I was only sixteen when I brought her home, the girl who had clearly been pregnant for some time and was a year older than me.
Her name was Sophie, and she went to the same vocational college as I did, just in a different year. For several days I watched this unfamiliar girl huddle in the corner and cry softly to herself. I couldn’t help noticing how her belly was starting to show, the way she kept wearing the same clothes for weeks on end, and that blank, hopeless expression in her eyes.
As it turned out, almost everyone knew her story. The grandson of a well-known businessman in London had been going out with her, but then he simply disappeared, off on urgent business to Birmingham. His parents wanted nothing to do with her and told her so without any hesitation.
Her own family acted as if we were still in the Victorian era, terrified of the disgrace, and threw her out before heading to their cottage. Some folks felt sorry for Sophie, while others sniggered about her when her back was turned.
“She only has herself to blame. She should have used her head!”
I couldn’t bear to watch any longer. After thinking it through, I walked over to her.
“It won’t be easy, so stop crying. How about you move in with me? We could even get married if you like. But I have to be honest from the start I don’t know how to lie and I won’t pretend everything is fine. I’ll just be there for you, and I promise we’ll sort it out somehow.”
Sophie wiped her tears and looked at me. What could I say? I was just an ordinary lad without much refinement. She had always dreamed of a very different sort of husband! But with her situation, there really was no choice, so Sophie came along with me.
My parents were stunned. Mum begged me to think again, but I wouldn’t budge.
“Mum, don’t make such a fuss; we’ll get by one way or another. I’ve got two scholarships, one for my grades and another based on need. I’ll take on extra shifts, and we’ll manage!”
“But you were planning to go to university!”
“So what? People live their lives without it. Dad has worked in the factory his whole life, and you in the shop. Folks without degrees get on fine too. Mum, this isn’t the end of the world!”
Sophie moved into my room. I gave her my bed and shifted to the lumpy sofa bed myself. For the first few days she barely spoke, following me like a shadow as we walked hand in hand to college and back, until she finally snapped.
“I’ve had it! Why do your parents keep giving me those looks? They don’t like me at all! And why won’t you spend time with me? You’re always stuck in your books or vanishing off somewhere!”
I was caught off guard.
“Don’t you see that’s just how it is? Sure, they don’t like you, but they’ve taken you in and they leave you alone. Those looks? Your own parents won’t even lay eyes on you. Where are the parents of your baby’s father, then? I study because I don’t want to get thrown out after the first year, and the scholarship comes in handy. I disappear because I’m working extra and I have no interest in sitting through weepy TV shows with you.”
Sophie burst into tears again.
“Why say it like that?”
“Like what? I told you I can’t lie. Anyway, when are we going to the registry office?”
“I can’t go looking like this. Buy me a nice dress with a high waist so the bump doesn’t show.”
“What are you on about? We’ll take the doctor’s note about the pregnancy; why bother with a dress? I still need to save for a pram and a cot…”
Mum reached for some valerian to steady her nerves, but she slowly got used to things and started glancing at baby clothes more often. After all, nothing awful was really happening. Let them live and get married, and she and Dad would help where they could. It was just that this girl always seemed ungrateful, forever complaining about me, about them, about our cramped flat. Maybe once she had the baby she’d settle down.
But Sophie had no plans to change. When I got back dirty and tired from the car wash one day, bringing home a skinny pregnant cat, she flew into a rage.
“You idiot! What do we need this ragged cat for? Get rid of it! Throw it out of the flat!”
I just smiled.
“No, she’s pregnant as well. She’s staying, so don’t even start. You’d better shut up and heat up my dinner.”
“Oh really?” Sophie nearly squealed. “Choose! It’s either her or me! That beast is giving me dirty looks too!”
“Why?” I stared at her in disbelief. “This is my home and I don’t have to choose. She’s my cat, and if it bothers you, you can leave. Even Mum never put conditions like that on me. Maybe it’s time to stop looking down on everyone?”
Sophie had a proper meltdown, crying and feeling jealous of that thin, neglected cat. How had I even spotted a belly on her? But the belly appeared soon enough the cat really was pregnant.
I was exhausted, but whenever regret crept in I pushed it away. We’d manage somehow. Sophie would have the baby and calm down, and before that the cat would keep us entertained. Those fluffy kittens would cheer everyone up.
Everything turned out differently though. The grandfather, the famous businessman from London, returned from a long work trip and heard the whole story. He found his grandson, gave him a right telling off, and said he’d cut him off from the family money if the great-grandchild was raised in another family. The lad was terrified of losing that kind of support.
Sophie left with him that same day without even saying goodbye to me. Luckily she had her documents with her, since she was heading to the doctor after classes. She waved off her things they’d buy her new ones! And she had no intention of going back to that rundown college!
I was shattered. How could she? She didn’t say farewell, didn’t call, didn’t speak a word. I threw out all her things and sat alone in the dark for ages, hugging my cat close.
The cat seemed to understand everything. She nestled quietly against me, knowing I needed her. She showed sympathy, purred, and tried to comfort me.
I handled her delivery myself, keeping my anxious mum and bewildered dad away from the cat. I sat with her, spoke to her gently to keep her calm, and watched to make sure everything was going right while keeping my phone ready to call the vet if needed.
It all went fine, and the cat had four tiny kittens. I changed the bedding, brought fresh water and food. I checked once more that everything was alright, and then, worn out, I lay down and closed my eyes, feeling the smallest kitten snuggling into my hand. This experience taught me that sometimes animals show more gratitude and loyalty than people ever do.I was only sixteen when I brought her home, the girl who had clearly been pregnant for some time and was a year older than me.
