37 Don't Go
19 year old Marshal Andrews sat in his room praying to god that his baby was alright. He rubbed his 9 month belly and whimpered as the baby made no response.
Marshal ran to the bathroom to puke for the 13th time that week. He moaned after he was done and rested his head on the seat of the toilet. He blindly flushed the toilet and leaned back against the wall. He rubbed his belly and slowly stood to rinse out his mouth. He walked to his room and tried to rest before he had to go to work.
After an hour he pulled on tight leather pants with a black shirt, black boots, and a leather coat. He grabbed his keys and walked out to his car to drive off to his job. He sighed as he pulled up to the strip club. He set the alarm on his car and walked inside.
As he walked back to the changing area he ran into Anthony the club owner. "Marshal, are you alright? You've been acting weird lately. Are you feeling alright?" Marshal nodded. "You sure? Some of the others saw you puking yesterday before you left. Have you seen a doctor?"
"No. I think I just have a cold. I will be fine. Thank you for caring. I have to get ready." Marshal started walking off and was grabbed by the wrist. "What?"
"Marshal, I don't want you working til we learn what is wrong with you. You will be on paid leave for a week. If you don't see the doctor within a week I will have to fire you." Marshal nodded and walked back out to his car. Once home he called his Doctor.
Marshal sat on his couch and whimpered as he felt pain in his belly around his baby. He curled around his belly and gasped. "Shit! Ow! No, please no!"
Marshal sat in the doctor's office wondering what was wrong with him. He looked around the room at the various posters and various plastic models. He noticed most of the models and posters showed reproductive organs like uterus's and parts of the male reproductive area but not as much.
The door opened and Marshal saw the doctor pushing in a weird machine. "Marshal, can you please remove your shirt and unbutton your pants. I need access to your abdomen." Marshal nodded and did as asked. "Ok just lay back and relax." The doctor powered up the machine while he grabbed a bottle of purple gel. "Ok this will be a tiny bit cold." The doctor warned before applying the gel to his belly. Marshal shivered a tiny bit but said nothing. The doctor grabbed the transducer to the machine and pushed it against his belly. "Now I am gonna show you the reason you've been sick ok? Its nothing bad I promise you that." Marshal nodded and looked at the screen. The doctor pointed out a circular item. "Do you see this Marshal?"
Marshal nodded. "What is it? A tumor? Cancer? What? Am I gonna die? I have to go back to work soon. I can still work right? Is it something that will be bad? I work at a strip club. I have to look good."
"Marshal calm down. It's nothing dangerous. That is your baby. That is your child's head. You are pregnant Marshal. You are about 3 months right now give or take a week. The baby is tiny but it is ok. Once you start eating for two instead of one it will grow to normal size."
"What? I can't be pregnant. That means I'll get fat! I can't get fat! I'll lose my job! If I lose my job how will I pay my bills?! Just get rid of it! I don't care what it costs. Get rid of it!" The doctor looked surprised. "You heard me! Are you deaf?! Get rid of it or I will!"
"Marshal. Babies are a blessing. How can you act this way? Give it a chance before condemning an innocent life." He wiped the gel from Marshal's stomach. "Give it two weeks ok? Then if you feel the same I will terminate the pregnancy. You still have enough time before it's illegal to end it. Just go think on it ok?"
Marshal sighed and just walked out saying nothing. He went to the club before it opened so he could talk to his boss. He walked inside and knocked on the door to the office. He waited to be invited inside and sighed. The door opened and he was waved inside. "Did you see a doctor?" Marshal nodded. "And?"
"Uh... well I got pregnant..." His boss looked at his shocked. "I asked the doctor to get rid of it but he is making me wait 2 fucking weeks! He says I should get used to it before just murdering it. I swear I plan on getting rid of it. I can still work, that is not a problem at all. I swear it sir."
"Marshal. Who is the father? Was it a john?" Marshal sighed and shook his head. "Then who is it? Is it one of the other boys?" again Marshal shook his head. "Then who?"
"Johnson... A few days before he died... We were drunk." Marshal sighed and rubbed his face. "I am sorry. I will get rid of it in two weeks I promise you that."
"Keep it."
Marshal was shocked. "What?"
"Keep it... In memory of my son. You owe him that much." Marshal bowed his head in regret. "You can still work but you cannot have sex. You will just be a stripper. I will pay for your hospital bills and I won't let anything happen to my grandchild. You will move into my guest house til it is born. Once it is born I will take it off your hands. You will get a grace period to recover then back to work. Deal?" Marshal nodded dumbfounded. "Very good. Go home I will see you tonight. You will move in this weekend." Marshal was dismissed and he walked out to his car with a sigh.
Marshal tried to remain calm. He had just gone to the bathroom and his water had broken. His baby was coming now. And most likely it is dead. He lost his beloved Johnson to a car accident and now he was losing the baby as well. He decided to take a hot bath to help with his labor.
