Maybelline

Maybelline

1

    Maybelline wants a baby. She wants Harold's baby. Lord knows she's taken a shot at it every night for months to no avail. It's just that she has no uterus. She's not mentioned this to Harold. Maybelline believes there must be options for someone desperately longing for a baby.

2

    Maybelline's new friend, Amy, who she met when shopping for pillows at the thrift shop across town, is having a baby. Maybelline discovers the white pee-stick with two pink lines in Amy's waste bin. 

    "I am happy for you. It's just that my period's started." Maybelline says, nearly crying. She excuses herself and rushes home.

3

    When Maybelline hands Harold the stick, she is no longer afraid he will leave her. He looks in the little window,

    "Two pink lines, May. What's it mean?" 

    She pats her pooch belly, tilting her pretty head. 

    Later, Harold makes gentle love to Maybelline, even kissing her down there.

4

    Harold leaves for a cross-country trip to escort a wide load delivery to Oregon. 

    Maybelline meets Amy for tea. 

    "Willikers," Amy says, "I thought you were bleeding? If that ain't some kinda miracle!" 

    "Spotting can happen when the egg attaches," Maybelline says. 

    She doesn't much like this, Amy, after all.

5

    As it happens, Maybelline's 20-year-old son JD shows up on the day of her baby shower. She gives him a smack and secrets him out the back door. 
   "How'd you find me? You can't ruin this, James David." He snorts and flips his smoke at her, "What's with the pillow? Are you running a con on Dirty Harry?"

6

    "We don't see that little blond gal anymore?" Harold says.

   "It's so sad, Harold. She miscarried and will have no part of me since." 
   Maybelline arches her back. Her big belly sticks

out.  
   "Why'd that delivery boy call you ma, May?" 
   "Honestly, wasn't that the rudest thing ever, honey?"

7

    Maybelline's feet are swelled up. She knows it's crazy. But, her breasts grow tenderer by the day, and she pees every 15 minutes. She gazes at herself in the mirror, rubbing her pillow belly. Finally, Maybelline brings her face to the glass.

Harold's right. She is glowing. Motherhood becomes her.

8

   "After you take the Corvette and make the delivery, you need to vanish, JD. That's it. I'm through mothering you!" 

    Maybelline hangs up, rubbing her fingers through her rumpled hair. She's dying for a cigarette, but it's not

good for the baby. 
   "This will be over soon enough," she sighs.

9

   "That picture on the news of the dead Amy resembles your friend. Don't she?"

   "I just saw Amy yesterday," Maybelline bounces baby Harold awkwardly. His insistent cries hurt her head. 

    "You're just like your brother, JD," she spits. 

    Harold doesn't hear Maybelline's chatter. Since his car was stolen, he only listens to the news. Maybelline hugs the little baby boy hard.

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