Three Different Views

Different Views.

We were given a topic, with characters. We had to write it in three different ways. The way of the man, woman, and child. First I started with the Man.

Man.

Jason sat in the lazy boy chair reading the evening paper. His smelly pipe sending up curls of smoke toward the ceiling.

The smell of the smoke made Helen's stomach churn. Turn sour. She gagged. She rose from her chair to race toward the bath room. Sounds of Helen being sick reached Jason in the lounge room.

He made his way to the bathroom. Knocked on the door. “Are you, okay, dear. What did you eat to make you sick. Do you need me to ring the doctor?” Jason heard Helen mumble. He didn't catch all the words. “What did you say, dear?”

The door jerked open. A pasty face Helen came out of the bathroom. “I've been to the doctor,” she said, on her way back to the lounge room..

“What did the doctor say was wrong,” he asked, following in her wake.

“I'm pregnant,” shouted Helen. “You should be pleased.”

“I think you had better find another doctor. You doctor is a quack.” Jason looked closely at his wife for her reaction. “There's no possible way you can be pregnant.”

“Have you become a doctor. He took all the tests. The results were all positive.” Helen looked at her husband with suspicion. The look told her to tread wearily because her husband knew something she didn't. “How can you be certain you didn't make a mistake.”

A nasty smile curled up each side of his lips to show his temper had risen. He folded the paper to gently place on the table beside the chair. The pipe he bumped into the ash tray to empty the bowl. Jason glared at his wife while he pocketed the pipe.

“I'm one hundred percent certain the child can't be mine. You want a child so Ilet you adopt Cheryl. You wanted this marriage even though you knew I loved another. So who is the father. Do I know him?”

“You're the father. Why are you in denial?”

“Sorry. Helen. You have the wrong man. I won't accept another man's child to have my name. Falsely.”

“How can you be certain?”

“Because I had a vasectomy.” He ignores the shocked gasp from his wife. “Before we were married.”

“You did what?” Helen couldn't believe her husband was so cruel.

“You taught me well. My unfaithful wife.” Jason turned to leave the room. “You had better find the right father. If you can. Hope he will be able to support you. You are finished in this house.” Jason whistled a happy tune when he walked from the house.

Woman

Helen had hoped for years to have a baby of her own. Even though, she loved her adopted daughter, she still craved to have her husband's child. Or a child her husband thought was his. In all the years they had been married they were no closer than the day they were married. Emotionally. She had prayed Jason would have learned to love her. But. There was a wall around his heart ans he didn't let her in.

Time was passing for Helen. She had to do something quick before the window of opportunity had passed her by. She'd soon be too old to have a chance to conceive.

While Jason was away on a business trip Helen began to put her plan into action. She has made plans to be impregnated at the IVF clinic. She had book for the day after Jason had left on his trip. She prayed there would be no complications for him to cancel his plans to leave. Helen had even sussed out the person to help her with her plan. But. As yet. He didn't know he'd been vetted to fulfil her scheming plan.

By the time Jason had returned from his extended business trip, Helen had passed her first trimester in her pregnancy. She was very pleased with herself. She had the scan. The scan showed she was having twins. Helen expected Jason would be excited to know he'd finally be a real father. But. Her hopes were dashed. He didn't even comment of the fact she was pregnant.

“Haven't you anything to say?” Helen looked at Jason, to watch for signs of reaction to the news. “Aren't you even pleased we are going to have our own baby?”

“You look like you've put on a bit of weight from all the parties you've been going to while I've been away.” Jason turned from Helen to go up the steps.

“Aren't you happy we are going to have a baby. We've been trying for years.”

“I haven't been trying. You have been doing all the hoping. And wishing. I haven't. Your condition has nothing to do with me.”

“But this is our baby. Babies to be exact. We're to be the parents of twins.”

“That'll keep you busy for years. There goes your party life style.” Jason hurried up the stairs to the master bedroom before he told her what her thought of her scheming.

Helen waited in the lounge room for Jason to return. He didn't come back down the stairs.

“Mum. What's wrong with, dad,” Cheryl asked, when she found her mother in the lounge room.

“Probably shocked to hear he's going to be a father. He'll come around once he becomes used to the idea.”

Cheryl shook her head. “I don't think so.” She worried her bottom lip with her teeth. “Dad's not a happy chap. He's mad like a wild hornet.”

“Why do you say that,” asked her mother, puzzled by Cheryl's words.

“Dad is moving his clothes into the suit at the end of the passage.”

“He wouldn't.” Helen couldn't believe Jason would do such a thing.

