Red Cards (Part I)
prompt: Henley asks Hope where babies come from. Hope panics and tells her something ridiculous. Kelley has to clean up the mess when Henley tells all of her classmates what Hope told her.
***
// Henley’s sitting on the living room couch, nervously twirling her thumbs in her lap. She looks up at both her parents who are sitting on the ottoman in front of her, looks of disappointment on their faces.
// Hope is the first to speak up. Henley, now would you like to explain why we had to come pick you up from school early because you got into a fight with a classmate? She and Kelley had just returned home from retrieving Henley from her principal’s office. Apparently she had been involved in some playground debacle, but neither of them were quite sure the reason.
// Kelley narrows her eyes. It’s not like you to kick up a fuss…what happened, sweetie?
// Henley curls into herself, bringing her knees to her chest so she can rest her head upon them. She murmurs, A boy in my class said that girls are the only ones who can get red cards.
// Kelley frowns. Uh, ok…that’s not true. She turns to Hope who just shrugs in return, agreeing.Henley, I know that probably made you upset- in fact it’s making me upset too. Anyone, girls and boys alike, can get a red card. But when you disagree with someone, you don’t get physical with them…it’s best if you talk about it first. Remember? Open communication is important. Kelley’s quite proud of herself. Since when had she gotten so good at disciplining?
// Henley lets out an exasperated sigh, I know, Momma…we did talk! I was being so nice, but he just wouldn’t understand!
// Kelley tilts her head. Well, what did you say?
// Henley explains. We were at recess and he told me that his Mommy was going to have another baby. Then he asked me if I knew where babies came from…and of course I know-”
// Oh, you do? Kelley interrupts, her brow arching. She fails to notice all the color in Hope’s face drain next to her. Henley nods in response and continues her story.
// So I thought I was being a good classmate by telling him! But he didn’t like my answer. I told him that mommies get babies in their tummies when they go to the doctor’s office and the doctor shows them a red card. Like in a soccer game, right? When you get a red card, you’re out of the game…so when mommies are going to have a baby, they’re out of the game too. They have to focus a lot of their energy on growing the baby in their tummies. But then we started arguing because he kept saying that only girls can get red carded but that’s not true. Boys can get red carded too…right? Henley confuses herself.
// Kelley’s eyes are fixed on her daughter, her mouth slightly dropped open. Where on earth did you hear that, Henley? Aunty Pinoe? It was Aunty Pinoe, wasn’t it?
// Henley innocently shakes her head, pointing her little index straight in front of her. Kelley follows her pointing to Hope, her mouth dropping open even more. She’s baffled. Gritting through her teeth, Kelley scolds in a whisper, Seriously?! A red card?!
// Hope whispers back in defense, Well it makes sense!…okay, fine, there’s one loophole, I guess. I panicked! I didn’t think she’d tell anyone!
// Henley ignores her mother’s side conversation and pipes up instead. Mommies, I have another question though…I get why red cards mean having babies, but what do yellow cards mean?
// Kelley turns to Hope, growling, There are A LOT of loopholes.
// Hope tries to salvage the damage she’s done. Well, uhm, yellow cards happen when Mommies and Mommies…well, or I guess Daddies and Mommies too show that they just really love each other. It happens before the red card…like in soccer! Sometimes you need two yellows before you get a red.
// Henley’s face is scrunched up in confusion and Kelley’s deeply disturbed. She’s about to explain, but gets an idea in her head. She stands up calmly, looking at her wife. Hm…interesting theory, Henley. I’m sure Mommy has some more explaining to do, so I’m going to leave you two alone…Turning to face Hope alone, Kelley teases her, Hope, I’m not showing you a yellow card until you fix this.
// Henley’s eyes widen, totally misinterpreting the conversation at hand. Wait Momma, you’re going to yellow card Mommy soon? Wait…are you going to have another baby?!
// Now, all the color drains from Kelley’s face as she realizes she just made everything a hundred times worse. She feels Hope tugging on her shirt, pulling her back down. The two of them face their daughter once again, but this time around, they’re the ones twirling their thumbs and racking their brains for ways to clean up this mess.