Marshal sighed as he came back to work now 4 months pregnant. His belly was clearly visible on his skinny frame. He walked back to the changing area. He sighed as he saw Anthony standing there waiting for him. He just decided to get the monthly visit after his doctor visit over with. "Hey Anthony, what do you need?"
"How is the baby? Any problems or concerns?" Marshal shook his head as he set his keys on the counter and sat to remove his boots. "You are taking your vitamins right?"
Marshal looked up at him and sighed. "Do I look like an uncaring bastard? Yes I may have almost made a mistake in the beginning trying to get rid of it but I am not stupid now. I take the vitamins with every meal. The baby is doing fine and I have become grotesquely fat for it to make sure it gains the right amount of weight it needs to survive. Now any other questions? I have to dress in the tight corset for tonight." He stood and went to the closet pulling out the outfit he was supposed to wear on stage that night. He reached for it and had his wrist grabbed. He looked at the owner of the hand. "Yes?"
"Marshal, you can't wear the corset. You know it will hurt the baby. I'll make one of the others wear it. Please don't hurt all that I have left of my son." Marshal looked at Anthony's face and saw sadness. He sighed and nodded. "Thank you Marshal. Why don't you wear the leather pants, thong, and the black shirt with the 1 inch heeled boots ok?"
Marshal nodded and got the named outfits instead. He didn't even care that Anthony was there as he undressed putting on the outfit for the night. He removed his own shirt to trade it for the form fitting one when he heard Anthony gasp and looked at him. "What?"
Anthony pointed to his belly with a shaking hand. "The... My..."
Marshal looked at his belly. "The baby?" Anthony nodded. "I told you I'm fat but you had to believe otherwise. I am a fucking Pillsbury dough boy."
Anthony finally cleared his head. "You may say no but can I feel?" Marshal nodded and Anthony put two hands over his belly. "Oh my god... Hi little one. I'm granpa." Marshal smiled a tiny bit. "Your daddy would have loved you."
Marshal bit his lip to prevent crying. "Sir... I have to get ready. Excuse me." He pulled on the shirt he was supposed to wear and sat to pull on the boots. The boots reached his thighs and kept them under his pant leg. Once dressed he stood and looked at himself in the mirror. He sighed as his stomach was visible due to his skinny frame. He just gave up on it and fixed his hair making it mussed like the people who come to the club like.
Marshal gasped as he felt a severe contraction. He whimpered and clutched the sides of the tub. He moaned silently not wanting to get the attention of Anthony in the main house. He slowly breathed through his nose to prevent screaming.
Marshal sighed as he reached month 7 and had become famous at the club. Many a person wanted to see the pregnant stripper. He got a text from Anthony telling him that he as needed at the club even though it was only noon. He got off the couch and slipped into a pair of sandals since his feet were severely swollen that day and sneakers or boots were a no go. He got into his car and drove off as the baby kept napping inside him.
Once at the club he parked in the space closest to the door, put the car in park, turned off the engine, and just sat there. What was so important that he was needed at the club? Did they get him a new outfit to attempt to fit around his belly? He put his hands on the sides of his belly. He must admit over the past 4 months he has fallen in love with his baby and once Anthony takes it he will freak out. He doesn't want to have it taken away now. As Anthony said 4 months ago the baby is all that remains of his love Johnson.
A tear ran down his cheek and he quickly wiped it away. He didn't want to remember how his lover died. It was too much for him. He slowly got his huge body out of the car and walked into the club. Right as he got to the main area he was greeted with his colleagues screaming Surprise. He jumped and put a hand on the wall to steady himself while the other went to his belly as the baby woke from the loud noises.
Anthony came behind him and steadied him. "You ok Marshal?" Marshal nodded as he tried to get his breathing under control. "You sure? You look like someone just walked over your grave."
"Well the fact that I just had the shit scared outta me might have something to do with it!" he stopped using the wall as it was the only thing preventing his heart from jumping from his chest and sighed. "Guys, this is awesome. It really is thank you so much." He smiled at his friend/colleagues. "I love it a lot. You are awesome." He noticed the alcohol on the bar and sighed sadly.
Anthony pulled him aside. "Marshal, why the sad sigh? What is wrong?"
"Are you trying to make things worse about being pregnant? I saw the alcohol on the bar! And don't tell me it's a shipment that needs to be catalogued either. I know that happens at night when we close. I have been here to see it happen! And tell me, what is the point of a baby shower? I won't need baby items. As you said you are taking it once I give birth! So that means the party out there is useless! Are you that cold? Do you think that maybe I want this baby?!"
"Marshal. Calm down I am sorry. But at the time you didn't seem like you wanted it. You were all the more willing to get rid of it. I just thought you would want your life back." Anthony crossed his arms.
