Everybody Loses

By Teri Flicker

Desperate to get some sleep, a young mother named May takes her son to the doctor. The pediatrician is sympathetic and gives her a prescription for a new drug to help with Martin's colic. From the first dose of the drug Loctonan, life for Martin, May, and her mother Abigail begins a sharp spiral downward.

As her baby lies unresponsive, May begins the steps of a world she never understood-the world of medical lingo and legal case maneuvering that she never knew existed.

The life of mother, grandm

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: May 27, 2015
• ISBN: 9781681393919

Book preview

Chapter One

May’s son came into this world the hard way. A baby in the breech position requiring ten hours of labor; finally, a C-section brought Martin into life, kicking and screaming. Cleaned and ready, May was able to hold her son and welcome him into her life. Six days later, May and Martin came home, home to her mother’s small apartment in the outskirts of Dade City. Life for May, Martin, and Abigail would never be the same.

No one prepares you for motherhood in any good way—they simply tell you how wonderful having that little baby is and how the emotions will overwhelm you when you hold that little bundle of joy. People do not tell you that life as you know it is over, and that little bundle of joy takes over your every waking moment and even many moments that you are not awake. They cannot prepare you for the lack of sleep, privacy, or normal thought that comes with an infant. No one prepares you to work with two hours of sleep at night or how to hold a single thought beyond I hope my baby sleeps at least a little tonight, and they sure don’t tell you that yes life as you know it is over, and that this new life is without a rule book or even a set of loose guidelines to go by.

May and her mother, Abigail, had lived a quiet life with little commotion prior to Martin’s birth and somehow believed that this life would continue after Martin was born. May had been such a good and quiet baby that Abigail thought that Martin would be the same. They were both in for a very rude awaking when Martin entered their lives—one which they were not equipped or ready for.

Chapter Two

May was a child of a mother who never finished high school and did not read very well. Abigail Hastings was very proud of her daughter who did finish high school and got a job at Merchants Fast Food. Having this job meant that she did not have to follow in her footsteps and clean other people’s houses for a living. Yes, her daughter was going to make something of herself and maybe work her way up to being the manager of the restaurant, so much better of a life than her mother. Abigail had grand plans for her daughter but wasn’t what every parent wants for their children. Yes, sir, her daughter wasn’t going to get pregnant at sixteen and have a child to support with no help from the good-for-nothing father. Abigail had not seen May’s father since she told him she was pregnant when he disappeared that very day and never even laid eyes on his daughter.

Abigail’s parents were distraught that their only child would do something like this to them, get pregnant at sixteen. Well, it was just a disgrace. They had raised her right, and this was how she repaid them. Well, they just were not going to have it, not at all. They told Abigail that she would either abort the baby, or she would just have to move out. They gave Abigail twenty-four hours to decide—just twenty-four hours to make a decision that would change the rest of her life either for the better or for worse. Abigail went to her room and remained there for the next two days where she refused to either eat or talk to them.

On the third day, she came out of her room with her suitcase and walked past both her parents who were sitting in the living room awaiting the decision that they were sure would agree with their decision. They were sure she would bow to their wishes and abort this baby so that they could all return to their normal lives and pretend that this episode had never happened. Instead, Abigail simply walked out the door of her childhood home. She spoke not a word to her parents, and they did not ask her where she was going or if they would ever see her again.

So at sixteen years old, Abigail made her way in the world. With little money, she walked to the next town and got her first job at a grocery store where she worked until her pregnancy became apparent. The owner’s wife came into the store one day to confront Abigail, Miss, I can see that you are obviously pregnant—where is the father of your baby and why does he allow you to work so many hours, doing hard work here at the store?

Mrs. Sutton, my husband was killed in a car accident just days after we found out I was pregnant, and I have no one else to help me. Please don’t fire me. Mrs. Sutton continued to stare at Abigail and in the uncomfortable silence seemed to make up her mind about something. What she saw in Abigail she never explained, but whatever it was the nod she gave told Abigail that everything was going to be okay.