“You go and have a look if you don't believe me. I wouldn't stand in his way.” Cheryl advised her mother. “He'll trample over you and keep moving. I think I'll go out for awhile until he cools down.” Cheryl left the house not wanting to be there when the storm hit.

Helen went up the stairs to see what Jason was doing. She was surprised to see her daughter had been right. Jason was busy moving his belongings to the suit.

“Why are you moving your clothes?”

“You have the use of the bedroom until the babies are born. In the meantime, I'll look around for somewhere you can move to.”

“I'm not moving, anywhere. We'll have children to raise. Your children What will people say if you throw me out?”

“You deserved what you received.”

Helen deluded herself thing would change but the gap grew wider. She prayed Jason would change his mind when the babies were born. The battle had been lost years ago when Helen had struck a deal with the devil.

Jason had everything in place for the day the babies were born. He had test done before the babies arrived.. More tests were taken the day the babies were born.

“The girl is yours to keep,” Jason told Helen “The boy is mine. You will go to your new home from here. We are finished. Your scheming day are over. 'Bye, Helen.”

“But. Why. You can't,” spluttered Helen.

Jason stopped at the doorway. “I know all about your last scheme.” Jason walked away. Out of her life. He'd taken with him his son. He'd paid for the treatment she had taken to have the babies. So by rights. One half of the pair belonged to him.

Girl

Helen, and Jason, were seated in the lounge room. Jason smoking his pipe like usual while reading the newspaper. Helen sat knitting baby clothes. Or was attempting to make something for the babies. She wasn't very successful.

Jason ignored her.

Or he answered in monosyllables.

Cheryl walked to the lounge room door. She had, finally, picked up enough courage to conquer the mountain her parents had built between them. Her family had never been a close, loving affair. They tolerated each other for appearances sake. Now. Jason didn't try. He blocked every advance his wife made to put the marriage on an even keel.

Taking a deep breath to fortify her courage. Cheryl marched into the lounge room to stand near her squabbling parents. “Would you two mind keeping the noise level, down. I can't hear myself think.”

Two pairs of eyes swung in her direction. The looks she received told her they believed she had flipped her lid.

“I can still hear the noise. What are you two doing?” Neither of her parents spoke. They waited to see what happened next. Cheryl rubbed her stomach. “Ah. Gee. It's my stomach. It's making the most of noise I've heard in weeks. This house is worse than the library. Even the vermin are complaining. They're not game to move from their hiding place.”

“What are you on this week. Cheryl,” her mother sniffed the air for any telling signs.

“Sniffing won't help. Mum.” Cheryl advised her mother. “Not with dad burning manure. The smell would drown out anything I might have used.”

“You had better mind your manners, my girl.” She had, finally, received verbal attention from her father. “You're not to big to be put across my knee to receive a spanking.”

“Hooray.” Cheryl cheered. “You both can still. Talk. I thought the both of you had lost the power of speech. Now. I've solved one problem. Maybe you can explain the silent. Cold shoulder treatment. You had been dealing out around here.”

“Are you trying to be a smart ass. Cheryl.” Her mother not pleased with her daughter's straight talking.

“While we are speaking. Will someone tell me why this family has derailed. Before you tell me a pack of lies. Or half truths. I'll know which is which. I've been doing some research into the background.”

“You've what?” She now had the attention of both of her parents. Each praying Cheryl hadn't pried too deep.

“There's nothing to find,” said Helen.

“Wrong.”

“This was an arranged marriage. I didn't want it,” replied Jason.

“Hooray. Some truth.”

“We loved each other,” claimed Helen.

“What rubbish. I was forced to bend to the will of my family,” Jason counter claimed, sending dagger looks at his wife.

Cheryl reached into her coat pocket to produce a few sheets of paper. “Would you like me to tell you both about this, so called, family. It's very interesting reading. Dad seems to have the cleaner slate. So we'll begin with him.”

Cheryl explained how her father had been in love with someone else. He has some of his sperm saved before he had a vasectomy.

Mum had used family pressure to be married to dad. You found out what dad had done. Savage at him. You bribed someone for some of the sperm to mix with your eggs. But. They were impregnated into another woman. You paid for her services so you were able to adopt me. The same idea has been used for you to become pregnant. You have also had a sleazy affair in the event the other didn't work.

“So. I'm really your daughter. I don't have to look for the people who gave me up for adoption. The rest is interesting reading. There's a copy for each of you.” Cheryl placed the papers on the coffee table between her parents. “I'll return home in a day. Or two. To find out if the house still stands.” She walked out of the lounge room before the explosions began.