d.: Well, it looks like Cal.E. is down for a long winter's nap. She is still asleep, so I will just present Chapter five of "The Inert Ingredient."
CHAPTER FIVE: THE PINNING CEREMONY After a brief flirtation with a full investigation of Benito Suarez’s autopsy, the superior officers at HPD decided not to pursue the matter any further. Their opinion was that a gang member who died mysteriously was not worthy of their attention. Perhaps, they reasoned, it was a drug deal gone bad. Maybe a heart attack had been induced in some way by a rival gang and the young man had a weak heart. Or, maybe an undiagnosed aneurysm had ruptured at the wrong time, keeping the drug dealer from plying his trade. It was not worth pursuing the matter further, it was decided. Because his case was deemed unworthy of further investigation; Benito Suarez’s body was laid to rest one week after Officer Ben Jones had requested an inquest into his cause of death. His body was buried in a potter's field since no one wanted to take responsibility for the payments for a funeral. Only ten people showed up for the burial service. Almost all attendees denied having any blood relation to the deceased. After Suarez’s body was laid to rest, Jay Magruder relaxed and began to concentrate on his blossoming relationship with Alice Jones. Although neither had much free time, they made time to see each other on a regular basis. By the date of the play Jay had asked Alice to see with him, the couple had become intimate. Alice seemed to enjoy this aspect of dating as much as Jay did, much to his surprise and delight. This resulted in some impromptu sessions for which the couple was not properly prepared. **************************************************************************** The phone rang as Jay readied himself for Alice’s pinning ceremony. This ceremony signified Alice and her classmates’ satisfactory completion of nursing school. Jay was glad that Alice had invited him to the ceremony, since she was given a limited number of tickets. He was not, however, prepared for the discussion the telephone call brought about. As a result, he almost lost his invitation to Alice’s pinning ceremony. “Jay, I was late, so I took a test. It was positive,” Alice began in an even tone. It took Jay a minute to register what Alice had said. After he understood, he began to babble, like most young men are apt to do when faced with the proposition of supporting a brand new life. “Are you sure? Did you take more than one test? We were careful...” “Most of the time, Jay, but not ALL the time. I am nineteen years old. That is the age that a woman’s body feels is the best time to get pregnant. Her body will do everything it can do to accomplish this, if at all possible.” As if to prove her point, Alice continued her soliloquy. “At least three of my classmates, who are the same age as I am, are also pregnant. I guess none of us were careful enough. We were so caught up in our studies that we all neglected to ‘take proper precautions.’” Alice finished her statement and waited for Jay to answer. She had a bit of a wait. Finally, a sound came from the other end of the line. “What are you going to do, Alice? I will support your decision, whatever it is.” Jay’s voice trailed off with the last statement. He could tell that Alice was extremely perturbed with him. “‘What am I going to do?!’ Don’t you mean ‘What are WE going to do?’ I am a nurse (as soon as I pass my state boards) and I plan on going into the pediatric field. I am going to raise this child, Jay Magruder, with or without you. Now, what are YOU going to do?!” Jay contemplated the question. He knew better than to take too long to answer, but he did not want to answer too quickly. He worried that his job description may be a bad one for a family man. Being an undercover cop is a dangerous job. However, Jay Magruder had fallen head over heels in love with Alice Jones. He did not want to lose her. He also knew that he desperately wanted a family, but he was not in a position yet that would allow him to be a good family man. He wanted to be able to support his family capably. Even though he had not inherited his parents’ tendencies to be addicted to drugs and alcohol, Jay HAD inherited their compulsive personalities. The situation be damned, Jay thought. He knew what he wanted. “Alice Jones, will you marry me?” Jay was not expecting the answer (or, more accurately, the lack of one) that he received. Alice took her time before answering the question. “Look, Jay. I am not sure if you were aware of this, but you are not only the only man that I have been with in a ‘biblical manner,’ but you are also the only man that I have ever dated seriously. Other than going to the Junior-Senior prom with my best friend both years, I really have not EVER dated anyone else. I never felt the need, with my close relationship with my father. Not until you came along, that is. Now, you are asking me to marry you. Is it just because I am pregnant, or do you really want to marry me, regardless of the situation?” It was Alice’s turn to wait for an answer. Her wait was a short one. Jay answered after a brief, thirty second pause in the conversation. “Alice, if things kept progressing, I would have asked the same question eventually, even if I had not gotten you pregnant. This just speeded up the process. I did not know that I was your first serious relationship or your first sexual encounter. I am flattered that you chose me for both.” “I want a family. I was just not prepared to have one so soon. I just need a few months to find us a larger apartment and to buy a family car. Can we wait three months to get married?” “Sure, if you want to answer my vigilant dad why we have a full-term baby after only three months of marriage,” Alice stated, flippantly. “I guess we could stay in my apartment until we find something that suits us. I can sell my car easily. There are many collectors who are interested in classic cars. If you want to stay at home with the baby, I can pick up more overtime...”Jay began. “First, I do not want to raise this baby completely alone. I will not have a hard time finding a job once I pass my state boards. Nurses are always in demand. Afterward, we can swap off who works and who stays at home with the baby. You stated that you can do some of your paperwork from home. Maybe you could do it while the baby sleeps.” “We have time to find a larger apartment. Newborns do not take up much room, and I want the baby close by. You may need to do some midnight feeding once I express my breast milk. I will need to do that anyway if I am going to continue to work. A new car IS a must, though. My old clunker is not dependable enough to haul around a baby, and your Mustang’s back seat is just too small to put a car seat in.” Alice had made up her mind. “Your answer is ‘yes’ then?” Jay was more excited than he had ever imagined that he could be, in any situation. “Yes, Jay. I will marry you. Now, we both need to get ready for my pinning ceremony. Brush your hair really well!”
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