The Choice by Robert Whitlow

hard.”
    â€œIt’s already been hard,” Sandy said. “And it’s going to get worse.”
    â€œLet’s all sleep on it and talk more tomorrow,” her mother said.

    Later that evening in her room, Sandy faced the question she hadn’t brought up with her parents. How would Brad react to her decision? She picked up the pink phone in her bedroom and slowly dialed the Donnellys’ number but hung up before the call connected. Five minutes later her phone rang. It was Brad.
    â€œCan you talk?” he asked.
    â€œYeah, I’m in my room with the door closed. I started to call you but chickened out,” Sandy said.
    â€œYou could have. My parents went out to dinner and left me home to watch Nate. It’s their way of punishing me.”
    Brad’s eight-year-old little brother was a brat.
    â€œI hauled the TV from my parents’ bedroom into his room, then locked him up with it turned to a scary movie.”
    â€œYou didn’t.”
    â€œNo, he’s watching a rerun of Bonanza .” Brad paused. “I had to get off to myself because all I can think about is you.”
    Sandy sat on the bed and crossed her legs.
    â€œWhat have been thinking?”
    â€œHow much I want to be with you.”
    â€œReally?”
    â€œYeah. If our parents weren’t going nuts, I believe we could figure out what we should do.”
    â€œCool. I was thinking the same thing.”
    Brad was silent for a moment.
    â€œYou know,” he said, “I’ve never felt what I do for you with any other girl, and I meant every word I said to you at the lake and the dance.”
    Sandy melted.
    â€œMe too,” she said. “I went steady with Chris Stevens for over a year, but I’ve never really loved anyone before.”
    Brad was quiet for a moment.
    â€œHey, I have an idea. You’ll think it’s crazy, but at least listen.”
    â€œOkay.”
    â€œWhat if we took off on our own?”
    Sandy’s eyes opened wide. “You mean, like Las Vegas?”
    â€œNo, we can’t drive all the way across the country. But Jack Harris told me that a seventeen-year-old girl who’s pregnant doesn’t have to get her parents’ permission to get married.”
    â€œWe’d elope?” Sandy’s head was spinning.
    â€œWhy not? Once we were married, our folks would have to deal with it and couldn’t boss us around.”
    Sandy had always imagined herself walking down the aisle of the church holding on to her father’s arm and wearing a flowing white gown.
    â€œWould you still want me to end the pregnancy?” she asked, using the phrase she’d picked up from the conversation with her parents.
    â€œYeah, but that doesn’t keep us from loving each other. And if we’re married and don’t have any money, you can get an abortion for free.”
    â€œFor free?”
    â€œYeah. I found the notes my mom wrote down yesterday and called one of those clinics in Atlanta myself. I didn’t give the woman who answered the phone my name, but I told her the whole story, and she said not to worry about the money. They just want to help girls like you who are in a jam.”
    â€œWhere would we get married?” Sandy asked, hardly believing the words were coming out of her mouth.
    â€œI thought we could drive over to Richfield and see a justice of the peace. They have a place across the street from the courthouse where you get the blood test.”
    The nearby town had a well-deserved reputation as a marriage mill.
    â€œWhen would we go?” Sandy found herself asking.
    â€œI’d like to do it right now, but it’ll have to be when the courthouse is open.”
    â€œYou’re sure you want to marry me?” Sandy needed to hear it again.
    â€œHey, this pregnancy thing hit me like a load of bricks, but I’m getting my feet under me now. I can’t live without you.”
    â€œI feel the