Pregnant For My Bully

Jason Davenport

I clicked my Instagram off as I heard Dad walk towards my room. I knew it was him because he was the only one who trudged through the house noisily. Well, it was his house anyway.

Ashley had gone to see her grandparents and stay over for the weekend.

Or so she said.

Of course I didn’t believe her one bit. But I couldn’t exactly follow her to Manhattan now, could I?

It still annoyed me how much Dad believed her. Trusted her. Wasn’t it obvious enough that she was lying? Refusing to let my day be ruined by thoughts of Ashley, I pushed the thought aside and resumed my original stance of pretending to be asleep.

I could hear dad’s heavy footsteps as he approached my bed and from where he stood at the foot of the bed, I could feel him staring at me.

“I heard you on your phone before I walked in, Jason. I know you’re awake.”

Grudgingly, I turned over on the bed and faced him. What was his problem now? I really wasn’t in the mood to talk.

“Sit up, son.”

I obeyed, straightening myself up and leaning up against the wall.

“What dad?” I asked, wanting this conversation to be over as soon as possible.

He took a seat next to me on the bed. “Well, we haven’t talked in a while. You know, father and son time.”

It took all I had in me not to scoff. Father and son time? Try that when an unwanted stepmother gets in the way and tell me how that goes.

He’d been spending a lot of time with Ashley that sometimes I wondered if he even remembered I existed. Now all of a sudden he was craving father and son time? Obviously because Ashley wasn’t home. That’s rich.

I turned away from him and looked towards the wall. I refuse to get pissed over this same issue. After all, it’s nothing new.

“How’s school?”

Of course. He’s probably here to shame me about my grades, of course. Which, unfortunately for him, thanks to Amelia were spotless.

Nice try, Dad.

“Good. Exams are coming up soon,” I answered, looking unbothered.

“Yeah. Your school says you’re doing very well. That’s good.”

I shrugged, waving off the praise.

“Coach says you’re doing well too.”

Obviously. I aced when it came to sports.

Dad smiled, reaching out to pat my back. “Your mom would be proud.”

I froze and I could feel my face harden. Why the hell did he have to bring mom up? He never honored my memory but he deemed it fit to bring her up when he wanted to shame or guilt trip me?

I felt my jaw tic and I cleared my throat. “How come I haven’t gotten my monthly allowance?” I asked, suddenly remembering that it was my turn to get the drinks when the boys and I hung out tomorrow night.

Dad gave me a blank look and breathed out loudly. “I did that on purpose. I wanted to have this conversation with you.”

Great. Now deprivation too?

I leaned into my bed and balanced a pillow on my thigh, placing my arms under my jaw for support.

He cleared his throat. “You do know you’re 18, right Jason?”

I frowned. What does that have to do with anything?

“Yeah?” I asked, finding the question unnecessary.

“Basically what I’m saying is, you’re a man now. And sooner than you probably expect, you’ll have a ton of responsibilities to keep up with.”

“Where are you going with this, Dad?”

He observed me for a while and sighed again. “You can’t expect monthly allowance from me for the rest of your life, son.”

I felt a sudden surge of anger.

“So what you’re saying is you don’t wanna have to be responsible for me anymore right? I’m that much of a burden now?”

He shook his head. “It’s not something to get mad about, Jason. You can’t be dependent on others for the rest of your life, even if they’re your parents. You have to learn to be independent. To be able to take care of your needs without looking up for someone to give to you. Do you understand that?”

“No!” My face was contorted in anger and confusion. “So you’re throwing me away? I know it’s because of Ashley! Why do you-”

“Jason.”

The calmness in his voice forced me to quiet down. Why was he saying all of this?

“When I was your age, my father had it all. Enough money to last for the rest of my life and yours. But he made me find a job just so that I could learn to be independent. I hated him then for making me work while the rest of my friends fed off their parents’ wealth without having to struggle. But as time went on, I began to see the usefulness of it, and I’m eternally grateful to him for that lesson.”

I looked on as he finished. I knew deep down somewhere that he was probably right, but I refused to let myself think about it.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

No.

I couldn’t see it. I couldn’t see myself working or waiting tables like some kind of hobo. My blood ran cold as I thought of it.

Never.

I stared at Dad. What if this was just a plan. A way to get me out of the house so that him and Ashley could have their privacy.

Suddenly, I had a feeling that Ashley put him up to this.

Of course, why didn’t I think of this before?

I had lost one parent already. Dad was supposed to take care of me and keep me safe. But no. Because of Ashley he was casting me aside instead.

Pushing me out into the world to fend for myself. And it was the most hurtful thing.

Irritated, I spoke up. “I have homework now, Dad.”

He nodded, standing up and patting my back before walking out the door.