziness of her own apartment, Nicole had two slices of chocolate cake with a glass of milk while she channel surfed for a movie.
Then next day, Michelle went into labor. The labor was short, only 8 hours. And it was a baby boy. They name him Chris. Nicole went over to the hospital that evening to see the baby. In the recovery room, Michelle was surrounded by Mother Pain, Gerald’s mother, Yvette, Nicole, Gerald, giving out tired smiles to everyone. Nicole wasn’t sure that Michelle saw her in the crowd, but she had to know Nicole was in there somewhere.