"Well things fucking changed! If you try to take my baby I swear to god I will rip your dick off with my own hands and force you to eat it whole. Am I understood?" Anthony looked at him wide eyed and nodded. "You can be in it's life but you will not hurt it. And if you do hurt it I will still kick your ass." He walked back out to the main room and sat on the bar not caring who said what. He was comfortable sitting on the bar. He did it every night with the bartender when the club shuts down for the night and he needs someone to talk to.
Marshal moaned as he pushed hard as he could. He felt the baby moving slowly towards his entrance and whimpered at the feeling it caused. The feeling of the baby in his hips was torture. But he persevered.
Marshal was sitting in the club bored waiting for the night to begin. He was 9 months and 2 weeks. He sighed and rubbed his belly trying to calm the baby. It was kicking like no tomorrow. He rubbed gently and after a while the baby calmed. "Thank you my little angel. I need energy and to not be distracted when I start stripping. One distraction and I can fall and we don't want that." He smiled rubbing his belly gently.
As the night got going he walked on stage and immediately there was whistling and cheering. He smiled and put his hands on his belly. He went to the stripper pole and danced doing the only tricks he could still do with his belly. He made sure to shake his hips and show as much belly as possible.
He walked of the stage and through the tables still dancing as sexually as possible. He was on his way back to the stage when someone grabbed his wrist and danced with him sticking money in his pants. He danced with the john knowing he would need the money. The john started getting rough and he tried to get away. The john smacked him across the face; he lost his balance and fell to the floor landing hard on his belly.
The bouncer immediately ran over with Anthony. The bouncer escorted the man out and Anthony kneeled to Marshal. "Marshal?! Are you alright? Is the baby ok?" Marshal stood slowly and rubbed his belly trying to get the baby to react. "Marshal? What are you feeling? Is the baby ok?"
Marshal nodded. "I think we're ok. I'm gonna go home. I am sorry but I need rest." Anthony nodded and watched Marshal leave.
Marshal felt the baby crowning and whimpered. He pushed through the pain wanting the baby out. He prayed it was ok. He'd now been in labor for about 7 hours and it was 2 AM. He's had enough of labor. As he pushed the head came out stretching him to his limit. He let out a tiny scream as the head popped out. He felt between his legs feeling his child's head. He gave a tiny chuckle as his hand roamed the tiny scalp with an abundance of hair.
He moaned as a contraction came too soon and the baby spun in preparation for its shoulders. He pushed again and the baby slid into the water between his legs. He grabbed for the baby and pulled it to his chest.
He tried to get it to cry but noticed he couldn't make it cry. He started to freak out. "Please baby, come on. Cry for mama. Please you can't leave me." still the baby had no reaction. He cried as he cut the cord then set the baby in the Moses basket he had bought for it. He put his hands on his face crying over his baby and over Johnson. He looked at the knife he used to cut the cord. He grabbed it and looked it over as he still cried.
~24 years later~
Angel Smith walked into the strip club she owned. It used to belong to her grandfather but age took over and he had to retire. She walked back to the office and sat pulling out old files. The two specific files she had were very special. They were of Johnson Smith and Marshal Andrews. She sighed looking at the familiar photos. She wished she had met these men but they were gone long before she had the chance.
Anthony walked to Marshal's guest home to see how he and the baby are doing. He hadn't seen him since Marshal went home to rest earlier after the accident. He knocked but there was no reply. He grabbed the spare key from the potted plat and unlocked the door.
He walked inside and looked around. "Marshal? You ok? It's me." he walked through the whole house. He got to the bedroom and saw the door that was a conjoined bathroom closed with light streaming from under it. He walked to the door and knocked. "Marshal?" there was no reply. He knocked again and when again he got no reply he opened the door.
He gasped at what he saw. Marshal lay in the tub with a knife jutting from his neck and blood on the wall. He saw that Marshal was skinnier. He looked at the Moses basket on the floor and saw a tiny foot. He ran to the basket to check on the baby. He picked up the tiny infant and listened for any breathing.
There was a faint wheezing. He put his mouth over the tiny mouth and blew in a puff of air trying to at least save the baby. He performed CPR on the tiny form and cried happily as it screamed loudly. He looked it over noticing his grandbaby was a girl. He kissed her head and carried her to the living room of the guest house before calling 911. Cops arrived after he had cared for the baby girl dressing her in one of the baby outfits Marshal had bought.
After many court hearings of possible murder and custody it was deemed that Marshal committed suicide thinking that the baby was stillborn when in reality she just needed to have her lungs cleared. Once he was given full custody he named her Angel June Smith.
Angel sighed setting the files down wishing she knew her parents but things happen. On days she wished her mother hadn't gone but she had no chance at changing that now. She heard the dancers starting to go into the changing room and went to get things ready for the club's grand opening under new ownership.
~Fin~
