The Bad Mom

“Duuude you look great, you must be getting laid.” he shouts where the bus driver reminds him on the intercom to watch his language

“No, no this is the other glow…I’m six months pregnant,” I whisper hoping he would lower his voice.

I had to agree with Rusty, I had never felt sexier than I have as a pregnant woman. I’ve become a regular at the doctor’s office where the nurses nominated me for the “Hot Mama” award. Maybe it’s because I’m single, so I put more effort in my appearance. Maybe because I work in retail, where looking attractive is a job requirement. It’s the only time I felt I could be round and beautiful at the same time.

“Are you still working for KNRK?” Rusty asks with zero response to my news of being pregnant.

“No I’m back in school” I said, “what about you?”

“I’m back in rehab and I’m homeless, but I’m wearing an Armani suit baby!”

“This is my stop, it was nice to see you,” I said as I exited the shame train.

Rusty followed, “this can be my stop too, I’m homeless remember?”

He followed me around the grocery store, pitching ideas of how we could become rich and famous.

“I’m over radio; it’s an endangered species, that’s why I’m back in school. I want to write.” I told him as I paid for my cereal and milk. Rusty is one of those people that just won’t go away.

Rusty came to that same Halloween party, Kat and I hosted dressed as a Limousine Driver in a tuxedo. He brought liquor and a stack of the worst selection of CD’s. Whenever our backs were turned, he would sneak over to the CD player and pop in one of his heavy metal discs. The other guest started to complain, “Who is that guy? Can you kick him out he’s obnoxious?”

Kat made it a rule that he was not allowed in our house anymore.

“Rusty, I need to say good-bye now. Kat will kill me if I brought you home.”

“You still live with Kat, is she the father of your baby?”

“Good-bye Rusty.”