PROF

My 17-year-old daughter looked me in the eyes last night and said, “Mom… I think I might be pregnant.” I was washing dishes after dinner when she walked into the living room with her hands clenched and her face on the verge of tears. “Mom, can we talk?” She usually talks to me while staring at her phone. This time she was different. Me: “What’s wrong?” Her: “Please don’t get mad. Just listen.” Me: “Okay. I’m listening.” Her: “My period hasn’t come.” Me: “How long?” Her: “About two months.” Me: “Have you gone to a doctor?” Her: “Not yet. But I took a test.” Me: “And?” Her: “…It was positive.” My mind went blank. She’s still 17. She’s been studying hard, going to cram school, talking about college. Me: “Who’s the guy?” Her: “My boyfriend from school.” Me: “Did you tell him?” Her: “Yeah. But…” Then she started crying. Her: “When I told him I was pregnant, he blocked me on everything. He won’t answer my calls and he avoids me at school.” Me: “When did you tell him?” Her: “Last week.” She’d been carrying this alone for a week. I pulled her into a hug and said, “Thank you for telling me. First, we’re going to the doctor.” Then she asked, “Mom… do I have to drop out of school?” Me: “We don’t have to decide anything yet.” Her: “Will I still be able to go to college?” Me: “You don’t have to give everything up right now.” That night I told my husband when he got home. He listened quietly… until she said the boy’s name. His face changed. Husband: “What class is he in?” Her: “Class 2.” Husband: “His last name is ____, right?” Her: “Yeah. How do you know?” He went quiet for a moment, then said: “That kid’s father is a manager at my company.” The next morning, my husband’s company called...