Leo the Lioness by Constance C. Greene

wasn’t getting married. She would have told me. I know she would have.
    â€œYou didn’t know Dave and she were getting married and you know you didn’t,” Jen said. “They weren’t even engaged.”
    â€œWell, when you’ve gone steady as long as Carla and Dave have, it doesn’t exactly come as any big surprise,” I said.
    â€œMy mother ran into Mrs. McAllister this morning and she told her they decided on the spur of the moment. You know what that means.”
    I felt like smacking her.
    â€œIt doesn’t mean anything except that they probably want to get married before they go back to college.”
    I remembered my horoscope for that day: “Be sure to help good friends who are in trouble.”
    â€œShe won’t be going back to college. Not in her condition,” Jen said, smirking.
    I would have hit her if we hadn’t been standing on such a public corner.
    â€œWhat’s that mean?” I asked.
    â€œJust exactly what you think it means. In the old days they used to call it a ‘shotgun wedding.’” Jen smiled at me.
    â€œYou’re a nasty, foul-mouthed, rotten little stink,” I said. “To say things like that. Just because they decided to get married all of a sudden doesn’t mean anything. You’ve been seeing too many dirty movies.”
    â€œO.K., wise guy.” Jen’s face was red. She didn’t like being called “foul-mouthed.” “You know all the answers. But it’s true. You’ll see. What’s the big deal? Creep sakes, you act like Carla was some kind of saint or something. So she’s pregnant and had to get married. So what?”
    I turned and rode away from her. My heart felt as if it was going to pop right out of my chest and onto the pavement. I’d show her. I’d go right down to Moody’s and talk to Carla and get it all straightened out.
    Carla wasn’t at Moody’s.
    â€œShe’s left us,” the fat-faced, ugly female behind the counter said. “I understand she’s getting married.” The sunlight caught her eyeglasses and I could’ve sworn she was winking at me.
    So then I rode my bike over to Carla’s. I had started this and I was going to finish it.
    I rang the bell and Carla answered. She looked pale, or maybe it was the dim light of the hall.
    â€œTibb,” she said. “Come in.”
    â€œHi, Carla. How’s by you?”
    Now that I was here, I didn’t know what to say. I just stood there.
    â€œCome on in,” she said again.
    â€œI can’t,” I said. “I have a lot of errands to do for my mother.”
    â€œI was going to call you,” she said, “because I wanted you to know that Dave and I are getting married two weeks from Saturday. We want you and your family to come. It’s going to be a small wedding. You’ll get an invitation. Make sure John comes too. I specially want John to come.”
    â€œI don’t know,” I said. “I might be busy. I’ll have to have my mother let you know.”
    â€œAll right,” she said, “but I hope you’ll be there.”
    I looked at her through the screen door.
    â€œWhat about college?” I asked. “Are you going to finish college?” I wanted to ask her, flat out. I wanted to say, “Carla, you don’t have to get married, do you?” But I couldn’t. I just couldn’t.
    â€œEventually,” she said, and then I knew that what Jen had said was true. “We don’t know where we’ll be living or anything. We’ll have to see.”
    I backed down the steps. I could hardly see, the sun was so bright.
    â€œSee you,” I said. Carla did not smile.
    I got on my bicycle and rode off. Then I came back. She was still standing there.
    â€œCongratulations,” I said.
    â€œThank you, Tibb,” she said.
    I was all the way home before I remembered you’re supposed to