Nicholas and Josiphene were seated in the cozy den of the palatial country home that belonged to Nicholas.
"Can I get you another drink?" asked Nicholas.
"Please," Josiphene replied, "I'm more thirsty tonight than I thought."
As Nicholas was mixing the drink, silence prevailed. Josiphene seemed nervous, but Nicholas was his usual, calm, smooth self.
Nicholas turned the television on. Before he could sit down, Josiphene said, "Please turn that off, dear--I want to have a--er--talk."
"Is the same thing on your mind that was on your mind when we talked over the phone this afternoon?"
Josiphene took a sip of the drink, and sat back.
"I don't have much spare time to think," she said. "I'm tired of running the store, and this ridiculous situation with Eli. Divorce has always been out of the question for my family, but I'm at the point now where I think I should get one."
Nicholas lost color, and said nothing.
"You're shocked, I suppose!" Josiphene said. "Well, I'm not surprised."
"Have you told Eli?"
"Nom he's always asleep! About the only time I say a civil word to him is when he's taking a break from the farm, or coming in to the store to get out of the weather. He's such a lazy ass!"
"He's going to be one shocked ass when you tell him about the divorce!"
Josiphene studied Nicholas, and detected hesitation, and, perhaps, indifferencee.
After they finished their drinks, the couple took a long ride, and Nicholas dropped Josiphene off at her home by eleven thirty pm.
Meanwhile, Bill Kazan was dozing on his bed. He was putting off studying, and probably would never get around to it that night.
Linda answered, then entered Bill's room. "Telephone, Bill."
Bill sat up, and answered the phone by his bed. After making sure the other phone had been hung up, he and Karen began their conversation, one of many they'd have, nights.
"What have you been doing all night, baby?" Bill asked.
"Nothing," Karen said. "Mama and Daddy went to Aunt Stella's. They're coming back any minute, though. Are your parents at home?"
Bill knew that Karen was only trying to make conversation. After all, she must have recognized his mother's voice on the phone.
"Yeah!"
Suddenly, the conversation took a serious turn.
"Bill," Karen said, in a trembling voice, "I think I'm pregnant."
"Have you been to a doctor?" Bill asked, trying to believe that Karen was joking, but full realizing that it could be true.
"Yes!"
"And"
:Oh, Bill, we're going to have to run away! I don't think I'm pregnant, I know I'm pregnant. Are you with me, honey?"
"Yeah--damn--what the hell are we going to do?"
Karen said nothing.
"We're going to have to talk at school tomorrow!" Bill continued. "Will you meet me in front of the gym during the morning break?"
"Sure," Karen said. "You don't sound too concerned, Bill."
"Believe me, baby," Bill answered, "I've never been more concerned in my life!"
After everyone had gone to bed in the Kazan household, Bill tossed and turned. He had to tell Danny, but was afraid he'd wake him. Finally, at twelve thirty, he arose, put on his undershorts, and tiptoed to Danny's room. As he entered, he could hear the transistor radio on by Danny's bed. He was relieved that Danny was still awake.
"Hey--brother," Bill whispered.
"Huh?" Danny, sitting up, whispered back, "Yeah--what is it?"
"I got to talk to you for a few minutes."
"What's bugging you?"
Bill pulled up a chair by the bed, and sat down.
"I got a serious problem--I don't know what I'm going to do."
"Some kind of drug problem?"
"I wish it were that mild--look--I knocked up Karen Ingram!"
"You're joking," Danny, seemingly amused, replied.
"You heard me--it's not funny. I did it with Karen Ingram, and how she's suffering the consequences!"
"Wait--you mean she's pregnant?"
"I just said I knocked her up!"
"I didn't think you had it in you!" Danny, completely shocked about the whole matter, exclaimed.
"Hell--I don't know what I'm going to do!"
There was a brief silence.
"I came here for--to ask you what I should do!" Bill said.
"Damn," Danny said. "I still can't believe this. My little brother--Bill!"
"Somehow," Bill said, "you feel I need congratulations about this terrible mess. Well, I don't!"
"Why don't you just say 'fuck' or 'screwed' and cut out all this shit about a 'terrible mess'!" Danny cruelly said.
"I don't like to think of such words at a time like this!. Look, Danny, you don't seem to think this is very serious!"
"Skip town," Danny yawned. "Once her parents find out, they'll get you for rape. Do you know how tough those Ingrams are?
"I'm not going to be able to sleep a damn wink tonight!" a sudden;y weak feeling Bill said.
"It's almost one in the morning," Danny said, looking at his alarm clock. "We got school tomorrow. Let's get together and talk about this another time."
Bill arose, put the chair back to Danny's desk, and started to leave. As he opened the door, Danny turned back and mumbled, "Good luck!"
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