‘Caleb said my parents would be glad I was somewhere else.’

Where had this wise Caleb come from? ‘I’m sure that’s true. And now…’ I indicated her swollen belly.

Penelope dropped her teacup into the saucer. ‘I had no one. I need family.’

This was unbearable. I swallowed. The glance Penelope gave me was pitying too. ‘I can feel the baby kick. I know I’m young. But I’ll love being a mother.’

Her face looked blurry. I blinked. ‘I’m sure you will.’

Penelope withdrew her hand to pull sheets of paper from her bag. ‘Here’s a private post from Goth Chat.’

PRIVATE GOTH CHAT

PastelPlaything: I’ve got a question. I’ve met a boy! Being me it’s not simple. Potential New Boyfriend is new to the subculture. That’s my problem. I’m tired of being treated like a pretty pastel. I’m only dating goths now, pinky swear. But, how new is too new? When is a goth not a goth? How can I know if he’s really one of us or just angry with his dad?

ACantha: This is tricky @PastelPlaything. The Gothic nature is internal. Dress is just an outwards expression. We can’t judge by appearances. On the other hand, you need to know the Potential New Boyfriend’s essential nature. All of us had a moment when we committed. What made him angry with his dad? If he’s cranky because he didn’t get a new car, maybe his commitment to the subculture won’t last. OTOH if his dad is a wholesale prick, maybe your Potential New Boyfriend’s anger with his parents was just the prompt he needed.

Sandulf: Most tragifunny thing I’ve read all day and that’s saying something. @ACantha honey u weren’t allowed a new car?

Crow: Everyone’s angry with their dad.

ACantha: @Sandulf, go back to the kindergoths in your sandpit. We’re having a Big Kids chat here.

ACantha: @PastelPlaything, I need to ask, is he angry at everyone? Cause we’re not, you know, really into anger.

PastelPlaything: Well, with his mum. She got him out of trouble. He’s got a lot of art that explains this better than I can.

Jinxie69: He’s angry because his mother got him out of trouble? Some people will whinge about anything. I never even knew my mother.

PastelPlaything: It’s complicated. I’m sorry about your situation @Jinxie69. I just need to know if I can trust him.

ACantha: Don’t be too sorry for @Jinxie69. She’s completely off-topic. @Sandulf, you should warn her to start her own thread.

Crow: U can trust me, @PastelPlaything, esp if ur as hot as ur avatar.

ACantha: So then, he IS angry with everyone?

PastelPlaything: Not everyone. He likes his stepfather. Just not his own parents.

ACantha: Sounds like he thinks life sucks. You’ve got your answer, @PastelPlaything. Let us know how this gets on.