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MidReal Story
The Boyfriend I Haven't Met
Scenario:So anyway, I might need to tell you something else...I'm late, honey.
Late as in...pregnant. *She looks down at her stomach.*
"I'm more than ready for this." Amanda said.
"I pulled out. How could this be? We're too old for this.
I know, and I appreciate it. But I guess fate had other plans. *She shrugs happily.*
"I cannot believe this." Clayton said. "We made a baby?"
Yup! *She chuckles.* Guess you're pretty good at it, huh?
"ARE YOU SURE."
I took three tests. *She holds up three fingers, then drops her hand.* So I'm definitely pregnant.
"Don't bring that up again." He pointed a finger at her.
Betty is the charming owner of a small, family-run diner. She's known for her warm hospitality and quirky sense of humor, often breaking the ice with her guests by engaging in friendly banter. Her petite frame and curly brown hair make her easily approachable, while her bright brown eyes sparkle with a mischievous twinkle. "And what if you don't even last for a minute?"
Create my version of this story
Amanda
She is a guest at a diner, overhearing a conversation. She is humorous, observant, and candid. She notices a couple arguing about having a baby at an old age. She finds it amusing and comments on it. Later, she reveals to the author that she is pregnant herself, having taken three tests to confirm. She expresses excitement and surprise about her situation and shows a carefree attitude towards her age and unexpected pregnancy.
Betty
She is the owner of a small diner with her husband, Clayton. She is lively, candid, and humorous. She engages in friendly banter with customers like Amanda. Her playful attitude towards family planning is evident when she teases her husband about being too old for another child. Despite their age, she exhibits youthful enthusiasm towards life's surprises, including her friends' pregnancies. Her relationship with Clayton showcases their adaptable nature towards life’s unexpected twists.
Clayton
He is a guest at the diner with his wife, Betty. He is playful, surprised, and lighthearted. He argues with his wife about being too old for a baby. He shows enthusiasm when Amanda tells him about her confirmed pregnancy. Despite initial shock and denial about being grandparents, Clayton displays a caring attitude towards the subject of age and family planning. His relationship with Betty showcases their humorous dynamic and adaptability towards life's surprises.
So anyway, I might need to tell you something else… I’m late, honey.
Late as in… pregnant.
"I pulled out. How could this be? We’re too old for this."
"I guess you’re more fertile than you think."
"Are you sure?"
I took three tests.
"So anyway, I might need to tell you something else…"
I stopped mid sentence and leaned in to whisper to Clayton.
"Your no fuss no muss method of family planning isn’t working so well for that couple over there, is it?"
I glanced at the table behind me and winked at the couple who were both in their fifties and arguing about having another baby.
It wasn’t any of my business, but it was kind of hard not to overhear when the lady was gesturing wildly with her hands and her voice was rising with each sentence.
The man across from her looked like he was about ready to bolt.
Maybe he should use that as his defense when she asked him why he didn’t want to have a baby.
"You know… since we’re getting up there in age."
The woman’s eyes narrowed and she crossed her arms over her chest.
"I’m more than ready for this."
Clayton shook his head and smiled at me.
I slide my coffee mug aside and shift in my seat so I can see the couple better.
The lady’s face is turning red as she jabs her finger at her husband.
He’s slumping down in his booth, trying to avoid her finger and her glare.
Clayton catches my eye and raises an eyebrow.
I can tell he’s just as fascinated with the scene as I am.
I glance around the restaurant and notice Betty hovering around their table with a coffee pot, pretending to wipe down a table that’s already clean.
She’s obviously trying to listen in on their conversation too.
The woman slaps her hand down on the table and points at her husband.
"You’re not going to get out of this that easily," she says through gritted teeth.
The man slumps even further into his booth, his eyes darting around the restaurant, looking for an escape route.
Without thinking, I reach out and touch Clayton’s arm, nodding toward the couple.
He looks over at them and then back at me, understanding what I’m planning to do before I even have a chance to say anything. The man pushes his chair back from the table and stands up, causing the chair to scrape against the floor loudly.
He glares at his wife before turning on his heel and storming toward the exit.
Clayton and I both stand up, ready to follow him out of the restaurant but he stops at the door and turns around.
"Wait," he says, his voice trembling.
"I just need a minute to think, okay?"
The woman softens slightly, her eyes meeting his with a mix of frustration and hope.
I watch as he stands at the door, his fingers wrapped around the handle, his knuckles white from how tightly he’s holding on.
The air feels heavy, like it does right before a storm rolls in.
I slide out of my booth and take a deep breath before walking toward their table.
Clayton follows behind me, his hand on my lower back.
The wife dabs at her eyes with a napkin and I can see her shoulders shaking slightly as she tries to hold back her tears.
I clear my throat to let them know that we’re there and both of them look up.
Behind me, I hear Betty’s footsteps pause and I know that she’s stopped cleaning so that she can listen in on what we’re about to say.
I walk toward their table slowly, my hand unconsciously going to my own stomach.
The wife looks up at me and I see that her mascara has run, leaving black streaks on her cheeks.
She blinks up at me and I see her eyes start to water again.
Her husband releases his hold on the door handle and turns back around.
He takes a step forward, his eyes darting back and forth between Clayton and me.
"Mind if we join you?" he asks, nodding toward the two empty chairs at their table.
The wife nods, sniffling as she wipes at her nose with her napkin.
Clayton and I exchange a look and then I slide into one of the empty chairs.
Betty appears out of nowhere, a fresh pot of coffee in one hand and a couple of tissues in the other.
She sets them down on the table before us, her eyes meeting mine for just a second before she scurries away again, stopping just a few feet away to watch our exchange. The husband hesitates for a minute, looking like he wants to run again.
He finally seems to come to some sort of decision because he lets go of the door handle and walks back to the table, his shoes scuffing against the linoleum floor.
He sinks down into the chair across from us, leaving an obvious space between himself and his wife.
He reaches out and fidgets with his coffee cup, his knuckles white against the ceramic.
The wife stops crying and stiffens next to him, her eyes fixed on his hand before she reaches out and hesitates, her hand stopping just short of touching him.
The diner is slowly filling up with the morning crowd and I can hear the chatter of other customers behind me.
I shift in my seat, looking around the restaurant.
A couple of families are gathered in the corner booths and there’s a group of truckers at the bar but most of the booths are empty.
Clayton shifts in his seat next to me and I turn back to the couple in front of us.
Betty is still watching from a few feet away, her eyes darting between our table and the door as she wipes the same spot on a table over and over again. The husband’s eyes flicker to each window, then to the door before he finally looks back at our table.
He seems to be searching for something or someone but I can’t figure out what.
His eyes meet mine for a second before he drops his gaze to the table, his fingers drumming against the ceramic mug as he stares at it intently.
He clears his throat and reaches into his jacket pocket, pulling something out before sliding it across the table toward us.
It’s a folded newspaper clipping and I can see that it’s trembling as he pushes it toward us with two fingers.