Abigail, I don’t know whether to believe a word of that cock-and-bull story you just fed me, but I do believe that you do not have anyone to help you. You are sixteen, and here you are, one of the best employees my husband has ever had. He was the one who noticed that you are pregnant and was talking about you the other night at dinner. He worries about you lifting things and stocking shelves here at the store. He also knows that you sneak back into the store at night and sleep in the storage area, so we can also assume that you have no place to live. Please stop me if I am wrong in any of our assumptions.

Abigail stood her ground but could not look Mrs. Sutton in the eye. No, ma’am, you’re not wrong. My parents would not let me stay at home if I continued my pregnancy, and I had nowhere else to go. Please don’t fire me; I need this job. I’ll find somewhere else to sleep, and I’m sorry if I upset either you or your husband but please don’t fire me; my baby is depending on me to take care of her.

Mrs. Sutton stared hard at Abigail, cleared her throat, and made a life-changing decision for all of them. Well then, there is only one answer to this dilemma. You will move into our spare room at the house. You can continue to work here as long as you are able, and then you will help me around the house until your baby is born. Mind you, I will not let you just lounge around my home; there will be chores for you to do as long as you are able, but the house is warm, dry, and probably much more comfortable than that back storage area is.

Abigail was astonished; never did she believe that this formable-looking woman in front of her would be offering her a place to stay while she was pregnant. Tears began to form in her eyes, and seeing this, Mrs. Sutton put up her hand. No, miss, there will be none of that. I do not believe that crying ever solved any problem. So dry up those eyes and finish your day here. I will expect to see you and whatever belongings you have at my supper table at the end of the day. Mr. Sutton will bring you home with him and bring you in each morning. With that said, Mrs. Sutton turned on her heel and walked back into the store. Mr. Sutton, a word with you, please. Join me in your office; we have things to discuss.

What was said in that office that day Abigail never knew, but it changed her life. That night, she went home with Mr. Sutton and began her new life with the Suttons. They treated her well and made sure she was taken care of. Mrs. Sutton’s doctor saw her and agreed to deliver the baby at home so that the expenses would be kept as low as possible. Mr. and Mrs. Sutton were good people, and they never mistreated Abigail, but they were quiet people not given to demonstrations of affection or long conversation. Mrs. Sutton very much ruled the house, and Mr. Sutton simply went along with whatever Mrs. Sutton decided.

Abigail worked until she was seven months pregnant when standing or walking very far got too hard. She could no longer lift the flour sacks or anything above the second shelve, so it became impossible to do her job at the store. Mrs. Sutton once again stepped in and informed both Abigail and Mr. Sutton one night at supper that Abigail would no longer go to work. She would help out at home until after the baby was born. There was no discussion, and in fact, there was not even a break in the process of eating food. Mr. Sutton simply nodded his head as did Abigail and supper continued.

One month later on a bright spring day, Abigail went into labor. She woke Mrs. Sutton who in turn sent Mr. Sutton to call the physician. Dr. Raston came to the house, and six hours later delivered a baby girl that Abigail named May. Abigail had learned that May was Mrs. Sutton’s mother’s name and wished to honor her benefactor by naming her baby this name. Mrs. Sutton looked at the baby, cleared her throat, and nodded. Well, it is as good a name as any I suppose. She then turned on her heel and left the room.

A new chapter began in Abigail’s life with a new baby girl to take care of. She knew that she needed to find a different way to take care of herself and baby May. She had heard several of Mrs. Sutton’s friends had comment that Abigail was doing a fine job of keeping house for Mrs. Sutton, so Abigail approached her with a new plan. Mrs. Sutton, do you suppose that your friends Mrs. Hampton and Mrs. Overton would let me clean their houses for money? May is such a good baby, I could take her with me, and then I could babysit and work at the same time.

