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For Mercie's Sake

By Sharon Srock

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FOR MERCIE'S SAKE

chapter 1

The baby in Scottlyn Rich’s womb turned a summersault. She frowned when a tiny foot made painful contact with her bladder. Easy baby. Scottlyn followed the principal of Eden Heights Christian Academy down a deserted hall while the baby continued to squirm. Can she feel how nervous I am? And if she could, shouldn’t they both be used to it by now? The last few months had turned her present and her future upside down. How could anyone go from popular and secure to pregnant and outcast in so short a time and not feel lost? She shrugged and tried to pull her attention back to the guided tour.
The school was bigger than she’d expected. Muffled sounds of classes in session reached her ears as they passed by closed doors. Hand drawn pictures and childishly scribbled assignments hung on bulletin boards outside of each room. The tile floors were scuffed, the metal lockers scratched and dented. Some of the tension between Scottlyn’s shoulder blades eased. Eden Heights looked a lot like the public schools she’d always attended.
The principal led her up a short flight of stairs, and somewhere between the first and second floors, they crossed an invisible line from childish to young adult. Good-bye crayon drawings, hello sports schedules, pep squad notices, and social event flyers.
Not what I expected. The idea of attending a Christian high school had given Scottlyn pause. Church had never been a part of her life, and now? Well…I might as well paint a red A on my forehead. She had enough going on in her life without becoming the target for some well-meaning do-gooder. The baby tumbled again. She shifted the load of textbooks in her arms and placed a calming hand on her belly. “Settle down, Mercie.”
The principal paused with a half turn. “I’m sorry. Did you have a question?”
A sick heat built in Scottlyn’s throat. She jerked to a stop. The books hit the floor as she slapped a hand over her mouth. “Bathroom?”
Principal Hatter frowned at her. “What?” Reality dawned on the woman’s face. “Oh my.” She pointed.
Scottlyn sprinted down the hall, shoved through the door of the blessedly deserted…thank God… restroom, and pushed into a stall. Her stomach emptied as her heart filled with humiliation. Once the retching passed, she leaned against the wall and fumbled for a handful of tissue. She wiped her mouth with trembling hands, wincing when she heard the door swing open followed by the principal’s voice.
“Are you OK, dear?”
Wonderful. The perfect start to her first day in a strange place. I hate this whole thing! The baby kicked. Scottlyn rubbed the mound of her five-month belly. Not you, baby. She continued to rub, inhaling deep breaths and expelling them though her mouth. The trembling subsided. The nausea passed. With a final cleansing breath, she opened the stall. Principal Hatter leaned against the row of sinks, her arms full of Scottlyn’s books.
Scottlyn crossed to one of the sinks, turned the tap on, scooped a hand full of water into her mouth, and tried to swish away the remnants of her breakfast. She ripped a paper towel free, blotted her face, and dried her hands.
“You poor thing. Is there anything I can do to help?”
Scottlyn shook her head. “I’ll be fine now that my stomach is empty. Sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize. I carried three babies. I know how quickly nausea can sneak up on you.”
She shrugged. “Thanks. These days, I don’t even know what to blame it on. The whole court thing looming over my head, being kicked out by my dad, or Mercie.”
“Mercy?”
Her hand went back to her stomach. “My daughter, Mercie. M.E.R.C.I.E.
“What a lovely and unusual name for a baby girl.” The principal straightened, shifting the stack of books from her right arm to her left. “I know this is a difficult time for you, but I admire your decisions. I’m here for you if you feel the need to talk. I’m sure your teachers will make themselves available as well. Are you ready to meet your first hour teacher?”
Scottlyn nodded and reached for the books.
Mrs. Hatter swung them out of her reach. “I’ll carry them for you.” She used her free hand to dig a slip of paper from her pocket. “I have your locker number right here. We’ll drop your books off on the way to Mrs. Kensington’s classroom.”
”Thanks.” Scottlyn pasted a smile on her face and squared her shoulders. She’d missed school, the routine, and the learning. She’d always been a good student, and she’d continue to be. Her future, and Mercie’s, depended on it.

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