Her name was Sophie, and she went to the same vocational college as I did, just in a different year. For several days I watched this unfamiliar girl huddle in the corner and cry softly to herself. I couldn’t help noticing how her belly was starting to show, the way she kept wearing the same clothes for weeks on end, and that blank, hopeless expression in her eyes.
As it turned out, almost everyone knew her story. The grandson of a well-known businessman in London had been going out with her, but then he simply disappeared, off on urgent business to Birmingham. His parents wanted nothing to do with her and told her so without any hesitation.
Her own family acted as if we were still in the Victorian era, terrified of the disgrace, and threw her out before heading to their cottage. Some folks felt sorry for Sophie, while others sniggered about her when her back was turned.
“She only has herself to blame. She should have used her head!”
I couldn’t bear to watch any longer. After thinking it through, I walked over to her.
“It won’t be easy, so stop crying. How about you move in with me? We could even get married if you like. But I have to be honest from the start I don’t know how to lie and I won’t pretend everything is fine. I’ll just be there for you, and I promise we’ll sort it out somehow.”
Sophie wiped her tears and looked at me. What could I say? I was just an ordinary lad without much refinement. She had always dreamed of a very different sort of husband! But with her situation, there really was no choice, so Sophie came along with me.
My parents were stunned. Mum begged me to think again, but I wouldn’t budge.
“Mum, don’t make such a fuss; we’ll get by one way or another. I’ve got two scholarships, one for my grades and another based on need. I’ll take on extra shifts, and we’ll manage!”
“But you were planning to go to university!”
“So what? People live their lives without it. Dad has worked in the factory his whole life, and you in the shop. Folks without degrees get on fine too. Mum, this isn’t the end of the world!”
Sophie moved into my room. I gave her my bed and shifted to the lumpy sofa bed myself. For the first few days she barely spoke, following me like a shadow as we walked hand in hand to college and back, until she finally snapped.
“I’ve had it! Why do your parents keep giving me those looks? They don’t like me at all! And why won’t you spend time with me? You’re always stuck in your books or vanishing off somewhere!”
I was caught off guard.
“Don’t you see that’s just how it is? Sure, they don’t like you, but they’ve taken you in and they leave you alone. Those looks? Your own parents won’t even lay eyes on you. Where are the parents of your baby’s father, then? I study because I don’t want to get thrown out after the first year, and the scholarship comes in handy. I disappear because I’m working extra and I have no interest in sitting through weepy TV shows with you.”
Sophie burst into tears again.
“Why say it like that?”
“Like what? I told you I can’t lie. Anyway, when are we going to the registry office?”
“I can’t go looking like this. Buy me a nice dress with a high waist so the bump doesn’t show.”
“What are you on about? We’ll take the doctor’s note about the pregnancy; why bother with a dress? I still need to save for a pram and a cot…”
Mum reached for some valerian to steady her nerves, but she slowly got used to things and started glancing at baby clothes more often. After all, nothing awful was really happening. Let them live and get married, and she and Dad would help where they could. It was just that this girl always seemed ungrateful, forever complaining about me, about them, about our cramped flat. Maybe once she had the baby she’d settle down.
But Sophie had no plans to change. When I got back dirty and tired from the car wash one day, bringing home a skinny pregnant cat, she flew into a rage.
“You idiot! What do we need this ragged cat for? Get rid of it! Throw it out of the flat!”
I just smiled.
“No, she’s pregnant as well. She’s staying, so don’t even start. You’d better shut up and heat up my dinner.”
“Oh really?” Sophie nearly squealed. “Choose! It’s either her or me! That beast is giving me dirty looks too!”
“Why?” I stared at her in disbelief. “This is my home and I don’t have to choose. She’s my cat, and if it bothers you, you can leave. Even Mum never put conditions like that on me. Maybe it’s time to stop looking down on everyone?”
Sophie had a proper meltdown, crying and feeling jealous of that thin, neglected cat. How had I even spotted a belly on her? But the belly appeared soon enough the cat really was pregnant.
I was exhausted, but whenever regret crept in I pushed it away. We’d manage somehow. Sophie would have the baby and calm down, and before that the cat would keep us entertained. Those fluffy kittens would cheer everyone up.
Everything turned out differently though. The grandfather, the famous businessman from London, returned from a long work trip and heard the whole story. He found his grandson, gave him a right telling off, and said he’d cut him off from the family money if the great-grandchild was raised in another family. The lad was terrified of losing that kind of support.
Sophie left with him that same day without even saying goodbye to me. Luckily she had her documents with her, since she was heading to the doctor after classes. She waved off her things they’d buy her new ones! And she had no intention of going back to that rundown college!
I was shattered. How could she? She didn’t say farewell, didn’t call, didn’t speak a word. I threw out all her things and sat alone in the dark for ages, hugging my cat close.
The cat seemed to understand everything. She nestled quietly against me, knowing I needed her. She showed sympathy, purred, and tried to comfort me.
I handled her delivery myself, keeping my anxious mum and bewildered dad away from the cat. I sat with her, spoke to her gently to keep her calm, and watched to make sure everything was going right while keeping my phone ready to call the vet if needed.
It all went fine, and the cat had four tiny kittens. I changed the bedding, brought fresh water and food. I checked once more that everything was alright, and then, worn out, I lay down and closed my eyes, feeling the smallest kitten snuggling into my hand. This experience taught me that sometimes animals show more gratitude and loyalty than people ever do.
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