Mrs. Sutton agreed to speak to her friends the next day. That night at supper, she announced that her friends were agreeable to having Abigail clean their houses while they were out shopping, and that she could bring the baby as long as the work got done. Mrs. Sutton had negotiated a price for the work and gave a piece of paper to Abigail with a work schedule and a pay schedule on it. Abigail was amazed and started to say so to Mrs. Sutton who put up her hand before she could speak. They are my friends, and they can afford the pay I negotiated. That being said, make sure you understand that you must do your best work, or I would be embarrassed, and you must never do that to me. Abigail nodded her head and started to dream about what she could do with the extra money she would be making.

Chapter Three

Abigail was cleared by Dr. Raston to return to work one week later, and Abigail walked four blocks to Mrs. Hampton’s house early in the morning. Abigail, I understand that Mrs. Sutton gave you a list of things I need done while I am gone. I will be out for several hours and feel this is adequate time to complete these tasks. I have been assured that you will not waste time nor steal anything while in my home. Do not disappoint either me or Mrs. Sutton, do you understand?

Yes, ma’am, I do. I have the list you made, and I will get to work immediately. I have had my breakfast and will not need any breaks except to feed the baby in two hours. Do not worry; I will work hard and do a good job for you. I appreciate the work.

We’ll see that you do a good job, and I need to hear nothing of your baby or her needs. You have been hired to do a job for me, and I care about nothing that interferes in that. I will see you in several hours. With that, Mrs. Hampton picked up her purse and keys and was out the door. Okay, May, it is just you and me; let’s get to work.

Abigail worked hard and just about completed everything in the list Mrs. Hampton set out for her before she returned from shopping. Mrs. Hampton reviewed her work and told the job was adequate and that she could return again in one week to work again. Abigail thanked Mrs. Hampton and all but skipped to the park to sit in the sun with May and tell her all her dreams for her.

Chapter Four

Two days later, Abigail presented herself at the home of Mrs. Overton and repeated the process almost word for word. But Abigail was happy for the work and the fact that as long as she did not talk about the baby and she made no noise, they would let her work and pay her well for it. Mrs. Sutton had done well for Abigail, but every time she tried to thank her, Mrs. Sutton would put up that hand and change the subject. No, you work hard and earn what you get. I got you the job, but you keep it. She would then leave the room.

Word of mouth got Abigail her next two houses and pretty soon she was working five days a week cleaning houses. Mrs. Sutton helped her set up a bank account—the first one she had ever had—and showed her how to put money away for times when she needed it most. May was a good baby and never caused a problem at the jobs Abigail went on.

When May was nine months old, Mrs. Sutton announced at the supper table that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She stated that it was a very aggressive type and that she had decided to go to her sister’s to die. Mr. Sutton nodded his head and continued to eat his supper, and by the look on Mrs. Sutton’s face, Abigail knew that she needed to remain quiet as well. There was to be no argument or discussion on the matter Mrs. Sutton had decided what was best for all, and that was that.

One week later, Mrs. Sutton left early in the morning before any of them had gotten up. A note on the table informed them that she had gone and would not be returning. Abigail made breakfast for May and Mr. Sutton and gave him the note as she served him his food. He nodded and continued to eat. After he finished up his breakfast, he went out to the garage, and Abigail believed he was leaving for work. When she heard the gunshot, she knew what had happened, but she still ran to the garage to make sure. She found him on the floor by his workbench, but it was too late. He left no note.

Abigail called the police, and they talked to her for hours about what had occurred in the last several days. Abigail told them about Mrs. Sutton’s cancer, the fact that she had gone to her sister’s just this morning and showed them the note. She told them that Mr. Sutton had simply nodded and finished his breakfast and then gone to the garage. There was no address book in the house to list Mrs. Sutton’s sister, and no one knew of her. The police informed her that they would post a notice in the papers in the surrounding areas, but that was pretty much all they could do as it was suicide, and the case was closed for them.

Chapter Five

Abigail dressed May and went to work as normal, not knowing what else to do. One week later, a lawyer knocked on the door and informed Abigail that she needed to leave. Since there was no one, they could find the state had stepped in and confiscated the house and the business to pay for outstanding taxes and bills on the business—Abigail was given