Boys or Girls

The days went by quickly, and Mara found herself anxious to see her first-born as a toddler. She aged her up quickly, and couldn't help but stare at her daughter. Marri was stunning! She had skin darker than her father's, with a combination of green eyes. Mara was a little jealous of the fact that Marri had indeed inherited Salline's "Trish" family eyes, and Mara herself had not. She shrugged it off though, prizing how beautiful Marri was.

While her husband was sleeping, Mara taught Marri to walk, and talk. Mara found herself growing even more attached to her daughter, but still knew her husband wouldn't have much to do with her. All men only seemed to want sons; why couldn't most see the value of a daughter?

 After teaching Marri to walk and walk, Mara quickly groomed herself for the day and fixed her hair, pulling it back into a loose pony tail.

Mara let Marri sit in her swing while she gathered her things, seeing as Marri seemed to love swinging back and forth. After which, Mara took Marri on a visit to the park.

The journey to this park would be a long one, but this was a secret park. It would be well worth the trip, and it is very beautiful. It's a great place for someone to relax, and just lose their troubles.

Just as she remembered it. The park was fabulous, and Mara already began to feel her body relax as she listened to the water murmurs, and the flowers' song ringing in her ears as they moved in the wind. "Isn't this fantastic, Marri?" she asked her daughter. "Oo! Pwetty, Mommah," her daughter responded, just as entranced as Mara was.

 "Sure is, ain't it?" another voice said. Mara turned, and her eyes widened as she stared into his fine blue ones.

"Oh, hello, how are you?" Mara asked the man.
"I'm fine, thanks. And how 'bout you?" he returned the question.
"Stressed," she sighed.
"Why is that? If you don't mind me askin'."

"None of that matters now," she said, trying to forget about how awful husbands can be.
"Right. So what's your name, Darlin'?"
 "I'm Mara."
"Jason," he said, extending his hand. Mara shook his hand politely.

"Jason, what are you doing here in China?" she asked, smiling. It wasn't not obvious that he was a foreigner, or at least here.
"Ah, you know. The scenery, the girls . ." he chuckled. When Mara didn't respond, he smiled. "I'm kidding!" She laughed too.

"And who is this cutie-pie?" Jason asked, tickling Marri.
"Mawwi," the toddler responded, giggling.
"Marri," Mara decoded. 
"Well you're adorable, Miss Marri!" He exclaimed. Mara smiled at him. He seemed to be great with children.

"Do you have any family of you own?" Mara asked curiously.
"Nope. I wish I did. Sometimes my niece and nephew stay with me, though, so I get to spend time with them. They're only 10 each, they were fraternal twins."

Marri yawned. "Sweepy, Mommy," she said, wiping her eyes.
"Oh, dear! It's getting late. I'd better get home," Mara told Jason.
"Alright, well, you two take care."

When they were safely home, Mara read Marri to sleep. She fell asleep quickly, and Mara began tidying up. She put a blanket over Marri and pulled her hair behind her ear. Mara was putting up Marri's toys when  Lee appeared in the doorstep, hardly glancing in Marri's way.

 "We need to go try again," he said. Mara nodded; she knew what he meant. He wanted to try again for a son, no daughters were wanted.
"I will be there in a minute," she responded. Lee left the room, only to come back a hour later.

He frowned, pouted, and squinted his eyes at Mara. "I said now!"
"Okay, okay, I'm coming!" she exclaimed, immediately jumping to her feet and rushing out of the bedroom.

The whole process seemed to last forever this time. Lee was more forceful with her, and seemed to lose any respect that he may have gained in the past few months. It would have been a nightmare for Mara, had she not have had her mind on someone else . . .

"Jason!" Mara screamed in her fantasy.

***

"Mama . . Wake up, Mama," a sweet sing-song voice interrupted Mara's dream. Mara's eyelids fluttered, and she took a look at the person standing in front of her.
"Marri?"
"Yes, Mama. Dad said I could age up early." Mara sighed, and sat up.
"And why did he tell you that?" Mara asked her.

"I don't know. He just said it was important."
To get rid of you quicker, no doubt, Mara thought but didn't say.
"Well aren't you so beautiful, Marri," Mara stared, noticing Marri's Trish eyes still very apparent. "So what should we do today?" 

In that instant, Marri's stomach growled, as if on que. "I guess we should start with that. Marri, do you want to help your mother in the kitchen?" Marri squealed, answering. 

"Yes, yes, yes!" Mara laughed, and they headed down to the kitchen.

"--and then you stir it up, and put in on to cook," Mara said, demonstrating how to cook Pancakes.

"Can I try?" Marri asked. Mara nodded, handing her the spoon and bowl. Marri took it, and began stirring the batter. 

"Good, good. Now, bring it over here and pour it in the pan." Marri did so, with the help of her mother.

"Flip it, flip it! See--like this," Mara showed her. Marri twirled the spatula in her hand, and commenced to flipping the Pancake. She did so so skillfully, Mara didn't even have to help her. Mara turned off the heat and served the breakfast.
"Excellent, Marri! I think you're a natural!"

Since Marri had not yet picked up the skill to use chopsticks, they thought it would be a better idea to use a fork, instead of the usual traditional utensil. They could practice later.

***

Over the next few days, nothing changed. Except the fact that Marri was obsessed with her room now, which would be pretty obvious. She hardly comes out of her room except for things she needs, or to speak to her mother. As usual, Lee had nothing to do with either one of them.

The Trish's have adopted a bird, whom they call Lago.

Mara has experienced numerous accounts of nausea, normal symptoms for pregnancy.

Often Mara would think of Jason. She had a slightly guilty conscience, feeling as though these feelings toward Jason were cheating on her husband, but the way he'd been treating her lately made her so lonely, and she longed for a good man such as Jason. Lee used to be a good man, and she used to love him, but then he became just another one of the other men in the world. She doubted if she would ever see him again, however.

Mara sat quietly in her town's library reading a Chinese biography. She heard the chair slide in front of her, but ignored the sound as she was caught up in her reading.

"What'cha readin', Miss?" Jason's voice echoed. Mara looked up from her book, stunned.
"Jason!" she exclaimed. He grinned. Then Mara blushed, noting how quickly she responded to his voice. Did he notice? Would he care? She cleared her throat. "I-I thought maybe you might have gone back to Sunset Valley."

"Nope, not yet anyways. Besides, how could I just leave without telling you goodbye?" he asked. She shrugged her shoulders and smiled at him. "Ah. I see you've got another one on the way. . ." She nodded slowly, remembering the night. It was the first night she'd dreamed of Jason, instead of her husband. "How far along are ya?"
"Nine months."
"Has it really been that long already?" She nodded again. He sighed, and bolted from his seat as he heard her screams. "What's wrong, Mara?!"

"The baby!" she screamed. "It's coming now!" Instinctively, he rushed her out of the library and to hospital, constantly telling her that he was taking her and that was final. She didn't need to thank him, either. 

Janna Trish, wouldn't be what Lee was expecting, or hoping for. . .